Cowell Family History

Cowell Surname Meaning

Irish and Manx: shortened form of McCawell an Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Cathmhaoil ‘son of Cathmhaol’ (literally ‘battle chief’). Compare Caulfield. Alternatively a shortened form of Gaelic Mac (Giolla) Comhghaill ‘son of (the devotee of) Saint Comhghal’. Compare Cool.

Irish: shortened form of McCool. English: habitational name from any of the places in Lancashire and Gloucestershire called Cowhill from Old English cū ‘cow’ + hyll ‘hill’ or from Cowleigh Park in Worcestershire.

The modern pronunciation rhymes with trowell. English: variant of Cole in many English counties especially Essex with a similar pronunciation to either coal or Noel.

Americanized form of Polish and perhaps also Rusyn (from Poland) or Jewish (from Poland) Kowal ‘blacksmith’.

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

Similar surnames: Rowell, Colwell, Crowell, Howell, Cowgill, Covell, Bowell, Corwell, Gowell, Mowell

182K	Birth, Marriage, and Deaths
11K	Military Records
15K	Immigration Records
126K	Census and Voter Lists
217K	Member Trees

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Where is the Cowell family from?

You can see how Cowell families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Cowell family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Cowell families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 1,372 Cowell families living in Lancashire. This was about 27% of all the recorded Cowell's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Cowell families in 1891.

Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Cowell surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

View Census Data for Cowell

What did your Cowell 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 Cowell. 10% of Cowell men worked as a General labourer and 69% of Cowell women worked as an Unpaid domestic duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Cowell were Motor driver and Private means.

View Census Data for Cowell

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.

General labourer

10%

Builders labourer

Bricklayer

Motor driver

Unpaid domestic duties

69%

Unpaid domestic

Cotton weaver

Private means

What Cowell family records will you find?

Census Record

There are 126K census records available for the last name Cowell. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Cowell census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Cowell

Passenger List

There are 15K immigration records available for the last name Cowell. 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 Cowell immigration records

Military Records

There are 11K military records available for the last name Cowell. For the veterans among your Cowell ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Cowell military records

You've only scratched the surface of Cowell family history

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What is the average Cowell lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Cowell life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1942, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Cowell in 1942 was 28, and 71 in 2004.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Cowell family tree

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Cowell Surname Meaning

The modern pronunciation rhymes with trowell. English: variant of Cole in many English counties especially Essex with a similar pronunciation to either coal or Noel.

Americanized form of Polish and perhaps also Rusyn (from Poland) or Jewish (from Poland) Kowal ‘blacksmith’.

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

Where is the Cowell family from?

What did your Cowell ancestors do for a living?

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.

General labourer

10%

Builders labourer

Bricklayer

Motor driver

Unpaid domestic duties

69%

Unpaid domestic

Cotton weaver

Private means

What Cowell family records will you find?

What is the average Cowell lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Cowell life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1942, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Cowell in 1942 was 28, and 71 in 2004.

Cowell Family History

Cowell Surname Meaning

552,000 record(s) for Cowell

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Where is the Cowell family from?

What did your Cowell ancestors do for a living?

Top Male Occupations In 1939

Top Female Occupations In 1939

What Cowell family records will you find?

Census Record

Passenger List

Military Records

You've only scratched the surface of Cowell family history

What is the average Cowell lifespan?

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Cowell family tree

Search for another surname

Cowell Surname Meaning

552,000 record(s) for Cowell

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Where is the Cowell family from?

What did your Cowell ancestors do for a living?

Top Male Occupations In 1939

Top Female Occupations In 1939

What Cowell family records will you find?

Census Record

Passenger List

Military Records

You've only scratched the surface of Cowell family history

What is the average Cowell lifespan?

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Cowell family tree

Search for another surname