Many years ago, I learned of the surname ‘Hinderwell’ in my ancestry. Such a surname likely had its roots in Hinderwell, Yorkshire. It’s very unique and also ‘rare’ as a surname but it also a favourite of mine. It surfaced in my research at Scalby and Scarborough, Yorkshire in the 1600’s and 1700’s. There was a movement of Hinderwell’s from Scalby, (where they were farmers) to Scarborough, (where they were mariners) starting in the early 1700’s. Sadly, by the early 1800’s the surname died out at Scarborough after my ancestor, Francis Hinderwell moved to London, where he took an exceptional job as a Thames ‘Pilot’. To land such a job Francis needed sound sailing and navigational skills.
