Caldwell
Variations in form (but not substance!)
 
 
The following is intended to be a brief treatise on the variations of the name "Caldwell" as it has been found in different forms and spellings.  I have often wondered (and still do!) if similar surnames were derivations of the "Caldwell" surname or if at least some had developed separately as distinct and unassociated families.  There is mounting evidence that more of these similar names are, indeed, variations of the family of "Caldwell."  None-the-less, I do not intend to imply here that all similar spellings do, without exception, belong to this same family.

Variations in spelling of a name had many sources. Often, for example, governmental records were the cause. In some cases, clerks would record names of land owners the way they heard (or thought they heard) the name. Since many of those early land owners did not read, they would remain unaware of such errors.

In other instances, census takers would record the name of members of a household (many of whom could not write) the way it sounded to them. As a result, spelling might change from census to census.

Thus far, I have found the following possible variations:

 

   Cadwell     Cauldwell        Caldwell        Coaldwell        Coalwell
 

 

 Caudwell      Coldwell        Colwell        Couldwell        Culwell
 
 

 The sections below contain reviews on each variation for which I currently have any information.  If you have additional information on any of these variations, please email the details to me for inclusion on this page.  I would welcome anything you might be able to share!
 

 

CALDWELL

The most common spelling of the name (but probably not the original, see "Cauldwell" below) appears to be Caldwell with over 32,000 households listed with that spelling in the United States alone (information from Halberts, Inc., Bath, Ohio--1998).

 

CAULDWELL

Research indicates that this might be considered the 'correct' spelling of the name as it originated in Scotland.  The broad Scottish pronunciation of the word "cold" most likely accounts for the occasional inclusion of a "u" in the name.

COLDWELL
 

The derivation of the original surname seems to be from the presence of a cold well or spring on a privately owned estate in Scotland (see  History of the Caldwell Name  for details).  That well was much frequented by local travelers. In order to differntiate people (in describing one Alexander as distinct from another prior to the usage of surnames, for instance) people would refer to Alexander of the cold well, eventually shortening that to just Alexander Coldwell.  Some members of the family have attempted to maintain the name in this more descriptive form.  I understand that some have maintained this (i.e. Coldwell) spelling for many generations while others changed the name from the "Caldwell" spelling, to this form.

Irl Carter, whose grandfather was a Caldwell, tells us that for some reason one of the brothers of his grandpa Caldwell brothers(note the common spelling) chose to change the spelling of the name to Coldwell while another brother spelled it Colwell.  Three spellings in the same, immediate family! Thanks to Irl for this tidbit of information!

COLWELL

(See entry above for 'Coldwell')

CULWELL

Lee Culwell informs me that his family has determined this spelling to be a variation of the Caldwell surname. Census records they have found, record the spelling for one of their ancestors as "Caldwell" during one census and "Culwell" in a subsequent census--both for the same household.  Lee attributes the difference to inaccurate record keeping or illiteracy--or both.  Thanks Lee, for the info.
 
 

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