Show ContentsAlwell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The history of the Alwell name began with the ancient Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from the Old English personal name Æthelwig, which originally meant noble-war, Ælfwig, which meant elf-war, or Ealdwig, which meant old war.

Early Origins of the Alwell family

The surname Alwell was first found in Suffolk, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the Alwell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Alwell research. Another 157 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1188, 1200, 1206, 1221, 1264, 1273, 1301, 1544, 1599 and 1681 are included under the topic Early Alwell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Alwell Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Alwell family name include Alway, Allway, Alewy, Alwy, Always, Allways, Ailwi, Alwi, Alawy, Alewi, Alwaye and many more.

Early Notables of the Alwell family

More information is included under the topic Early Alwell Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Alwell family

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, the Canadas, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Alwell surname or a spelling variation of the name include : Robert Alway, who was recorded in Oxford County, Ontario in 1835; J.W. Alway in Lincoln County, Ontario in 1872; and Alfred Alway in Haldimand County, Ontario in 1877..


Contemporary Notables of the name Alwell (post 1700) +

  • Kau Alwell, American neurologist
  • Chris Alwell, American actor, known for Mission Idiot (2003)
  • Sherry Alwell, American transcriber, known for her work on Moonshiners (2012) and Beachfront Bargain Hunt (2013-2017)


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