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Dunwell Family History

Dunwell Surname Meaning

English:: topographic or habitational name from Middle English don dun(ne) ‘dark’ + wel(le) ‘water source stream’. The name may be topographic denoting someone who lived ‘(by the) dark stream’ or a habitational name from a place so named such as Dunwell in Ugborough (Devon).

It is likely that many instances of the surname derive from a lost or as yet unidentified place in Yorkshire. From a Middle English continuation of the Old English personal name Dūnweald from dūn ‘hill’ + weald ‘power’.

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


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Where is the Dunwell family from?

You can see how Dunwell families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Dunwell family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Dunwell families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 556 Dunwell families living in Yorkshire. This was about 78% of all the recorded Dunwell's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Dunwell families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Dunwell 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 Dunwell 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 Dunwell. 30% of Dunwell men worked as a General Labourer and 74% of Dunwell women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Dunwell were Window Cleaner and Household Duties.

View Census Data for Dunwell | 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
    30%
  • Incapacitated
    7%
  • Retired
    7%
  • Window Cleaner
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    74%
  • Housewife
    4%
  • Domestic Duties Unpaid
    3%
  • Household Duties
    3%

What Dunwell family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 16,000 census records available for the last name Dunwell. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Dunwell census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Dunwell

Passenger Lists

There are 508 immigration records available for the last name Dunwell. 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 Dunwell immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 922 military records available for the last name Dunwell. For the veterans among your Dunwell ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Dunwell military records

You've only scratched the surface of Dunwell family history

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What is the average Dunwell lifespan?

Between 1964 and 2004, in the United States, Dunwell life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1969, and highest in 1983. The average life expectancy for Dunwell in 1964 was 74, and 72 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Dunwell

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Dunwell 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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