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Shadwell Family History

Shadwell Surname Meaning

English: habitational name from one or more of several places called Shadwell including those in Middlesex, Sussex, Gloucestershire, Norfolk, and Yorkshire. The Middlesex and Sussex placenames derive from Old English sc(e)ald ‘shallow’ + wella ‘well, spring, stream’ while the Norfolk placename arises from Old English scēad ‘boundary’ + wella.

The Yorkshire placename may derive from Old English scēad or sceadu ‘shady place’ + wella. There are two places called Shadwell in Gloucestershire, one in Ham, named with Old English sceard ‘cleft, gap’ + wella, and the other in Uley, named with Old English sceadu + wella.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


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Where is the Shadwell family from?

You can see how Shadwell families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Shadwell family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Shadwell families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 84 Shadwell families living in London. This was about 20% of all the recorded Shadwell's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Shadwell families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Shadwell surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Shadwell ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Shadwell. 100% of Shadwell men worked as a General Labourer and 80% of Shadwell women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Shadwell | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    100%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    80%
  • Private Means
    5%
  • Housekeeper
    3%
  • Shop Assistant
    3%

What Shadwell family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 9,000 census records available for the last name Shadwell. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Shadwell census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Shadwell

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Shadwell. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Shadwell immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 955 military records available for the last name Shadwell. For the veterans among your Shadwell ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Shadwell military records

You've only scratched the surface of Shadwell family history

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What is the average Shadwell lifespan?

Between 1962 and 2004, in the United States, Shadwell life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1982, and highest in 2001. The average life expectancy for Shadwell in 1962 was 66, and 84 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Shadwell

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Shadwell ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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