Maxwell is a Scottish surname, a habitational name derived from a location near Melrose, in

Roxburghshire Roxburghshire or the County of Roxburgh ( gd, Siorrachd Rosbroig) is a historic county and registration county in the Southern Uplands of Scotland. It borders Dumfriesshire to the west, Selkirkshire and Midlothian to the north-west, and Berw ...

, Scotland. This name was first recorded in 1144, as ''Mackeswell'', meaning "Mack's spring (or stream)" (from the

Old English Old English (, ), or Anglo-Saxon, is the earliest recorded form of the English language, spoken in England and southern and eastern Scotland in the early Middle Ages. It was brought to Great Britain by Anglo-Saxon settlement of Britain, Anglo ...

''well '). The surname ''Maxwell'' is also common in

Ulster Ulster (; ga, Ulaidh or ''Cúige Uladh'' ; sco, label= Ulster Scots, Ulstèr or ''Ulster'') is one of the four traditional Irish provinces. It is made up of nine counties: six of these constitute Northern Ireland (a part of the United King ...

, where it has, in some cases, been adopted as alternate form of the surname ''Miskell''. The surname ''Maxwell'' is represented in

Scottish Gaelic Scottish Gaelic ( gd, Gàidhlig ), also known as Scots Gaelic and Gaelic, is a Goidelic language (in the Celtic branch of the Indo-European language family) native to the Gaels of Scotland. As a Goidelic language, Scottish Gaelic, as well as ...

as ''MacSuail''.

People

Ally Maxwell Alistair Espie Maxwell (born 16 February 1965) is a Scottish football coach and former professional footballer. He is currently a youth coach for SC Del Sol Soccer Club in the United States, having previously played for Motherwell, Rangers and ...

(born 1965), Scottish football goalkeeper *

Andrew Maxwell Andrew Maxwell (born 3 December 1974) is an Irish comedian and narrator, known for narrating the MTV reality series ''Ex on the Beach''. Career In 1992, Maxwell tried stand-up comedy for the first time at the Comedy Cellar at The Internationa ...

(born 1974), Irish stand-up comedian *

Anna Maxwell Anna Caroline Maxwell (March 14, 1851January 2, 1929), was a nurse who came to be known as "the American Florence Nightingale". Her pioneering activities were crucial to the growth of professional nursing in the United States. Early years Maxwell ...

(1851–1929), American nurse *

Augustus Maxwell Augustus Emmet Maxwell (September 21, 1820 – May 5, 1903) was an American lawyer and politician. Maxwell served in a number of political positions in the State of Florida including as one of Florida's Senators to the Confederate States Cong ...

(1820–1903), American politician *

Bernadine Maxwell Bernadine Maxwell (died May 31, 1988) was an All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player. She was born in Topeka, Kansas Topeka ( ; Kansa: ; iow, Dópikˀe, script=Latn or ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and ...

(died 1988), All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player * Bill Maxwell (1882–1917), Australian rules footballer *

Billy Maxwell Billy Joe Maxwell (July 23, 1929 – September 20, 2021) was an American professional golfer. Maxwell was born in Abilene, Texas. He played college golf at North Texas State College and helped them win four consecutive NCAA Division I team ch ...

(born 1929), American golfer *

Brian Maxwell Brian Leigh Maxwell (March 14, 1953 – March 19, 2004) was a British born Canadian track and field athlete, track coach, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He founded PowerBar, a maker of energy and nutritional products for athletes. Maxwell ini ...

(1953–2004), Canadian athlete and founder of PowerBar * Brookie Maxwell (1956–2015), American artist *

Bruce Maxwell Bruce Tyrone Maxwell III (born December 20, 1990) is a German–born American professional baseball catcher for the Acereros de Monclova of the Mexican League. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics. Maxwell is th ...

(born 1990), American baseball player *

Carmen Maxwell Carman Griffin Maxwell (December 27, 1902 – September 22, 1987) was an American animator and voice actor. Maxwell was born in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, and later moved to Kansas City, Missouri. He began his career at Walt Disney, where Maxwel ...

(1902–1987), American animator *

Catherine Maxwell Stuart, 21st Lady of Traquair Catherine Margaret Mary Maxwell Stuart, 21st Lady of Traquair (born 16 November 1964) is a Scottish landowner, politician, hotelier, brewer, and writer. She is the first female Laird of Traquair and, at the time she succeeded her father in 1990, ...

(born 1964), Scottish landowner and businesswoman *

Cedric Maxwell Cedric Bryan Maxwell (born November 21, 1955) is an American retired professional basketball player now in radio broadcasting. Nicknamed "Cornbread", he played 11 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and played a key role in two ...

(born 1955), American basketball player * Charles Maxwell (disambiguation), several people *

Charlie Maxwell Charles Richard Maxwell (born April 8, 1927) is an American former professional baseball outfielder who played 14 seasons in Major League Baseball with the Boston Red Sox (1950–52, 1954), Baltimore Orioles (1955), Detroit Tigers (1955–62) ...

(born 1927), American baseball player *

Chenoa Maxwell Chenoa Maxwell (born November 16, 1969) is an American actress and photographer. Career Maxwell is best known for her starring role in the 1997 romantic comedy ''Hav Plenty'' and as the recurring character Lena Turner on the hit UPN sitcom '' Gi ...

(born 1969), American actress and photographer *

Col Maxwell Colin Maxwell (1917–2001) was an Australian international rugby league footballer whose career ran from the 1930s to the 1950s. He was a centre for the Australian national team in one Test in 1948 in which he captained the side. Club career ...

(1917–2001), Australian rugby player *

Colin Maxwell (politician) Colin Maxwell (born 1943) is a Scottish-born former educator and political figure in Saskatchewan, Canada. He represented Turtleford Turtleford is a town in the rural municipality of Mervin No. 499, in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan ...

(born 1943), former politician in Saskatchewan, Canada *

Constantia Maxwell Constantia Elizabeth Maxwell (1886–1962) was an Irish historian who became the first woman to join Trinity College Dublin as a Professor. Early life and education Maxwell was the daughter of Scottish ophthalmic surgeon Patrick W. Maxwell and ...

(1886–1962), Irish historian *

Corty Maxwell The following is a list of major league baseball umpires. The list includes umpires who worked in any of four 19th century major leagues (American Association, National Association, Players' League, Union Association), one defunct 20th century ma ...

(1851–1925), American professional baseball umpire *

David Maxwell (disambiguation) David Maxwell may refer to: * David Maxwell (academic) (born 1944), president of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa * David Maxwell (historian) (born 1963), Dixie Professor of Ecclesiastical History at Cambridge University * David Maxwell (musici ...

, several people *

Edward Maxwell Edward Maxwell (31 December 1867 – 14 November 1923) was a prominent Canadian architect. Life and career The son of Edward John Maxwell, a lumber dealer in Montreal, by his marriage to Johanna MacBean, Maxwell graduated from the High School of ...

(1867–1923), Canadian architect. *

Edwin Maxwell (actor) Edwin Maxwell (9 February 1886 – 13 August 1948) was an Irish character actor on in Hollywood movies of the 1930s and 1940s, frequently cast as shady businessmen and shysters, though often ones with a pompous or dignified bearing. Prior to t ...

(1886–1948), Irish actor * Edwin Maxwell, American lawyer, judge, and politician *

Elsa Maxwell Elsa Maxwell (May 24, 1883 – November 1, 1963) was an American gossip columnist and author, songwriter, screenwriter, radio personality and professional hostess renowned for her parties for royalty and high society figures of her day. Maxw ...

(1883–1963), American gossip columnist and socialite *

Gavin Maxwell Gavin Maxwell FRSL FZS FRGS (15 July 19147 September 1969) was a British naturalist and author, best known for his non-fiction writing and his work with otters. He wrote the book ''Ring of Bright Water'' (1960) about how he brought an otter ba ...

(1914–1969), Scottish naturalist * George Maxwell (disambiguation), several people * Gilbert Maxwell (1910–1979) American poet, actor, and author *

Ghislaine Maxwell Ghislaine Noelle Marion Maxwell ( ; born 25 December 1961) is a British convicted sex offender and former socialite. In 2021, she was found guilty of child sex trafficking and other offences in connection with the financier and convicted sex o ...

(born 1961), British sex offender and former socialite *

Graham Maxwell Arthur Graham Crowder Maxwell (18 July 1921 – 28 November 2010), often abbreviated as A. Graham Maxwell, was a Seventh-day Adventist theologian, and the emeritus professor of New Testament studies at Loma Linda University.Obituary 12/5/2010 In ...

, American theologian *

Glenn Maxwell Glenn James Maxwell (born 14 October 1988) is an Australian professional cricketer, who represents Australia national cricket team in One Day International and Twenty20 International formats of the game and has played Test cricket for Australia ...

(born 1988), Australian cricketer *

Henry Maxwell, 7th Baron Farnham The Rt Hon. Henry Maxwell, 7th Baron Farnham, K.P. (9 August 1799 – 20 August 1868), was an Irish peer, a Member of Parliament, an evangelical Orangeman and County Cavan landowner. During the hunger years of late 1820s and late 1840s, he was ...

(1799–1868), Irish politician *

Hugh Maxwell Hugh Maxwell (1787 – March 31, 1873) was an American lawyer and politician from New York. Early life Maxwell was born in Paisley, Scotland in 1787. He was the son of William Maxwell. After immigrating to the United States in 1790 aroun ...

(1787–1873), New York County District Attorney and Collector of the Port of New York * Ian Maxwell (disambiguation), several people *

Jackie Maxwell Jackie Maxwell (born 1956) is an Irish-born Canadian theatre director and dramaturge. She was the artistic director of the Shaw Festival from 2002 to 2016. Early life and education Maxwell was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Her mother was ...

(born 1956), Canadian theatre director * James Maxwell (disambiguation), several people *

Jan Maxwell Janice Elaine Maxwell (November 20, 1956 – February 11, 2018) was an American stage and television actress. She was a five-time Tony Award nominee and two-time Drama Desk Award winner. In a career spanning over thirty years, Maxwell was one ...

(1956–2018), American actress * Jim Maxwell (commentator) (born 1950), Australian sports commentator *

Jim Maxwell (American football) James Maxwell (born August 8, 1981) is a former American football linebacker. He was signed by the NFL New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2004. He played college football at Gardner–Webb. Maxwell has also played for the San Fran ...

(born 1981), American football linebacker *

Jimmy Maxwell (bandleader) Jimmy Maxwell (born August 30, 1953) is a musician and band leader who has performed and conducted from coast to coast in the United States. Jimmy has been the band for top social functions in New Orleans since 1981. From 1985 to 1989, Jimmy was ...

(born 1953), musician and bandleader *

Jimmy Maxwell (footballer) Jimmy Maxwell (1889 – 1 July 1916) was an Irish footballer who played as a forward. Club career Maxwell was part of the Linfield side who won a treble in 1901–02, claiming Irish League, Irish Cup and City Cup winners medals, before moving ...

(1889–1916), Irish footballer *

Jimmy Maxwell (trumpeter) Jimmy Maxwell (January 9, 1917 – July 20, 2002) was an American swing jazz trumpeter. Maxwell played cornet from an early age, studying with Herbert L. Clarke in the early 1930s. He played with Gil Evans (1933–34), Jimmy Dorsey (1936), Maxi ...

(1917–2002), American trumpeter * John Maxwell (disambiguation), several people * Joseph Maxwell (disambiguation), several people *

Justin Maxwell Justin Adam Maxwell (born November 6, 1983) is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Washington Nationals, Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals, and San Francisco Giants . Biography ...

(born 1983), American baseball outfielder * Kenneth R. Maxwell (born 1941) British historian *

Lilly Maxwell Lilly Maxwell or Lily Maxwell (c.1800 – 1876) was a British suffragist who was said to be the first woman to vote by campaigning suffragists in Manchester. This resulted in an important test case at the Court of Common Pleas. Life Maxwell was b ...

, the first woman to vote in Britain (1867) *

Lois Maxwell Lois Ruth Maxwell (born Lois Ruth Hooker; 14 February 1927 – 29 September 2007) was a Canadian actress who portrayed Miss Moneypenny in the first fourteen Eon-produced ''James Bond'' films (1962–1985). She was the first actress to play the ...

(1927–2007), Canadian actress * Luke Maxwell, English footballer *

Marcus Maxwell Marcus James Maxwell (born July 8, 1983) is a former American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football at Oregon. Maxwell was also a member of the ...

(born 1983), American football player *

Marilyn Maxwell Marvel Marilyn Maxwell (August 3, 1921 – March 20, 1972) was an American actress and entertainer. In a career that spanned the 1940s and 1950s, she appeared in several films and radio programs, and entertained the troops during World War ...

(1921–1972), American actress *

Murray Maxwell Captain Sir Murray Maxwell, CB, FRS (10 September 1775 – 26 June 1831) was a British Royal Navy officer who served with distinction in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, particularly during the French Revolutionary and Napo ...

(1775–1831), British Royal Navy officer *

Neal A. Maxwell Neal Ash Maxwell (July 6, 1926 – July 21, 2004) was an American scholar, educator, and religious leader who served as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1981 until h ...

(1926–2004), American religious leader *

Nicholas Maxwell Nicholas Maxwell (born 3 July 1937) is a British philosopher. Maxwell taught philosophy of science at University College London, where he is now Emeritus Reader. In 2003 he founded Friends of Wisdom. He has published fifteen books. He has pub ...

(born 1937), philosopher at UCL *

Paul Maxwell Paul Maxwell (born Maxim Popovich; November 12, 1921December 19, 1991) was a Canadian actor who worked mostly in British cinema and television, in which he was usually cast as American characters. In terms of audience, his most notable role w ...

(1921–1991), Canadian actor working in Britain * Robert Maxwell (disambiguation), several people *

Robin Maxwell (author) Robin Maxwell (born February 26, 1948) is an American historical novelist who specializes in the Tudor period. She is also a screenwriter and political blogger. Maxwell was raised in Plainfield, New Jersey, and graduated from Tufts University. Sh ...

(born 1948), American writer * Ronald F. Maxwell (born 1947), American film director and writer *

Russell Maxwell Russell Lamonte Maxwell (28 December 1890 – 24 November 1968) was an officer in the U.S. Army. Military career Born in Oakdale, Illinois, and raised in Modesto, California, Maxwell graduated from the United States Military Academy in June 19 ...

, American general *

Scott Maxwell __NOTOC__ Scott Maxwell (born January 20, 1964), is a Canadian auto racing driver. Scott has competed and won titles in Formula Vee (1984), Formula Ford 1600 (1985 and 1986), Canadian National Showroom Stock (1992 and 1993) and Grand-Am/Continen ...

(born 1964), Canadian racing driver * Scott Maxwell (engineer) (born 1971), American engineer *

Steamer Maxwell Frederick George "Steamer" Maxwell (May 19, 1890 – September 11, 1975) was a Canadian amateur ice hockey player. He played rover in the days of seven-man hockey at the turn of the 20th century, spending six seasons with the Winnipeg Monarchs of ...

(1890–1975), Canadian ice hockey player *

Stephen Maxwell Stephen Maxwell (11 October 1942 – 24 April 2012) was a Scottish nationalist politician and intellectual and, from the 1980s, a leading figure in the Scottish voluntary sector. Early life Born in 1942 in Edinburgh to a Scottish medical fa ...

(born 1940), Scottish nationalist *

Stewart Maxwell William Stewart Maxwell (born 24 December 1963) is a Scottish National Party (SNP) politician. He was the Minister for Communities and Sport from 2007 to 2009 and a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the West of Scotland region from 2 ...

(born 1963), Scottish politician *

Tony Maxwell Anthony D. Maxwell (born June 3, 1968) is an American musician. From 1991 to 1997, he was the drummer for the band That Dog, for which he also played for a 2019 reunion album, ''Old LP''. After the breakup of the band, he worked as composer on th ...

, American drummer and choreographer *

Vernon Maxwell Vernon Maxwell (born September 12, 1965) is an American former professional basketball player who was a shooting guard in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for thirteen seasons during the late 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s. Maxwell play ...

(born 1965), American basketball player *

W. B. Maxwell William Babington Maxwell (1866–1938) was a successful British novelist and playwright. Early life Born on 4 June 1866, William Babington Maxwell was the son of novelist Mary Elizabeth Braddon and Irish businessman John Maxwell. The ...

(William Babington Maxwell, 1866–1938), British novelist * W. Henry Maxwell (1935–2010), American politician * William Maxwell (disambiguation), multiple people *Willie Maxwell, birth name of American rapper

Fetty Wap Willie Junior Maxwell II (born June 7, 1991), better known by his stage names Fetty Wap or Harlem Fetty, is an American rapper, singer and songwriter. He rose to prominence after his debut single "Trap Queen" reached number two on the U.S. ''B ...

Fictional characters

* Bob Maxwell (''Coronation Street''), fictional character in the British soap opera *

Bobby Maxwell (character) ''The Enforcer'' is a 1976 American neo-noir vigilante action thriller film and the third in the ''Dirty Harry'' film series. Directed by James Fargo, it stars Clint Eastwood as Inspector "Dirty" Harry Callahan, Tyne Daly as Inspector Kate ...

, fictional character from the 1976 American film ''The Enforcer'' *

Duo Maxwell This is a list of characters from the Japanese anime television series ''Mobile Suit Gundam Wing'', known in Japan as , and subsequent spin-offs. The codes after the characters' names indicate which series and manga the characters appear in: ...

, in the anime ''Mobile Suit Gundam Wing'' * Enrico Maxwell, in the manga franchise ''Hellsing'' *Jane Maxwell, in the role-playing video game ''

Wild Arms 3 ''Wild Arms 3'', known in Japan as , is a role-playing video game developed by Media.Vision for the PlayStation 2. It is a sequel to ''Wild Arms'' and '' Wild Arms 2''. Sony Computer Entertainment released it in Japan and North America in 2002 ...

'' *

Johnny Maxwell Johnny Maxwell is a fictional character in a series of three children's books by Terry Pratchett. He is a young boy (twelve in the first book, but a teenager in the later ones) living in the (fictional) typical late-20th-century English town of B ...

, fictional character in Terry Pratchett's novels *Nicole "Nikki" Maxwell, character in the ''

Dork Diaries ''Dork Diaries'' is a children's book series written and illustrated by Rachel Renée Russell. The series, written in a diary format, uses drawings, doodles, and comic strips to chronicle the daily life of its 15-year-old adolescent protagonist, ...

'' book series *Peter Maxwell, character in ''The Vampire Diaries'' *Peter Maxwell, in Clifford Simak's novel ''

The Goblin Reservation ''The Goblin Reservation'' is a 1968 science fiction novel by American writer Clifford D. Simak, featuring an educated Neanderthal, a biomechanical sabertooth tiger, aliens that move about on wheels, a man who time-travels using an unreliable de ...

References

{{surname, Maxwell English-language surnames Surnames of Lowland Scottish origin Surnames of Ulster-Scottish origin

People

Fictional characters

See also

References