NameCensus.

UK surname

Abell

Derived from the Hebrew name Abel, meaning "breath" or "son," or from a place name meaning "apple orchard."

In the 1881 census there were 925 people recorded with the Abell surname, ranking it #4,151 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 858, ranked #6,528, down from #4,151 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Hinckley (incl. Hydes Pastures) and St Werburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Herefordshire, Cornwall and North Dorset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Abell is 1,167 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 7.2%.

1881 census count

925

Ranked #4,151

Modern count

858

2016, ranked #6,528

Peak year

1911

1,167 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Abell had 925 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,151 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 858 in 2016, ranked #6,528.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,167 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Abell surname distribution map

The map shows where the Abell surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Abell surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Abell over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 696 #3,746
1861 historical 653 #4,109
1881 historical 925 #4,151
1891 historical 882 #4,672
1901 historical 1,097 #4,404
1911 historical 1,167 #4,003
1997 modern 921 #5,870
1998 modern 970 #5,819
1999 modern 962 #5,895
2000 modern 958 #5,894
2001 modern 913 #6,021
2002 modern 937 #6,003
2003 modern 916 #5,998
2004 modern 911 #6,034
2005 modern 877 #6,139
2006 modern 886 #6,111
2007 modern 871 #6,253
2008 modern 863 #6,342
2009 modern 887 #6,335
2010 modern 898 #6,402
2011 modern 882 #6,426
2012 modern 861 #6,459
2013 modern 890 #6,391
2014 modern 884 #6,467
2015 modern 874 #6,457
2016 modern 858 #6,528

Geography

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Where Abells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Hinckley (incl. Hydes Pastures), St Werburgh and Wakefield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Herefordshire, Cornwall, North Dorset, Suffolk Coastal and Cheshire East. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Hinckley (incl. Hydes Pastures) Leicestershire
4 St Werburgh Derbyshire
5 Wakefield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Herefordshire 007 Herefordshire, County of
2 Cornwall 013 Cornwall
3 North Dorset 008 North Dorset
4 Suffolk Coastal 001 Suffolk Coastal
5 Cheshire East 033 Cheshire East

Forenames

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First names often paired with Abell

These lists show first names that appear often with the Abell surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Abell

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Abell, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Abell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Abell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Abell is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Abell is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Abell falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Abell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Abell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Abell

The surname ABELL is of Anglo-Saxon origin, deriving from the personal name Abel, a variation of the Hebrew name Hevel, meaning "breath" or "transitory." The name can be traced back to the 12th century in England.

The surname ABELL likely originated in the county of Oxfordshire, where it was first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Abell." This early record suggests that the name may have been derived from a place name or a topographical feature in the area.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Abell, Abbell, and Habel, reflecting the different regional pronunciations and spellings of the time. The surname ABELL was particularly prevalent in the counties of Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Berkshire.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is John Abell, who was born in Oxfordshire around 1280. Another notable bearer was William Abell, a 14th-century English scholar and theologian who served as the Chancellor of the University of Cambridge from 1389 to 1399.

In the 16th century, the surname gained prominence with Sir Maurice Abell (1505-1558), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Oxfordshire. He was knighted by King Henry VIII and served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Wallingford.

Another significant figure was John Abell (1572-1633), an English Catholic missionary and martyr who was executed during the reign of King James I for his religious beliefs. He is remembered as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales.

In the 17th century, the name ABELL was associated with the town of Abell in Derbyshire, which likely derived its name from the same source as the surname. One notable bearer was John Abell (1614-1677), an English Puritan minister and author who served as the rector of Sawbridgeworth in Hertfordshire.

Other notable individuals with the surname ABELL include William Abell (1804-1888), an English painter and illustrator known for his landscapes and historical scenes, and Truman Abell (1892-1963), an American journalist and author who co-founded the legendary Washington D.C. newspaper, The Times-Herald.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Abell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Abell surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Yorkshire leads with 143 Abells recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.60x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 143 1.60x
Leicestershire 139 13.86x
Derbyshire 87 6.15x
Devon 72 3.83x
Middlesex 70 0.77x
Worcestershire 59 5.00x
Gloucestershire 41 2.31x
Warwickshire 40 1.75x
Nottinghamshire 36 2.95x
Staffordshire 30 0.98x
Herefordshire 28 7.55x
Lancashire 24 0.22x
Surrey 21 0.48x
Sussex 18 1.18x
Lanarkshire 16 0.55x
Cornwall 15 1.47x
Hampshire 15 0.81x
Cheshire 12 0.60x
Shropshire 10 1.28x
Northamptonshire 7 0.82x
Kent 6 0.19x
Lincolnshire 6 0.42x
Essex 5 0.28x
Oxfordshire 5 0.90x
Aberdeenshire 4 0.48x
Anglesey 4 2.50x
Wiltshire 4 0.50x
Norfolk 3 0.22x
Somerset 3 0.21x
Royal Navy 2 1.86x
Berkshire 1 0.15x
Denbighshire 1 0.29x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leicester St Margaret in Leicestershire leads with 43 Abells recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.59x.

Place Total Index
Leicester St Margaret 43 17.59x
Hatherleigh 24 512.82x
Lye 21 106.87x
Hinckley 19 79.90x
Wakefield 18 26.17x
Brighton 16 5.20x
Gateforth 16 2857.14x
Govan 16 2.21x
Birmingham 15 1.97x
Derby St Werburgh 14 17.13x
Market Bosworth 14 386.74x
Derby St Alkmund 12 28.28x
Callington 11 184.56x
Claines 11 33.94x
Eston 11 56.35x
Worcester St Nicholas 11 196.78x
Barton Under Needwood 10 180.51x
Bethnal Green London 10 2.55x
Hereford All Sts 10 58.86x
Leeds 10 1.98x
Newbold Verdon 10 434.78x
Duffield 9 80.65x
Farlington 9 1730.77x
Germansweek 9 1097.56x
Hugglescote 9 61.02x
Petrockstow 9 569.62x
Skegby 9 120.48x
Battersea 8 2.40x
Duntisbourne Abbotts 8 888.89x
Easingwold 8 126.38x
Kensington London 8 1.59x
New Parks 8 3478.26x
Nottingham St Mary 8 2.54x
Oswestry Town 8 31.97x
St George Hanover Square 8 5.02x
Wigginton 8 640.00x
Annesley 7 152.51x
Beeston 7 50.00x
Chorlton On Medlock 7 4.11x
Great Malvern 7 28.41x
Little Cowarne 7 1320.75x
Prestwold Hoton 7 736.84x
Shottle 7 1129.03x
Stroud 7 20.28x
West Bromwich 7 4.01x
Wirksworth 7 54.39x
Bonsall 6 143.20x
Bowling 6 6.76x
Bradwall 6 291.26x
Christchurch 6 14.93x
Clerkenwell London 6 2.81x
Hunslet 6 4.29x
Lambeth 6 0.76x
Meeth 6 833.33x
St Pancras London 6 0.82x
Stoke Damerel 6 4.55x
Bradford 5 2.30x
Buxton 5 41.74x
Coventry St Michael 5 6.83x
Everton 5 1.46x
Fulham London 5 3.81x
Islington London 5 0.57x
Kinver 5 56.82x
Leicester St Mary 5 6.17x
Louth 5 15.09x
Neithrop 5 26.64x
Sheldon 5 403.23x
Southampton St Mary 5 4.29x
St Marylebone London 5 1.04x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 5 12.01x
West Derby 5 1.59x
Wyre Piddle 5 617.28x
Bromley London 4 2.01x
Coventry Holy Trinity 4 5.87x
Hungry Bentley 4 1600.00x
Kimberworth 4 8.04x
North Hill 4 121.95x
Northampton St Giles 4 12.35x
Scriven Cum Tentergate 4 120.48x
West Ham 4 1.02x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Abell surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 66
Elizabeth 41
Sarah 32
Ann 19
Annie 18
Eliza 18
Jane 17
Alice 13
Hannah 12
Ada 11
Ellen 11
Emma 11
Clara 7
Anne 6
Edith 6
Grace 6
Laura 6
Maria 6
Caroline 5
Emily 5
Florence 5
Kate 5
Margaret 5
Martha 5
Rebecca 5
Harriet 4
Louisa 4
Susan 4
Amelia 3
Catherine 3
Fanny 3
Harriett 3
Matilda 3
Minnie 3
Agnes 2
Amy 2
Bessie 2
Constance 2
Elizth. 2
Isabel 2
Lilly 2
Lucy 2
Lydia 2
Maud 2
Maude 2
Phillis 2
Rachael 2
Rachel 2
Winifred 2
Elizebeth 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Abell surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 68
William 56
Thomas 42
George 31
Henry 23
James 19
Richard 16
Joseph 14
Edward 11
Samuel 11
Alfred 10
Arthur 10
Robert 9
Albert 8
Charles 8
Ernest 5
Edwin 4
Frank 4
Frederick 4
Herbert 4
Walter 4
Francis 3
Harry 3
Martin 3
Stephen 3
Alexander 2
Amos 2
Hugh 2
Joshua 2
Lonsdale 2
Luke 2
Percival 2
Tom 2
Wm. 2
Andrew 1
Anthony 1
Chas. 1
Coley 1
David 1
Edgar 1
Fredck. 1
G.C. 1
Geo. 1
Gorge 1
Harward 1
Israil 1
Isreal 1
Jonathan 1
Mr. 1
Wm.Hy. 1

FAQ

Abell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Abell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 925 people were recorded with the Abell surname. That placed it at #4,151 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Abell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 858 in 2016. That gives Abell a modern rank of #6,528.

What does the Abell surname mean?

Derived from the Hebrew name Abel, meaning "breath" or "son," or from a place name meaning "apple orchard."

What does the Abell map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Abell bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.