Explore the Family Name Colwell
The meaning of Colwell
English (southern England and West Midlands): habitational name from any of the places in Northumberland and Devon named Colwell. The former is named with Old English col ‘(char)coal’ or cōl ‘cool’ + well(a) ‘spring, stream’; the latter has as the first element a Celtic river name, Coly, apparently meaning ‘narrow’. Alternatively, a habitational name from Colwall (Herefordshire), or Colwell House in Wivelsfield (Sussex).
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Colwell in the United States?
According to data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Colwell experienced a slight decrease in popularity from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, it was ranked as the 3254th most common surname, but by 2010, it had fallen to the 3518th spot, marking an 8.11% drop. However, the count of individuals with this surname increased slightly from 10,081 in 2000 to 10,140 in 2010, indicating a growth rate of 0.59%. The proportion of people named Colwell per 100k also decreased from 3.74 in 2000 to 3.44 in 2010, reflecting an 8.02% decrease.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #3,254 | #3,518 | -8.11% |
| Count | 10,081 | 10,140 | 0.59% |
| Proportion per 100k | 3.74 | 3.44 | -8.02% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Colwell
Regarding ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals that the majority of individuals with the surname Colwell identified as White, although this group saw a 1.78% decline from 93.51% in 2000 to 91.85% in 2010. There were notable increases among those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander (from 0.45% in 2000 to 0.61% in 2010), those reporting two or more races (from 0.98% in 2000 to 1.37% in 2010), and those identifying as Hispanic (from 1.76% in 2000 to 2.60% in 2010). However, there was a decrease from 0.55% to 0.43% in the American Indian and Alaskan Native category. The Black population with the surname Colwell also experienced an increase from 2.76% in 2000 to 3.13% in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 93.51% | 91.85% | -1.78% |
| Black | 2.76% | 3.13% | 13.41% |
| Hispanic | 1.76% | 2.6% | 47.73% |
| Two or More Races | 0.98% | 1.37% | 39.8% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.45% | 0.61% | 35.56% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.55% | 0.43% | -21.82% |
Colwell ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Colwell is British & Irish, which comprises 58.6% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (24.7%) and Eastern European (4.7%). Additional ancestries include Scandinavian, Italian, Spanish & Portuguese, Greek & Balkan, and Ashkenazi Jewish.
Ready to learn more about your ancestry? Get the most comprehensive ancestry breakdown on the market by taking our DNA test. Shop 23andMe
| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 58.6% |
| French & German | 24.7% |
| Eastern European | 4.7% |
| Other | 12.0% |
Possible origins of the surname Colwell
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Colwell have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 91.60% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 91.60% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 91.60% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 91.60% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 91.60% |
What Colwell haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Colwell is R-A542, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-A542 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-CTS241 and R-L21, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Phillips, Morgan, Evans, Newman, Ford, Jones, Lewis, Price, Shaw, Porter.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Colwell surname are: H1, T2b, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Colwell have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Colwell" Surname 42.3%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Colwell" Surname 34.8%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Colwell" Surname 20.8%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Colwell" Surname 17.6%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Colwell?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Colwell are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition