Surname Attewell - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'A'
Attewell: What does the surname Attewell mean?
The surname Attewell is of Old English origin and is a habitational name. It is derived from 'atte well', which means 'at the well' in Middle English. This indicates that the original bearers of the surname Attewell possibly lived in or near a place with a distinctive well. Atte, meaning 'at the', was a common prefix in Old English place names, used to help specify a person's location. The second part of the name, 'well', refers to a spring or a source of water. Therefore, Attewell can loosely be interpreted as 'dweller by the well'. Like many old English surnames, it may have originally been intended to differentiate among individuals with the same given name by indicating a geographical or topographical feature of their residence.
Order DNA origin analysisAttewell: Where does the name Attewell come from?
The surname Attewell is of Old English origin and is considered a patronymic surname. It was developed during the Middle Ages in Britain, derived from the personal name Atwell. The prefix of the name 'At' means 'at' and 'well' refers to 'a well or water spring.' Hence, Attewell means 'lives at the well,' signifying a person's location or occupation.
The name first appeared in historical records in Kent, in southeastern England. It later spread across the country as Britons migrated, and the surname now occurs in several English-speaking countries globally due to colonization, immigration, and relocation.
In terms of geographical distribution today, the Attewell surname is most prevalent in England, followed by Australia, USA, Canada, and New Zealand. In England, it is particularly common in the counties of Nottinghamshire and Lancashire. Despite its global presence, the Attewell surname remains relatively rare, ranking as the 142,589th most common surname in the world.
Variations of the surname Attewell
The surname Attewell is of English origin and is derived from a now lost location name, probably because of changes in local dialect and spelling over centuries. This means there are numerous alterations and variants of the name. Variants and alternative spellings may include Atwell, Atewell, Attwell, and Adwell.
In some cases, the surname may have evolved from personal names such as "Adele" or "Adela," both of which are of Germanic origin. Therefore, names like Adele, Adell, and Adelle could be linked.
In addition to this, the name roots from the Old English term 'aet tha welle' which indicates 'at the spring'. Therefore, it could be plausible that it relates to other surnames linked to places near water sources, such as Springs, Brooks, or Wells.
As with many surnames, there may be numerous other variants and spellings, specifically as they spread to different regions or countries, where they may be altered to fit local languages or dialects. The surname may also have been recorded differently in historical documents due to illiteracy or transcription errors.
Famous people with the name Attewell
- Paul Attewell: He is a renowned Sociologist and Distinguished Professor at the City University of New York Graduate Center.
- William Attewell: A famous English cricketer during the late 19th century. He made a significant contribution to the sport and was one of Nottinghamshire's most successful bowlers.
- Kasey Attewell: A professional dancer and choreographer who is known to have worked with various performers in the entertainment industry.
- Kevin Attewell: An author known for his book “Making the West Indian Cricketer”.
- Anne Attewell: A popular therapeutic shoe designer who earned recognition for her unique and innovative work in the sector. Please note that "Attewell" is not a common last name among global celebrities, therefore, information is quite limited.