Conwell
An Irish surname that may be an anglicized form of an older Gaelic name, though the exact source is not certain.
The #8,579 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 80,423 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Conwell is found in Irish surname lists, but the old sources provided here do not give a full derivation. It is likely an anglicized spelling of a Gaelic family name beginning with Con-, a prefix common in Irish names and often linked to "hound" or "wolf" elements in older Gaelic compounds. Because the historical evidence in these excerpts is only incidental, the exact original form remains uncertain.
History
The surname appears in Irish onomastic references and has been recorded in Ireland and among later emigrant families. In modern usage it is also found in the United States, where it likely reflects Irish immigration and later anglicized spelling stabilization. The historical sources here do not give enough detail to identify a single definitive clan or district of origin.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The name is rare enough in the U.S. to fall outside the top 8,000 surnames in the 2010 census, yet it still has a clear Irish surname profile.
From the historical record
“triAC ConrhAOil, MacConville, Conwell. triAC ConmAtiA, MacNamara, MacNamarra, MacNamarrow. triAC CommeAX)A, ITIac Coti-”
— Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall: Irish names and surnames