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Origins of the name CALDWELL and variants

Of territorial origin from the lands of the name in Renfrewshire. The old family of the name appears to have ended in the direct line in an heiress in the fifteenth century (Crawford). In 1342 there is an entry of the fee of William de Caldwell (ER., I, p. 510). Robert Cauldwell was a merchant in the service of Sir John of Montgomery, 1405 (Bain, IV, 697). Hugh de Calde Wel, scutiferus, appears as charter witness, 1419 (LCD., p. 240), Watte Cawdwellis was witness in Dunfermline, 1495 (RD., 320), and Martyne Caldwell, a follower of the earl of Cassilis, was respited for murder, 1526 (RSS., I, 3386). James Caulduoll was presbyter and notary public in Glasgow, 1548 (LCD., p. 63), and Patrick Caldwools is recorded in Cockerhaugh, 1687 (Peebles CR.). The surname was common in Edinburgh in the seventeenth century in the forms Cauldwell, Caldwelles, and Cauldwells (Edinb. Marr.). In the Records of Invercauld the form Guildwell and perhaps Camdell occur. John E. Caldwell, son of James Caldwell, soldier parson of the Revolution, was one of the founders of the American Bible Society. Calduall 1688, Caldwellis 1488, Calludwell 1503, Cautduall 1661, Caulduell 1551, Cawldwell 1498. An old local pronunciation of the name was Carwall.

From The Surnames of Scotland (1946) by George Fraser Black (1866-1948)

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This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'of Caldwell,' parishes in the the Dioceses of Ripon and Peterborough. Probably 'the cold-well' — cold, or cald. Anglo-Saxon ceald; v. Coldwell and Caudle. This surname has ramified in the most extraordinary manner in the United States. One or two early settlers must have bred a healthy family of boys, who thrived and married.

Ricardis de Coldewell, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

Johannes de Caldewell, 1379: ibid.

Johannes de Coldwell, 1379: ibid.

1581. John Caldwell and Margaret Hilde: Marriage Lic. (London).

1796. Married — John Caldwell and Margaret Mathews: St. George, Hanover Square.

From A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, written: 1872-1896 by Charles Wareing Endell Bardsley

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An English name used as an anglicized form of Ó hUairisce in Tyrone and of Cullivan and Colavin (Mac Conluain) in Co. Cavan. MIF 241

From A Guide to Irish Names (1964) by Edward MacLysaght

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(English) belonging to Caldwell = the Cold Well or Spring [Old English c(e)ald + wiella]

From Surnames of the United Kingdom (1912) by Henry Harrison

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"The cold well." Several localities in various counties are so designated.

From Patronymica Britannica, written: 1838-1860 by Mark Antony Lower

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(English) One who came from Caldwell (cold stream), in Yorkshire.

From Dictionary of American Family Names (1956) by Elsdon Coles Smith

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From colwold, the hazel wood.

From The Origin and Signification of Scottish Surnames (1862) by Clifford Stanley Sims (1839-1896)