Atwell
A topographic surname meaning “at the well,” originally for someone who lived by a well or spring.
The #4,116 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 35,809 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Atwell is a reduced form of the older Middle English phrase atte welle, meaning “at the well.” It was first used to identify someone who lived beside a well or spring, and over time the phrase fused into a hereditary surname. The structure is the same as other surnames like Atwood and Atwater.
History
Historical references show the name in medieval England, especially in London records from the 13th to 14th centuries. Like many surnames beginning with At- or Atten-, it was gradually shortened and standardized into its modern form. Variant forms such as Atwill and Twells reflect later contraction and spelling change.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Baring-Gould noted that surnames like Atwell often lost the preposition over time, so “Atte Well” could eventually become simply Atwell—or even a more altered form like Twells.
From the historical record
“ATWATER. See V/aters. ATWELL. See Wells. ATWICK. See Wick. ATWOOD. ATTWOOD. See Wood. ATWORTIL See Worth. AUBERVILLE. Roger de Auberville came in with the Conqueror and is men- tioned in Domesd. as holder of 18 manors in Essex and Sufl'olk. Baronetage. De”
— Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom