Surname Calwell - Meaning and Origin
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Calwell: What does the surname Calwell mean?
The last name Calwell is of Scottish origin and it's derived from the place named "Caldwell" in Renfrewshire, Scotland. The name literally means "cold well" or "cold stream" in Middle English, which refers to a spring or stream running cold water. This name belongs to a category of surnames known as habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. Names of this type were typically given to the lord of the manor or to individuals who resided, were born or worked in those places. Furthermore, the Calwell family motto is "Fac et Spera", which translates to "Do and Hope". Historically, family names like Calwell not only served as a form of identification, but also revealed a lot about the ancestry, the profession, or the geographic origins of that person. However, it's worth noting that the spelling of surnames often evolved over centuries, and different branches of the same family might carry variations of the original surname.
Order DNA origin analysisCalwell: Where does the name Calwell come from?
The surname Calwell has roots in the British Isles, specifically Scotland and Ireland. It is a derivative of Caulfield, which derives from the Old English "cawl," a type of cabbage, and "feld," meaning open country or land cleared of forest. The name Caulfield originated in England where it first emerged in Sussex.
This surname traveled across the sea to Ireland with Cromwell's invasion in the 17th century, originating likely from settlers within the Protestant community. Over time, it changed to Calwell due to the phonetic spelling and pronunciation in different regions.
Today, Calwell is relatively rare globally, but it maintains some prevalence in Australia, the US, and the UK. For instance, in Australia, it is renowned due to the suburb of Canberra named Calwell, in honor of Arthur Augustus Calwell, an Australian politician. In Northern Ireland, it retains some popularity, especially within the Protestant community. However, comprehensive data on its current distribution is lacking because of its relative rarity.
Variations of the surname Calwell
The surname Calwell is of Irish origin which may have variations in spelling based on regional dialects and original transliterations from Gaelic. Some alternative spellings include Caldwell, Cauldwell, Cadwell, Coldwell, and Caulwell.
It is divided into two components "Cald" and "Well", which signifies "Cold stream". This name falls under the category of habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.
The Scottish adaptation is Caudwell or sometimes even Cardwell. A Gaelic-origin variant is MacCaldwell. Note that adding the prefix 'Mac' signifies that it is a patronymic name i.e., it tells that the initiator of the 'MacCaldwell' had a father named Caldwell.
Apart from different spelling variations, there are other surnames too like Colville, Colvin, and Calvert that are not related directly, but often got confused with Calwell because of phonetic similarity. Inclusion of these surnames serves to illustrate the broad dispersal and evolution of Calwell-like surnames across cultural boundaries.
Lastly, you may often find the name Calwell associated with personal names which may give surnames like Calwell Smith or Jones Calwell.
It's important to note that while these names are similar, specifications can vary widely depending on the family's culture, history, and region.
Famous people with the name Calwell
- Arthur Calwell: An Australian politician who served as the leader of the Australian Labor Party from 1960 to 1967. He is also known for his ministerial roles in the Curtin and Chifley Governments.
- Elizabeth Calwell: A known Australian author, primarily seen in her biographies and works reflecting on her husband Arthur's political life.
- Kevin Calwell: A New Zealand rugby player who played for the Wanganui Rugby Football Union during his sporting career.
- Clara Calwell: She was a prominent Australian activist and community leader during the mid 20th century who advocated for welfare of war widows.
- Bob Calwell: An Australian rules footballer who played with Geelong in the Victorian Football League (VFL) during the 1920s.
- Tom Calwell: An Australian rules footballer who played with St Kilda in the Victorian Football League (VFL) during the 1920s. Please note that while some of these people may be well-known in their respective fields or regions, they might not be universally recognized as "famous".