Explore the Family Name Southwell
The meaning of Southwell
English: 1. from Middle English south ‘south’ + wel(le) ‘well, pool, spring’ (Old English sūth + wella). The surname may be topographic, for someone who lived ‘by the south well’ or ‘south of the well’, or habitational, from a place so named, such as Southwell (Nottinghamshire) or Southwell on the Isle of Portland (Dorset). 2. in Yorkshire and Lancashire, often a hypercorrect form of Soothill, a habitational name from Soothill in Dewsbury (Yorkshire), from Old English sōt ‘soot’ + hyll ‘hill’.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Southwell in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Southwell has decreased slightly in popularity over a decade. In 2000, Southwell ranked 13,245th in commonality among surnames in the United States and fell to 13,525th in 2010, representing a 2.11% drop. However, the total count of people with this surname increased from 2,113 in 2000 to 2,243 in 2010, a rise of 6.15%. The representation of this surname per 100,000 people decreased by 2.56% over the same period, moving from 0.78 to 0.76.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #13,245 | #13,525 | -2.11% |
| Count | 2,113 | 2,243 | 6.15% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.78 | 0.76 | -2.56% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Southwell
When it comes to ethnic identity, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals some significant shifts between 2000 and 2010 for individuals bearing the Southwell surname. White individuals represented the majority, although their percentage dropped from 86.09% to 82.88%. Individuals identifying as Black or African American saw an increase from 10.55% to 12.44%. Notably, the proportion of individuals identifying as Hispanic nearly doubled, jumping from 1.75% to 3.12%. Meanwhile, there were no reported Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native bearers of the Southwell surname in 2010, a change from small proportions reported in 2000. Those identifying with two or more races saw a moderate increase from 0.99% to 1.03%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 86.09% | 82.88% | -3.73% |
| Black | 10.55% | 12.44% | 17.91% |
| Hispanic | 1.75% | 3.12% | 78.29% |
| Two or More Races | 0.99% | 1.03% | 4.04% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.28% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.33% | 0% | 0% |