Surname Cornewell - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'C'
Cornewell: What does the surname Cornewell mean?
The surname Cornewell is of English origin and is believed to come from a geographical location. It is mostly associated with the county of Cornwall in Southwest England. The name, however, is likely derived from the Old English words "corn", a metonymic occupational name for a grower or seller of grain, and "well", meaning a well or water source. Thus, it can be interpreted as ‘the well where corn is grown’ or 'one who lives near the well where corn is grown.' This surname has several variations including Cornwall, Cornwell, and Cornall. It is important to remember that surnames had a practical purpose in the Middle Ages, serving to describe a person's occupation, residence, or any unique characteristics. Hence, the surname’s meaning might have diverse interpretations based on different periods and places.
Order DNA origin analysisCornewell: Where does the name Cornewell come from?
The surname Cornewell is of Anglo-Saxon origin, first found in the regions of Cornwall and Devon in England. The name is believed to be a locational surname, deriving from the Old English term "Cornwealas", meaning "strangers from the peninsula". This referred to the Welsh people who lived to the west of the Anglo-Saxon regions. The surname has been spelled in many diverse ways throughout history, including Cornwall, Cornwell, Cornwal, Cornvall, and more.
Today, the surname (and its variants) is relatively uncommon, with a few hundred bearers in England. Many bearers of the name immigrated to the United States in the 17th and 18th centuries, so you could potentially find the name there, but it is not widespread. Australia and Canada, two other common destinations for British emigrants, might also have some people carrying the Cornewell surname, but again, it would not be highly concentrated in any one specific region. The name may be more commonly found as 'Cornwell' these days. One of the famous bearers of this name includes Bernard Cornwell, a British author known for his historical novels.
Variations of the surname Cornewell
The surname Cornewell has various variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin across different regions and cultures. Some of these include Cornwall, Cornwell, Cornuelle, Cornuall, Cornwal, and Cornwale. The spelling difference often occurred due to how the name was pronounced in different geographic locations or due to clerical errors.
The surname essentially originates from a place name, 'Cornwall' in England. It was traditionally given to individuals who originated from that region. The county of Cornwall's name is derived from combining two separate terms from separate languages; 'Cornovii' meaning peninsula people and 'Walhaz' meaning stranger or foreigner.
One of the most prominent families with a similar name is the Cornwalls, who held a family seat in Herefordshire from very ancient times. The spelling variations like 'Cornwallis’ can be traced back to this English noble family.
The surnames with the same origin are also subject to other minor spelling alterations such as adding an 's' or 'e' at the end of the name to denote son of, or the one from the particular location.
It's essential to note that the origin and variants could change depending on the lineage of the specific family carrying the name.
Famous people with the name Cornewell
- Mark Cornwell, Australian professional rugby league footballer
- Thomas Cornewell, English actor
- Peter Cornewell, English actor
- David Cornwell, better known by his pen name John le Carré, British novelist
- Kay Cornewell, English actress
- Jonathan Cornewell, English actor
- Katherine Cornewell, British choir conductor
- Herbert Cornewell, English wood-engraver
- Jonah Cornewell, New Zealand cricketer
- Adam Cornewell, English footballer