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Cardwell Family History

Cardwell Surname Meaning

English and Scottish: in northern England the West Midlands and southwest Scotland this surname is a variant of Caldwell.

In southwestern England it is probably a variant of Cardall a habitational name from Cardwell in Milton Abbot (Devon).

See also Cardell.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Cardwell family from?

You can see how Cardwell families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Cardwell family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Cardwell families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 796 Cardwell families living in Lancashire. This was about 51% of all the recorded Cardwell's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Cardwell families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Cardwell 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 Cardwell 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 Cardwell. 15% of Cardwell men worked as a General Labourer and 75% of Cardwell women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Cardwell were Incapacitated and Cotton Weaver.

View Census Data for Cardwell | 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
    15%
  • Market Gardener
    7%
  • Bricklayer
    5%
  • Incapacitated
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    75%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Private Means
    3%
  • Cotton Weaver
    3%

What Cardwell family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 70,000 census records available for the last name Cardwell. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Cardwell census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Cardwell

Passenger Lists

There are 6,000 immigration records available for the last name Cardwell. 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 Cardwell immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 12,000 military records available for the last name Cardwell. For the veterans among your Cardwell ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Cardwell military records

You've only scratched the surface of Cardwell family history

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What is the average Cardwell lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, Cardwell life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1945, and highest in 1997. The average life expectancy for Cardwell in 1944 was 28, and 72 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Cardwell

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Cardwell 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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