UK surname
An English surname derived from living near, or having an association with, bells.
In the 1881 census there were 154 people recorded with the Bells surname, ranking it #15,259 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 33, ranked #35,829, down from #15,259 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bells is 662 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 78.6%.
1881 census count
154
Ranked #15,259
Modern count
33
2016, ranked #35,829
Peak year
1861
662 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Bells surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Bells surname density by area, 1881 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 | 206 | #10,183 |
| 1861 | historical | 662 | #4,050 |
| 1881 | historical | 154 | #15,259 |
| 1891 | historical | 375 | #9,331 |
| 1901 | historical | 95 | #23,462 |
| 1911 | historical | 187 | #15,600 |
| 1997 | modern | 23 | #35,484 |
| 1998 | modern | 17 | #36,240 |
| 1999 | modern | 13 | #36,693 |
| 2000 | modern | 11 | #36,879 |
| 2001 | modern | 3 | #38,091 |
| 2002 | modern | 6 | #37,532 |
| 2003 | modern | 10 | #36,964 |
| 2004 | modern | 14 | #36,648 |
| 2005 | modern | 15 | #36,621 |
| 2006 | modern | 16 | #36,601 |
| 2007 | modern | 20 | #36,362 |
| 2008 | modern | 14 | #36,950 |
| 2009 | modern | 18 | #36,682 |
| 2010 | modern | 18 | #36,774 |
| 2011 | modern | 23 | #36,369 |
| 2012 | modern | 23 | #36,366 |
| 2013 | modern | 25 | #36,276 |
| 2014 | modern | 29 | #36,058 |
| 2015 | modern | 28 | #36,106 |
| 2016 | modern | 33 | #35,829 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Lambeth and St Giles Camberwell. 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 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | St Giles Camberwell | London (South Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Bells 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 Bells, 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 Bells surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Bells 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, Bells 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 Bells is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Bells, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname "Bells" is of English origin and it is believed to have derived from the Old English word "belle," which means "bell." The name likely originated as an occupational surname for someone who made or worked with bells, particularly for churches or other religious institutions.
During the medieval period, the name "Bells" appeared in various records and documents, including the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The earliest recorded spelling of the name was "Belles," which was found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1195.
The surname "Bells" is also associated with several place names in England, such as Bell's Close in Oxfordshire and Bell's Meadow in Hampshire. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname "Bells" was John Belles, who was mentioned in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire in 1275. Another notable figure was William Belles, who was a member of the English Parliament representing Kent in 1376.
In the 16th century, John Bells (c. 1510-1556) was an English Protestant reformer and Bishop of Worcester. He played a significant role in the English Reformation and was known for his translations of the Bible into English.
During the 17th century, Sir Robert Bells (1620-1684) was an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament and Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer.
In the 18th century, Thomas Bells (1711-1790) was a British architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Old Pump Room in Bath and the Assembly Rooms in Cheltenham.
Another prominent figure with the surname "Bells" was Sir Henry Bells (1792-1868), a British naval officer and explorer who served as the second Governor of New Zealand from 1855 to 1862.
Throughout history, the surname "Bells" has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including clergymen, politicians, architects, and military officers, among others.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bells 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. Middlesex leads with 21 Bells' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.40x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 21 | 1.40x |
| Lancashire | 18 | 1.01x |
| Staffordshire | 15 | 2.96x |
| Surrey | 15 | 2.05x |
| Essex | 10 | 3.37x |
| Yorkshire | 10 | 0.67x |
| Northamptonshire | 9 | 6.37x |
| Kent | 8 | 1.56x |
| Durham | 6 | 1.34x |
| Flintshire | 6 | 14.86x |
| Hampshire | 6 | 1.95x |
| Suffolk | 5 | 2.73x |
| Warwickshire | 4 | 1.06x |
| Cheshire | 3 | 0.90x |
| Denbighshire | 3 | 5.29x |
| Banffshire | 2 | 6.42x |
| Cambridgeshire | 2 | 2.10x |
| Dorset | 2 | 2.03x |
| Norfolk | 2 | 0.87x |
| Sussex | 2 | 0.79x |
| Argyllshire | 1 | 2.39x |
| Bedfordshire | 1 | 1.29x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 0.97x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 0.45x |
| Orkney | 1 | 6.05x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 9 Bells' recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.87x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Bells surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 14 |
| Sarah | 11 |
| Elizabeth | 4 |
| Emma | 3 |
| Jane | 3 |
| Catherine | 2 |
| Charlotte | 2 |
| Eliza | 2 |
| Ellen | 2 |
| Harriet | 2 |
| Harriett | 2 |
| Louisa | 2 |
| Margaret | 2 |
| Phillis | 2 |
| A. | 1 |
| Agnes | 1 |
| Alice | 1 |
| Allie | 1 |
| Alphar | 1 |
| Ann | 1 |
| Bertha | 1 |
| Caroline | 1 |
| Charlathe | 1 |
| Charlott | 1 |
| Elizth. | 1 |
| Emily | 1 |
| Fanny | 1 |
| Florence | 1 |
| Frances | 1 |
| Georgina | 1 |
| Hannah | 1 |
| Haronit | 1 |
| Louise | 1 |
| Luusan | 1 |
| M. | 1 |
| Margt. | 1 |
| Maria | 1 |
| Marian | 1 |
| Martha | 1 |
| Norah | 1 |
| Rebecca | 1 |
| Ruth | 1 |
| S. | 1 |
| Susan | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Bells 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 Bells households.
FAQ
In 1881, 154 people were recorded with the Bells surname. That placed it at #15,259 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 33 in 2016. That gives Bells a modern rank of #35,829.
An English surname derived from living near, or having an association with, bells.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bells 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.