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Bonwell Family History

Bonwell Surname Meaning

English (Yorkshire): possibly a habitational name from Bunwell in Norfolk which is named with Old English bune ‘reed’ + wella ‘spring stream’ or from a lost or unidentified place of similar name perhaps in Yorkshire such as Bonwellfelde recorded in 1548 in South Milford (Yorkshire).

Alternatively the name is possibly an Anglicized form of any of numerous places in France called Bonneville. This surname is now rare in Britain.

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


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Where is the Bonwell family from?

You can see how Bonwell families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Bonwell family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Bonwell families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 19 Bonwell families living in Yorkshire. This was about 38% of all the recorded Bonwell's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Bonwell families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Bonwell 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 Bonwell ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Bonwell. 100% of Bonwell women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Bonwell | 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 Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    100%

What Bonwell family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 3,000 census records available for the last name Bonwell. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Bonwell census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Australian census records for Bonwell

Passenger Lists

There are 237 immigration records available for the last name Bonwell. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Australia, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Bonwell immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 603 military records available for the last name Bonwell. For the veterans among your Bonwell ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Bonwell military records

You've only scratched the surface of Bonwell family history

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What is the average Bonwell lifespan?

Between 1952 and 2004, in the United States, Bonwell life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1959, and highest in 1973. The average life expectancy for Bonwell in 1952 was 59, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Bonwell

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Bonwell 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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