The name Maxwell comes from a Scottish surname, which is derived from a place name meaning "the stream of Maccus" in Old English (Maccus was the Old English name).
Famous bearers
Bearers of the surname include James Maxwell (1831 - 1879), a Scottish mathematician and theoretical physicist;
Robert Maxwell (born 1921), an American harpist and songwriter;
Ronald F. Maxwell (born 1947), an American film director and writer.
