UK surname
A surname of English origin, derived from a place name meaning "noble hill" in Old English.
In the 1881 census there were 29 people recorded with the Adell surname, ranking it #29,484 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4, ranked #38,419, down from #29,484 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Stagsden, St Leonard Shoreditch and Pirton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Adell is 177 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 86.2%.
1881 census count
29
Ranked #29,484
Modern count
4
2016, ranked #38,419
Peak year
1861
177 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Adell surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Adell surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 14 | #30,790 |
| 1861 | historical | 177 | #13,265 |
| 1881 | historical | 29 | #29,484 |
| 1891 | historical | 70 | #28,073 |
| 1901 | historical | 16 | #32,260 |
| 1911 | historical | 8 | #32,903 |
| 1997 | modern | 4 | #38,094 |
| 1998 | modern | 6 | #37,703 |
| 1999 | modern | 4 | #38,100 |
| 2000 | modern | 6 | #37,624 |
| 2001 | modern | 6 | #37,456 |
| 2002 | modern | 7 | #37,379 |
| 2003 | modern | 5 | #37,750 |
| 2004 | modern | 4 | #38,013 |
| 2005 | modern | 2 | #38,532 |
| 2006 | modern | 4 | #38,130 |
| 2007 | modern | 7 | #37,687 |
| 2008 | modern | 5 | #38,027 |
| 2009 | modern | 5 | #38,122 |
| 2010 | modern | 4 | #38,371 |
| 2011 | modern | 3 | #38,546 |
| 2012 | modern | 1 | #38,986 |
| 2013 | modern | 2 | #38,761 |
| 2014 | modern | 1 | #39,020 |
| 2015 | modern | 2 | #38,793 |
| 2016 | modern | 4 | #38,419 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Stagsden, St Leonard Shoreditch, Pirton, Lambeth and Brickhill, Bow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stagsden | Bedfordshire |
| 2 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 3 | Pirton | Hertfordshire |
| 4 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | Brickhill, Bow | Buckinghamshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Adell surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Adell, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Adell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Adell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Adell is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Adell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Adell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname ADELL originated in Germany during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old German word "adal," meaning "noble" or "aristocratic." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals of noble or distinguished lineage.
ADELL is also thought to have roots in the Germanic personal name "Adalhardus," which was composed of the elements "adal" (noble) and "hard" (hardy or brave). This name was prevalent among the Frankish nobility and may have contributed to the formation of the surname.
In the early records, the name appeared with various spellings, such as Adell, Adel, and Adele, reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling conventions of the time. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a collection of documents from medieval Saxony, where an individual named Adelbert von Adel is mentioned in the year 1150.
During the Middle Ages, the name ADELL was associated with several notable figures. One such individual was Konrad von Adel (1215-1280), a German nobleman and landowner who played a significant role in the administration of the Duchy of Bavaria. Another prominent bearer of the name was Dietrich Adell (1330-1395), a respected scholar and theologian who taught at the University of Prague.
In the 15th century, the ADELL family established itself in the region of Swabia, in southwestern Germany. Hans Adell (1440-1508), a respected merchant and financier from Augsburg, was a prominent member of this family. His son, Georg Adell (1475-1542), followed in his footsteps and became a successful banker and patron of the arts.
As the surname spread throughout Germany and beyond, it gained further recognition. One notable figure was Johann Adell (1570-1638), a German composer and organist who served at the court of the Elector of Saxony. His contributions to the development of early Baroque music were highly regarded.
In the 19th century, the ADELL name gained international recognition with the birth of August Adell (1822-1898), a German-American engineer and industrialist. He immigrated to the United States and founded the Adell Manufacturing Company, which played a significant role in the development of agricultural machinery.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Adell surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Sussex leads with 11 Adells recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.91x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Sussex | 11 | 23.91x |
| Middlesex | 6 | 2.20x |
| Northamptonshire | 5 | 19.49x |
| Buckinghamshire | 4 | 24.24x |
| Essex | 1 | 1.86x |
| Kent | 1 | 1.07x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Heathfield in Sussex leads with 11 Adells recorded in 1881 and an index of 5789.47x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Heathfield | 11 | 5789.47x |
| Wellingborough | 5 | 387.60x |
| Chelsea London | 3 | 36.50x |
| Lavendon | 3 | 4285.71x |
| St Pancras London | 2 | 9.11x |
| Chislehurst | 1 | 200.00x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 6.59x |
| Olney | 1 | 434.78x |
| Wivenhoe | 1 | 476.19x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Adell surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Adell surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Adell households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Ag Labourer | 4 |
| Scholar | 3 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Barmaid | 1 |
| Bonnet Sewer Mar | 1 |
| Domestic ServantHousemaid | 1 |
| Formerly Farm Lab (No Occ) | 1 |
| Groom Dom Serv | 1 |
| Lacemaker | 1 |
| Railway Signalman | 1 |
| Raily Porter | 1 |
| Shipyard Labourer | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 29 people were recorded with the Adell surname. That placed it at #29,484 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 4 in 2016. That gives Adell a modern rank of #38,419.
A surname of English origin, derived from a place name meaning "noble hill" in Old English.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Adell bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.