NEWELL
Newell is a surname of strictly English origin. It is situated within the British Isles, and its root words are recorded in the Old English language. The name is associated with the Christian faith, which was predominant in England during its earliest use.
The most common interpretation of the surname is topographical. It derives from the Old English word niwe, meaning “new”, and the word well or well(a), meaning a spring or stream. Consequently, a person bearing the name Newell was likely to have resided near a newly created spring or a recently dug well.
Another possible source of the name is locational. Several settlements in England bear the designation Newell, and those who originated from such places would have adopted the surname to identify their place of birth or residence. These place names, in turn, are believed to arise from either the same Old English elements or from the compound neowe “new” and heall “hall”, giving rise to variant spellings such as Newhall and Newall.
Historical records first document the surname in the late twelfth century. The earliest known instance is Robert de Niewehal, who appears in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire for the year 1195, during the reign of King Richard I, also known as Richard the Lionheart. Subsequent medieval entries include Hugo de Neuhalle listed in the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379. In 1383, a John de Newhalle is noted in the Pardons Roll of Cambridge.
By the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries the name had established a presence in both Cheshire and Yorkshire. In 1551, a Susannah Newell was christened at the church of St. Margaret in Westminster. The year 1630 provides the record of a Richard Newall within the Chester Wills. Marriage and baptism records in the mid‑seventeenth century include a Robert Newell, who married Ann Collier at St. Nicholan in Rochester on 19 December 1656, and a Thomas Newell, son of John, who was christened at St. Alphage in Greenwich on 16 September 1657.
Notably, the surname is associated with the distinguished engineer and astronomer Robert Stirling Newall (1812‑1889). He is credited with inventing wire-ropes in 1840 and played a pivotal role in the laying of submarine telegraph cables. His achievements extend the surname’s prominence into the modern era.
In contemporary England, the surname Newell – occasionally rendered as Newhall or Newall – remains most widespread in Cheshire and Yorkshire, reflecting its early historical concentration in these counties. The variation in spelling preserves the historical migration patterns and local linguistic influences that characterise English surnames of medieval origin.
Typical given names associated with the Newell surname
Male
- Andrew
- David
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Richard
- Robert
- William
Female
- Alison
- Claire
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Jennifer
- Karen
- Margaret
- Mary
- Patricia
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Newell in...
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Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Newell are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Garibaldi.
There are approximately 11,973 people named Newell in the UK. That makes it the 762nd most common surname in Britain. Around 184 in a million people in Britain are named Newell.
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
Famous people named Newell
- Mike Newell - Producer and director
- Steffanie Rhiannon Newell - Welsh professional wrestler
- Martin Newell - Singer-songwriter, poet, columnist, and author
- Mike Newell - Football player and manager
- Joe Newell - Football player
- Patrick Newell - Actor (1932 to 1988)
- Norman Newell - Record producer, songwriter and lyricist (1919 to 2004)
- Isaac Newell - Pioneer of football in Argentina (1853 to 1907)
- Michelle Newell - Actress
- George Newell - Football player
- Jonathan Newell - Cricketer
- Mark Newell - Cricketer
- Keith Newell - Cricketer
- Justin Newell - Football player
- Mick Newell - Cricketer
- Paul Newell - Football player
- Tony Newell - Darts player
- John Newell - Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly (1848 to 1932)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.