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Home β€Ί Baby Names Directory β€Ί Sewell

Sewell

β™‚ Boy

How to Pronounce Sewell

Pronounced SOO-uhl /ˈsuːəl/Medium

Meaning: Sewell is an English surname from an Old English personal name, usually explained as Sigeweald, 'victory-power,' or Saeweald, 'sea-power.' Carried as a family name, it became an American given name.Low

In 30 seconds: Sewell is an English surname-turned-first-name, likely meaning 'victory-power' or 'sea-power' (said SOO-uhl). It stayed rare through the early twentieth century.
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Origin MediumEnglish, Old English
MeaningSewell is an English surname from an Old English personal name, usually explained as Sigeweald, 'victory-power,' or Saeweald, 'sea-power.' Carried as a family name, it became an American given name.
U.S. rank (1981)#7104 β†˜ Falling
1981 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1924
Total births (all-time)β‰ˆ 442
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Popularity in the U.S. Β· SSA data

peak 192418961981

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Sewell comes from an Old English personal name behind the surname, read either as Sigeweald, 'victory-power,' or Saeweald, 'sea-power.' As a transferred surname it entered American first-name use in the surname-name vogue. It appears in United States records from the mid eighteen-nineties and peaks around 1924. It was always rare, given to only a couple dozen boys a year.

Last recorded around 1981, Sewell spans a grandfather-to-great-grandfather range and has not revived as a first name. Its smooth two-beat sound and strong Old English meaning place it beside surname-names like Newell and Atwell for a parent after a quiet, sturdy antique.

Did you know? Sewell is best known today as a surname β€” the author Anna Sewell wrote 'Black Beauty' β€” but families also used it as a first name a century ago.
Overall data confidence 55%
References - Sewell β€” English surname; Old English Sigeweald/Saeweald

Variations

SewallSewel

Nicknames

SewWell

Famous Bearers

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If you like Sewell…

Newellβ€” a like English surname-turned-first-name
Orvilleβ€” a same-era understated boys' name
Sherrillβ€” the same vintage feel
Stonewallβ€” a similarly popular pick
Shondellβ€” shares the -ll ending

Explore names like Sewell

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Sewell mean?

It is an English surname from Old English, likely meaning 'victory-power' or 'sea-power.'

How do you pronounce Sewell?

It's said SOO-uhl /ˈsuːəl/, 2 syllables.

Is Sewell a boy or girl name?

Sewell is used as a boy's name.

How popular is Sewell?

It was always rare, a surname-style boys' name given to only a couple dozen boys a year in the early nineteen-hundreds.

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