Sywell

This unusual name is of Anglo Saxon origin and is a variant spelling of the name Sewell a name which has two possible meanings, the first being, that it derives from the medieval given names "Siwal(d)" and "Sewal(d)" from the Old English "Sigeweald", and "Soeweald", which are composed of the elements "Sige", meaning victory and "sae", sea, with "weald", rule, which translates as sea power, and may have been a name given to sailors. However Sewell may also a locational name from either Sewell in Bedfordshire, Showell in Oxforshire or Seawell or Sywell in Northamptonshire, all deriving from the Old English pre 7th Century "seofon", seven and "wella", spring. Among the early recordings in London is the christening Ann Sowle on March 17th 1549 at Christchurch, Greyfriars, Newgate. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William Sewald, which was dated 1220, in the Court of Fees, Berkshire, during the reign of King Henry 111, known as "The Frenchman", 1216 - 1272. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.