Surname Cawell - Meaning and Origin
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Cawell: What does the surname Cawell mean?
The surname Cawell is an anglicized form of the French "Cail" or "Caille," both of which mean "quail" and are derived from the Latin word coturnix. It is also possible that the name could be derived from the French "Caillou," which means "stone" or "pebble." The name is likely to have emerged in areas around France that were colonized by the British, and is most common today in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
The Cawell surname is believed to have originated as a nickname derived from a quail-like character trait, such as being meek or shy. Alternatively, it could have been bestowed upon a plentiful hunter of quail. In some cases it may have been adopted by an ancestor who lived near a quarry or a riverbank strewn with stones.
The earliest recorded example of the name is one William Cauel, who is mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1185. This suggests that the name was present in England at the time of the Norman Conquest.
Today, the name Cawell is a fairly uncommon family name in the U.K., with only around 500 holders of the name in the country. It is most commonly found in areas of England such as Yorkshire and Lancashire, and also in the Scottish Highlands.
Order DNA origin analysisCawell: Where does the name Cawell come from?
The last name Cawell is most commonly found in the United Kingdom today, particularly in England and Wales. The name is from an Old Norman French surname and was used to describe a person's physical features or family background. It is also thought to have been derived from ‘caull', which was an old English word used to describe a bald person.
Cawell is the 28,225th most common surname in the UK. In England, Cawell is most likely to be found in Yorkshire and Humberside, where it is ranked at 28,845th most common and in Wales, where it is ranked 5,619th.
Outside of the UK, the last name can be found in countries such as the United States, Canada and Australia. In terms of frequency, Cawell is the 67,274th most common surname in the US, where it is ranked the most common in Florida, followed by New Jersey and Maryland. In Canada, it is the 11,220th most common surname and is most likely to be found in Alberta and Saskatchewan. Finally, in Australia, it is the 28,845th most common surname and is primarily located in New South Wales and Queensland.
Variations of the surname Cawell
The surname Cawell is believed to have multiple variants, including Cowell, Cawel, Cawell, Cavel, Cawel, Cawel, and Cawill.
Most notably, Cavel is one of the oldest variants of the name, originating in the 12th century. Documents from early Suffolk, 12th century manuscripts, mention a “Robertus Cofell” who held lands and was part of a grant of lands in 1146. It has also been suggested that this name was derived from the Old French word “caufel,” which means “belonging to a certain class or species.”
The surname Cawell can also be spelled as Cowell and Cawel, both of which have origins dating back to the middle ages. The surname Cowell is thought to have derived from the Old English term cŵlf, meaning “lake.” This suggests that the early Cowell family members may have lived near a lake.
Cawel is another variation of the Cawell surname, which is thought to have originated in the Cambridgeshire area of England. This name is believed to have been derived from the Old English name “Cawel,” which means “Sycophant” or “Trickster.”
The surname Cawell is also found as Cawel and Cawill. The origin of this variant is unknown, but it may have originated as a variant of the Cawel and Cowell surnames due to changes in spelling and pronunciation over time.
Finally, Cawill is a variant of the Cawell surname, which is thought to have originated in the East Riding of Yorkshire area of England. This variant is believed to have derived from an Old Norse word “Kjolfill”meaning “devil” or “servant of Kjölf.”
Famous people with the name Cawell
- Benny Cawell: Actor, stunt performer, and producer. He has appeared in such films and TV shows as X-Men: Apocalypse, Grand Theft Auto V, Iron Man 3, Lost, Spider-Man 2, and True Blood.
- Billy Cawell: Noted blues guitarist and singer. He has released several albums and has collaborated with notable artists such as B.B. King, Robert Cray, and Joe Louis Walker.
- Laura Cawell: Award-winning singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. She has released eight albums, including the critically-acclaimed “Girl On Fire”.
- Kerry Cawell: Emmy Award-winning makeup artist for television and feature films. His work can be seen on major films such as Nightmare on Elm Street and Pirates of the Caribbean.
- Oliver Cawell: SAG Award-winning sound engineer who has mixed and mastered film and television soundtracks for projects such as The Grand Budapest Hotel and Star Trek Beyond.
- Jeff Cawell: Two-time Emmy Award-winning director for such series as House of Cards, The Night Of, and The Affair. He also directed the feature film Contraband.
- Chris Cawell: Professional photographer specializing in black & white travel photography. His work has been featured in galleries and magazines worldwide.
- Tom Cawell: Award-winning graphic designer who has worked on the design of posters, programs, and branding for organizations such as the National Theatre, the Royal Ballet, and the British Museum.