Surname Sewall - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'S'
Sewall: What does the surname Sewall mean?
The surname Sewall is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Old English personal name "Sigeweald". It is a compound of two elements: "sige", which means victory, and "weald", which stands for rule. Therefore, the whole surname could mean "victory rule". This name would have been given to someone who demonstrates qualities of leadership, strength, and success. It was typically used in the Middle Ages and the time of early Christianity. Like many surnames of the period, it also could have been a topographical name, used to identify someone who lived by the sea wall. Spelling variations include Sewell, Sewall, Siwell, and others. This surname is first recorded in the late 12th century in England. Today, the surname is found in many English-speaking countries, including the United States. Some notable people with this surname include Samuel Sewall, a judge in the Salem Witch Trials, and Jonathan Sewall, an attorney general in colonial Massachusetts.
Order DNA origin analysisSewall: Where does the name Sewall come from?
The last name Sewall is primarily of English origin, though some individuals with the surname may have ancestry in other countries. Individuals with the surname may be found in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.
In the United States, the last name Sewall is most common in Maine, though people with the surname may also be found in other states such as Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York. It is most commonly associated with the mid-Atlantic region and northern New England. Records from the early 1600s indicate that the surname has a long history in New England; it appears that some of the earliest people to carry the Sewall name were settlers of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
In the United Kingdom, records show that the Sewall surname has been around since at least the 16th century in England and Wales. While the number of individuals with the last name Sewall in England and Wales has decreased in recent decades, it can still be found in parts of Devon, Gloucestershire, Leeds, Norfolk, and Buckinghamshire.
In Canada, the Sewall surname is most commonly found in Ontario and Quebec, though individuals with the surname may be found in other parts of the country as well. In Australia, the Sewall surname is also present, with records indicating that individuals with the name were among the first English settlers who arrived in Victoria in the 19th century.
In short, the Sewall surname can be found in many parts of the world today. In the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia, the surname occurs most frequently in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States, northern New England, eastern Canada, the United Kingdom, and Victoria in Australia.
Variations of the surname Sewall
The surname Sewall is an English variant of the French surname Sauve, meaning "safe." It can also be spelled as Sauvell, Sauvall, Sauvelle, Sowall, Sowell, Sewell, Soule, Sowle, Sowll, Sowle, Saul, Sawle, Sall, Salle, Seall, Seale, and Sale.
In the 1600s, Sewall was primarily found in Cumberland, in the English North West. It is a regional surname, meaning it was used to identify a person who originated from a specific area. The different spellings of the surname were adopted by people in the 18th century, as they began to emigrate to the United States and other parts of the world.
It is believed that the Sewall surname is derived from an ancient French word "saouéul," which means "safe." Over time, the word evolved into Sauvell, Sauvall, Sauvelle which became Sowall, Sowell, Sewell, Soule, and Sowle in England. In the United States, the various spellings of Sewall became popular among different branches of the same family.
In some cases, the name Sewell has been adopted as the primary spelling of the surname, while in others the variant spellings are still used. Many families keep the original spelling of the name, however, and use it to honor their family’s history and origins.
The surname Sewall is also found in other countries, including France, Canada, Puerto Rico, Australia, and New Zealand. In France, the surname is typically spelled Sauvelle or Sauvall. Similarly, in Canada and the United Kingdom, the surname is typically spelled Sewall or Sewell, while in Puerto Rico and Australia, the name is typically spelled Sewall. In New Zealand, the surname is commonly spelt Sewell or Sewill.
No matter the spelling of the surname, Sewall families are connected by their common ancestor and their shared origins. The various spellings of the surname reflect the journey that the family has made throughout the years, along with its diversity and vibrant history.
Famous people with the name Sewall
- Samuel Sewall (1652-1730): Massachusetts statesman, ruling magistrate, and judge who played a key role in the Salem Witch Trials.
- Robert T. Sewall (1911-2002): United States Naval Aviator, Admiral, and the 26th Chief of Naval Personnel.
- William Kelly Sewall (1844-1923): American politician, businessman, and inventor.
- Thomas Sewall (1724-1786): American physician, military officer, and politician.
- Augustus Sewall (1845-1926): American writer, lawyer, and banker.
- Llewellyn Sewall (1841-1926): American lawyer and politician.
- Ellen M. Sewall (1854-1895): American Quaker author and social reformer.
- Harriet S. Sewall (1826-1886): American writer, poet, and first-wave feminist.
- Robert Murray Sewall (1840-1905): American clergyman and civil rights activist.
- Jerusha Osborn Sewall (1855-1905): American educator and writer.