The Mackwell family origins are unknown and three distinct branches of the family appear around the Pateley Bridge area in the 1700s, all with connections to Greenhow. Mackrill, which occurs as a distinct family throughout England, is often seen here as a variant as is Mackerell, Mackrell and Mackriel.

Markwell and McWell have been seem in known records for this family and it has been suggested, although no evidence has been found, that Maxwell and MacKwell could be variants also.

Harald Bruff thought that some of the older members of the family that he knew a hundred years ago, had Italian features. He thought that they might be descendants of the Mackiavelli family, but there is no evidence to support this.

There are three distinct family lines on Greenhow, but it has not been possible to link these to a common ancestor. These lines start with:

Joseph Mackwell was born abt 1784 and married Esther ???

John Mackwell was born abt 1740 and married Sarah Bentley at Pateley Bridge on 15th June 1761. All their children were born at Greenhow and Hardcastle.

James Mackwell was born abt 1801 and married Ellen Simpson at Pateley Bridge on 22nd November 1820. All their children were born at Greenhow.

Further details on these family lines

Joseph Mackwell, 1784-???? (estimate) and wife Esther had three children that we know of (and probably many more) – Henry was born in 1806 in Pateley Bridge, Mary 1816 & Caroline 1825. More details

John Mackwell, born 1740 (estimate) married Sarah Bentley at Pateley Bridge on 15th June 1761 and they had the following children born at Greenhow and Hardcastle: George 1761, John 1762, Elizabeth 1764, John 1766, Mary 1768, Duncan 1770, Francis, 1772, Joseph 1775 & Sarah 1780. More details

James Mackwell, born abt 1801 married Ellen Simpson at Pateley Bridge on 22nd November 1820. All their children were born at Greenhow: William 1823, Ann 1823, John 1825 (died in Rochdale), Duncan 1828, Miriam 1830 (died in Leeds), James Macbeth 1833 (died in Australia) & Matthew 1836. More details