UK surname
A locational surname referring to someone from Argall in Cornwall, England.
In the 1881 census there were 93 people recorded with the Argall surname, ranking it #20,593 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 40, ranked #35,434, down from #20,593 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Redruth, St Agnes and Newlyn. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Argall is 136 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 57.0%.
1881 census count
93
Ranked #20,593
Modern count
40
2016, ranked #35,434
Peak year
1861
136 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Argall surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Argall surname density by area, 1901 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 | 107 | #16,402 |
| 1861 | historical | 136 | #16,556 |
| 1881 | historical | 93 | #20,593 |
| 1891 | historical | 77 | #27,169 |
| 1901 | historical | 100 | #22,863 |
| 1911 | historical | 95 | #23,294 |
| 1997 | modern | 40 | #33,666 |
| 1998 | modern | 45 | #33,374 |
| 1999 | modern | 46 | #33,424 |
| 2000 | modern | 41 | #33,889 |
| 2001 | modern | 40 | #33,842 |
| 2002 | modern | 48 | #33,459 |
| 2003 | modern | 41 | #34,113 |
| 2004 | modern | 42 | #34,222 |
| 2005 | modern | 38 | #34,741 |
| 2006 | modern | 40 | #34,854 |
| 2007 | modern | 42 | #34,905 |
| 2008 | modern | 45 | #34,818 |
| 2009 | modern | 47 | #34,856 |
| 2010 | modern | 49 | #34,886 |
| 2011 | modern | 48 | #34,926 |
| 2012 | modern | 37 | #35,531 |
| 2013 | modern | 40 | #35,439 |
| 2014 | modern | 41 | #35,396 |
| 2015 | modern | 42 | #35,322 |
| 2016 | modern | 40 | #35,434 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Redruth, St Agnes, Newlyn, Illogan and St Columb Minor. 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 | Redruth | Cornwall |
| 2 | St Agnes | Cornwall |
| 3 | Newlyn | Cornwall |
| 4 | Illogan | Cornwall |
| 5 | St Columb Minor | Cornwall |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Argall 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 Argall, 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 Argall surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Argall 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, Argall 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 Argall is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Argall, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname ARGALL originated in England, and is believed to be derived from the Old English words "arg," meaning cowardly or idle, and "gal," meaning a young man or fellow. It is thought to have emerged as a descriptive nickname for a lazy or cowardly young man.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname ARGALL can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Argal." This suggests that the name had already been established in England by the late 11th century.
In the 13th century, the name appeared in various records with spellings such as "Argal," "Argall," and "Argill." These variations likely arose from regional differences in pronunciation and spelling conventions at the time.
One notable bearer of the ARGALL surname was Sir Samuel Argall (c.1572-1639), an English naval officer and explorer who played a significant role in the early settlement of Virginia. He is credited with expelling the French settlers from Mount Desert Island, Maine, in 1613, and later serving as the Deputy Governor of Virginia from 1617 to 1619.
Another historical figure with this surname was John Argall (1563-1642), an English merchant and Member of Parliament who represented Launceston, Cornwall, in the House of Commons during the reign of King James I.
In the 17th century, the ARGALL surname was associated with various place names in England, such as Argall in Northamptonshire, and Argall Hill in Surrey.
During the English Civil War (1642-1651), a prominent member of the Argall family was Colonel John Argall (d. 1664), a Royalist officer who fought for King Charles I against the Parliamentarian forces.
Another notable bearer of the ARGALL surname was Sir Richard Argall (1749-1816), a British naval officer who served in the American Revolutionary War and later became a Vice-Admiral in the Royal Navy.
Over the centuries, the ARGALL surname has continued to be found throughout England, particularly in the counties of Cornwall, Devon, and Somerset, where it is believed to have originated.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Argall 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. Cornwall leads with 73 Argalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 71.09x.
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Newlyn in Cornwall leads with 22 Argalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 5000.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Newlyn | 22 | 5000.00x |
| St Agnes | 13 | 902.78x |
| Redruth | 7 | 240.55x |
| St Columb Minor | 7 | 813.95x |
| Kenwyn | 6 | 223.05x |
| Truro St Mary | 6 | 697.67x |
| Finchley | 5 | 143.68x |
| Illogan | 5 | 183.82x |
| Breage | 4 | 425.53x |
| Dulverton | 4 | 930.23x |
| Bodmin | 2 | 117.65x |
| Hammersmith London | 2 | 8.95x |
| Winford | 2 | 689.66x |
| Camberwell | 1 | 1.73x |
| Falmouth | 1 | 27.47x |
| Kings Sutton | 1 | 263.16x |
| Lifton | 1 | 222.22x |
| Plymouth St Andrew | 1 | 6.87x |
| Stoke Damerel | 1 | 7.57x |
| Westminster St John | 1 | 9.05x |
| Ystradyfodwg | 1 | 7.22x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Argall 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 Argall 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 Argall households.
FAQ
In 1881, 93 people were recorded with the Argall surname. That placed it at #20,593 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 40 in 2016. That gives Argall a modern rank of #35,434.
A locational surname referring to someone from Argall in Cornwall, England.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Argall 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.