Brightwell

The surname Brightwell is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Old English words "beorht," meaning bright or shining, and "well," meaning spring or stream. The name likely originally referred to someone who lived near a bright spring or stream.

The Brightwell surname is predominantly found in southeastern England, particularly in the counties of Suffolk, Essex, and Oxfordshire. Variants of the name include Brightewell and Broadwell.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Brightwell include Sir Henry Brightwell, a distinguished 19th-century British entomologist known for his work on the study of insects.

Genealogical research indicates that the Brightwell family has ancient roots in England, with historical records tracing back several centuries.

Today, individuals with the surname Brightwell can be found across the United Kingdom and in various other parts of the world due to historical migration patterns and global dispersal of the British population.

There are approximately 1,035 people named Brightwell in the UK. That makes it roughly the 7,174th most common surname in Britain. Around 16 in a million people in Britain are named Brightwell.

Surname type: Location or geographical feature

Origin: English

Region of origin: British Isles

Country of origin: England

Religion of origin: Christian

Language of origin: English

Typical given names associated with the surname

Male

  • Anthony
  • Christopher
  • David
  • Eric
  • Gary
  • Ian
  • John
  • Mark
  • Paul
  • Peter
  • Robert
  • Steven

Female

  • Christine
  • Emma
  • Jackie
  • Janice
  • Jennifer
  • Joan
  • Julie
  • Kathleen
  • Linda
  • Margaret
  • Mary
  • Nicola
  • Sally
  • Samantha
  • Susan

Similar and related surnames

Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.

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