Explore the Family Name Shemwell
The meaning of Shemwell
English (Derbyshire and Staffordshire): clearly a habitational name from a placename meaning ‘shining stream’ (Middle English shim + well), but this has not been definitely located. There is a Shining Well in Darley Dale (Derbyshire), known from an 1836 map, and the surname may derive from an earlier name for that.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Shemwell in the United States?
Based on data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname "Shemwell" slightly decreased in rank from 24,115 in 2000 to 24,237 in 2010, a change of -0.51%. However, the count of individuals with this surname increased by 6.05% during the same period, rising from 976 in 2000 to 1035 in 2010. The proportion per 100k people also slightly dropped from 0.36 to 0.35, marking a decrease of 2.78%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #24,115 | #24,237 | -0.51% |
| Count | 976 | 1,035 | 6.05% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.36 | 0.35 | -2.78% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Shemwell
Regarding ethnic identity, according to the Decennial U.S. Census, the majority of individuals with the surname "Shemwell" identified as White, making up 80.77% in 2010, down from 84.12% in 2000. The percentage identifying as Black rose from 12.40% to 13.62%, and those identifying with two or more races grew significantly from 0.92% to 2.13%. There was also an increase in those identifying as Hispanic, from 1.13% in 2000 to 2.42% in 2010. However, the proportion identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and American Indian and Alaskan Native dropped to zero.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 84.12% | 80.77% | -3.98% |
| Black | 12.4% | 13.62% | 9.84% |
| Hispanic | 1.13% | 2.42% | 114.16% |
| Two or More Races | 0.92% | 2.13% | 131.52% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.82% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.61% | 0% | 0% |