<P> Maxwell is a Jewish, Irish, and Scottish surname . The Scottish name is a habitational name, derived from a location near Melrose, in Roxburghshire, Scotland . This name was first recorded in 1144, as Mackeswell, meaning "Mack's spring (or stream)" (from the Old English well (a)). The surname Maxwell is also common in Ulster; where it has, in some cases, been adopted as alternate form of the surname Miskell . The surname Maxwell is also used as a Jewish surname, either as an adoption of the Scottish name, or as an Americanization of one of several like - sounding Jewish surnames . The surname Maxwell is represented in Scottish Gaelic as MacSual . </P> <Ul> <Li> Ally Maxwell (born 1965), Scottish football goalkeeper </Li> <Li> Andrew Maxwell (born 1974), Irish stand - up comedian </Li> <Li> Anna Maxwell (1851--1929), American nurse </Li> <Li> Augustus Maxwell (1820--1903), American politician </Li> <Li> Bernadine Maxwell (died 1988), All - American Girls Professional Baseball League player </Li> <Li> Brian Maxwell (1953--2004), Canadian athlete and founder of PowerBar </Li> <Li> Carmen Maxwell (1902--1987), American animator </Li> <Li> Cedric Maxwell (born 1955), American basketball player </Li> <Li> Charlie Maxwell (born 1927), American baseball player </Li> <Li> Chenoa Maxwell (born 1969), American actress and photographer </Li> <Li> Col Maxwell (1917--2001), Australian rugby league footballer </Li> <Li> Corty Maxwell (1851--1925), American professional baseball umpire </Li> <Li> David Maxwell (disambiguation), multiple people </Li> <Li> Edwin Maxwell, American lawyer, judge, and politician </Li> <Li> Elsa Maxwell (1883--1963), American gossip columnist and socialite </Li> <Li> Gavin Maxwell (1914--1969), Scottish naturalist </Li> <Li> Gilbert Maxwell (1910--1979) American poet, actor, and author </Li> <Li> Graham Maxwell, American theologian </Li> <Li> Henry Maxwell, 7th Baron Farnham (1799--1868), Irish politician </Li> <Li> Hugh Maxwell (1787--1873), New York County District Attorney and Collector of the Port of New York </Li> <Li> Ian Maxwell (disambiguation), various people </Li> <Li> James Maxwell (disambiguation), multiple people </Li> <Li> James Clerk Maxwell (1831 - 1879), Scottish physicist </Li> <Li> John Maxwell (disambiguation), multiple people </Li> <Li> Joseph Maxwell (disambiguation), multiple people </Li> <Li> Joseph Maxwell (1896--1967), Australian soldier </Li> <Li> Joseph R.N. Maxwell (1899--1971), American Jesuit educator </Li> <Li> Justin Maxwell (born 1983), American baseball outfielder </Li> <Li> Kenneth R. Maxwell (born 1941) British historian </Li> <Li> Lilly Maxwell, the first woman to vote in Britain (1867) </Li> <Li> Lois Maxwell (1927--2007), Canadian actress </Li> <Li> Luke Maxwell, English footballer </Li> <Li> Marcus Maxwell (born 1983), American football player </Li> <Li> Marilyn Maxwell (1921--1972), American actress </Li> <Li> Maxwell Baronets, created in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia in 1627 </Li> <Li> Murray Maxwell (1775--1831), British Royal Navy officer </Li> <Li> Neal A. Maxwell (1926--2004), American religious leader </Li> <Li> Nicholas Maxwell (born 1937), philosopher at UCL </Li> <Li> Robert Maxwell (disambiguation), multiple people </Li> <Li> Robin Maxwell (author) (born 1948), American writer </Li> <Li> Ronald F. Maxwell (born 1947), American film director and writer </Li> <Li> Russell Maxwell, American general </Li> <Li> Scott Maxwell (born 1964), Canadian racing driver </Li> <Li> Scott Maxwell (engineer) (born 1971), American engineer </Li> <Li> Steamer Maxwell (1890--1975), Canadian ice hockey player </Li> <Li> Stephen Maxwell (born 1940), Scottish nationalist </Li> <Li> Stewart Maxwell (born 1963), Scottish politician </Li> <Li> Tony Maxwell, American drummer and choreographer </Li> <Li> Vernon Maxwell (born 1965), American basketball player </Li> <Li> W. Henry Maxwell (1935--2010), American politician </Li> <Li> William Maxwell (disambiguation), multiple people </Li> </Ul>

Where does the last name maxwell come from
find me the text answering this question