Surname Forwell - Meaning and Origin

Forwell: What does the surname Forwell mean?

The surname Forwell is a habituation of the Middle English name Forewell, and is found concentrated mainly in Scotland, Ireland, and England. The origin of the name is uncertain, but it may derive from the Old English personal name, Forswel, meaning “avenger,” which itself may have come from "fór-swelge", meaning "swallow up," or alternatively, from the words "fór" (far) and "swelge" (water, Well).

The earliest recorded instance of the name in Scotland was a John Forswelle, who was a witness in 1429 in the court of Edinburgh. In Ireland, the name appears to be quite rare.

Those with the last name Forwell may display traits such as intelligence, patience, good problem solving skills, and artistic creativity. This could be because those bearing the Forwell name have worked mainly in fields that require those abilities, such as engineering, marketing, and medicine.

What can also be said about people with the last name of Forwell is that they are likely to be resilient and resourceful, being capable of turning difficult and upsetting situations around and finding successful solutions to difficult problems. This may be because of the correlation between the meaning of the name Forewell—which could be seen as meaning ‘the one who swells up’—and the characteristics of those bearing the name, being able to ‘swell up’ with strong determination and resolve.

Forwell: Where does the name Forwell come from?

The last name Forwell is most common in English-speaking countries and territories, particularly in the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States. In the United Kingdom, Forwell is the 629th most common last name, with between 4,000 and 4,500 individuals. According to the United States Census Bureau, the last name is slightly more common in Canada. In 194 enumerated areas, 4,744 people in the U.S. have the last name Forwell, making it the 4,374th most common surname in America.

In terms of regional distribution, families with the last name Forwell tend to be concentrated in the British Isles. According to the 1881 UK census, the most populous concentration of the family is in Suffolk, where Forwell is the 139th most common last name. In England, the surname is most abundant in the county of Northamptonshire and least so in Worcestershire.

Forwell is also found in considerable numbers in the United States. The highest densities can be found in the states of Oregon, Texas, Arkansas, and California. In comparison, in Canada, the highest densities of families with this present-day surname can be found in the Province of Ontario.

Overall, though, the last name Forwell is most common in the United Kingdom, with individuals living in other countries like Canada and the United States spreading the surname elsewhere.

Variations of the surname Forwell

The surname Forwell (also spelled Forwill and Furwell) is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is derived from a place name. It originates from the Old English pre 7th century words “fore” meaning “the open land in front”, and “waella” meaning a spring or stream.

The surname “Furwell” is the Middle English form, used mainly in the north of England. The spellings variant spellings “Forwell” and “Forwill” are found mainly in the south of England. It is likely that many persons of the surname Forwill adopted the spelling Forwell due to the spelling pronunciation of the word.

Variant surnames that originate from the same source include Forwalker, Forwill, Forwork, Furwell, and Overwell.

The earliest record of the surname is of one Steven Forwell in the Assize of the County of Sussex in 1296, and later in the Assize Court at the County of Norfolk in 1602, recorded as William Forwell.

In some families, the surname has become Fayrwell, Farwell, Ferrill, Farrall, Furrall, Fairall and Farial.

Today, the surname Forwell is a common surname in the United Kingdom, with many family members still living in the county of Sussex. The surname is also found in the United States and Canada, where it has been adopted by immigrants from the UK.

Famous people with the name Forwell

• David Forwell: Professional angler from New Zealand; known for his career as a full-time tournament angler. Currently competing professionally on the FLW Bass Fishing Tour.
• Bill Forwell: Actor, director, and writer from the United States. He has appeared in television shows such as Castle and Agent Carter and in films such as Sleepless in Seattle and Richie Rich’s Christmas Wish.
• Jim Forwell: American politician and lawyer from Michigan. He was the Majority Leader of the Michigan House of Representatives from 1987 to 1988.
• Tim Forwell: British playwright, writing for The Times, the Sunday Telegraph, The Guardian, The Observer, The Scotsman, and The List. He is a former Artistic Director of the Gate Theatre in London and a director with the Brooklyn-based theater company WaxFactory.
• Frank Forwell: Music producer from the United Kingdom. Has produced recordings by artists such as Steve Hackett, Paul McCartney, and David Gilmour.
• Alex Forwell: South African musician and singer-songwriter. Known for his contributions to South African punk rock, garage rock, and punk blues.
• Amy Forwell: Canadian actress and model; best known for her appearances in films such as The Hunter and Take Off.
• Kenneth Forwell:X-ray crystallographer and professor at the University of Manchester. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society and winner of the Lindemann Trust Medal.
• Ian Forwell: Canadian actor and producer; best known for his work in the television show Being Erica.
• George Forwell: American astronomer, specializing in orbital mechanics. He is a Professor Emeritus of Astronomy at Northwestern University and a Fellow of the American Astronomical Society.

Other surnames

ForwergForwergckForwergkForwerk