NameCensus.

UK surname

Bendell

An English surname derived from the archaic word 'bend', meaning a binding or bandage.

In the 1881 census there were 247 people recorded with the Bendell surname, ranking it #11,173 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 344, ranked #13,347, down from #11,173 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Northfleet, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North East Lincolnshire, Mid Suffolk and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bendell is 396 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 39.3%.

1881 census count

247

Ranked #11,173

Modern count

344

2016, ranked #13,347

Peak year

1911

396 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bendell had 247 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,173 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 344 in 2016, ranked #13,347.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 396 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Bendell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bendell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bendell 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 167 #11,936
1861 historical 214 #11,365
1881 historical 247 #11,173
1891 historical 306 #10,945
1901 historical 355 #10,329
1911 historical 396 #9,354
1997 modern 372 #11,621
1998 modern 374 #11,963
1999 modern 394 #11,579
2000 modern 370 #12,078
2001 modern 362 #12,076
2002 modern 360 #12,360
2003 modern 357 #12,233
2004 modern 356 #12,299
2005 modern 331 #12,913
2006 modern 324 #13,183
2007 modern 331 #13,117
2008 modern 321 #13,516
2009 modern 332 #13,458
2010 modern 342 #13,440
2011 modern 351 #13,059
2012 modern 358 #12,724
2013 modern 354 #13,079
2014 modern 346 #13,370
2015 modern 344 #13,332
2016 modern 344 #13,347

Geography

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Where Bendells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Northfleet, London parishes, St Pancras and Southampton St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North East Lincolnshire, Mid Suffolk, Cornwall, North Dorset and Fareham. 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 Northfleet Kent
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Southampton St Mary Hampshire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North East Lincolnshire 005 North East Lincolnshire
2 Mid Suffolk 001 Mid Suffolk
3 Cornwall 017 Cornwall
4 North Dorset 001 North Dorset
5 Fareham 010 Fareham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bendell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bendell

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Bendell, 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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Bendell is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bendell is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bendell falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bendell 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 Bendell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Bendell

The surname BENDELL has its origins in England, where it first appeared as a locational name in the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "bene" meaning "bean" and "dell" meaning "valley" or "hollow." This suggests the name may have referred to someone who lived in a valley or hollow where beans were cultivated.

The earliest known record of the name dates back to 1199 in the Curia Regis Rolls of Yorkshire, where a Richard de Benedell was listed. The name was also found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which recorded landowners in various counties. In the Hundred Rolls for Buckinghamshire, a Robert de Benedell was mentioned as holding lands in that county.

By the 14th century, the name had evolved into various spellings, such as Bendell, Bendle, and Benedell. The Subsidy Rolls of 1327 for Worcestershire listed a John Bendell, while the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1332 recorded a Thomas Bendel.

One of the earliest notable figures with the surname was Sir John Bendell, who was born around 1460 in Lincolnshire. He served as a Member of Parliament for Grantham in 1491 and 1497. Another prominent individual was Thomas Bendell, born in 1515 in Nottinghamshire, who was a renowned scholar and theologian at the University of Cambridge.

In the 16th century, the surname was also found in various place names, such as Bendell's Manor in Gloucestershire and Bendell's Farm in Hertfordshire. The latter was once owned by a family named Bendell, as recorded in the Hertfordshire County Records of 1598.

During the 17th century, a notable figure was Sir Hercules Bendell (1607-1677), who was a wealthy merchant and landowner in Middlesex. He served as the High Sheriff of Middlesex in 1661 and was knighted by King Charles II in 1663.

Another individual of note was Elizabeth Bendell (1670-1743), who was born in Shropshire and became a renowned poet and author. Her collection of poems, "The Garden of Delight," was published in 1712 and gained widespread acclaim.

In the 18th century, a prominent figure was Sir William Bendell (1725-1798), who was a successful businessman and philanthropist from Yorkshire. He made his fortune in the textile trade and was knighted by King George III in 1783 for his charitable works.

These are just a few examples of the many individuals who have carried the surname BENDELL throughout history, reflecting its long-standing presence and significance in various regions of England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bendell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bendell 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. Hampshire leads with 84 Bendells recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.87x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 84 16.87x
Middlesex 24 0.99x
Somerset 24 6.14x
Dorset 14 8.78x
Kent 14 1.69x
Surrey 13 1.10x
Berkshire 10 5.49x
Suffolk 10 3.38x
Monmouthshire 8 4.56x
Wiltshire 8 3.72x
Renfrewshire 7 3.72x
Yorkshire 6 0.25x
Devon 5 0.99x
Essex 5 1.04x
Glamorgan 5 1.18x
Herefordshire 3 3.01x
Lancashire 3 0.10x
Warwickshire 2 0.33x
Cornwall 1 0.36x
Gloucestershire 1 0.21x
Norfolk 1 0.27x
Royal Navy 1 3.46x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portsea in Hampshire leads with 41 Bendells recorded in 1881 and an index of 42.02x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 41 42.02x
St Pancras London 17 8.70x
Southampton St Mary 11 35.13x
Hound 9 266.27x
Northfleet 9 123.29x
Greenham 8 879.12x
Timsbury 8 677.97x
Ipswich St Helen 7 199.43x
West Greenock 7 20.72x
Bedwellty 6 19.35x
Corston 6 1875.00x
Creech St Michael 6 612.24x
Gussage All Sts 6 1714.29x
Lymington 6 163.93x
Bermondsey 5 6.91x
Kimpton 5 2173.91x
West Ham 5 4.72x
Cwmdu 4 77.67x
Devizes St Mary 4 184.33x
Edmondsham 4 2105.26x
Kirkleatham 4 123.08x
Plymouth St Andrew 4 10.27x
Camberwell 3 1.93x
Christchurch 3 27.80x
Hope Under Dinmore 3 731.71x
Lambeth 3 1.42x
Mottisfont 3 697.67x
St Marylebone London 3 2.31x
Stuston 3 1875.00x
Winterbourne Dantsey 3 2307.69x
Andover 2 42.55x
Edgbaston 2 10.53x
Liverpool 2 1.14x
Llanfoist 2 163.93x
Melcombe Regis 2 30.26x
Reading St Mary 2 13.70x
St George Martyr London 2 40.65x
Wimborne 2 103.63x
Aldershot 1 6.00x
Antony 1 37.59x
Ashwick 1 158.73x
Barrow In Furness 1 2.55x
Battersea 1 1.12x
Bridgewater 1 9.43x
Cardiff St Mary 1 4.29x
Chislehurst 1 22.52x
Croydon 1 1.52x
Devonport 1 17.21x
Diss 1 31.25x
Ecclesall Bierlow 1 2.04x
Greenwich 1 2.59x
Holdenhurst 1 7.66x
Keynsham 1 35.59x
Lee 1 8.31x
Minster In Sheppey 1 7.28x
Paddington London 1 1.12x
Portsmouth 1 8.73x
Royal Navy 1 4.04x
Shoreditch London 1 0.95x
South Stoneham 1 9.26x
Stogumber 1 97.09x
Stroud 1 10.79x
Upton Lovell 1 588.24x
Wilmington 1 86.21x
York St Mary 1 10.03x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 18
Ann 8
Elizabeth 8
Eliza 6
Jane 6
Sarah 5
Alice 4
Charlotte 4
Emily 4
Ellen 3
Hannah 3
Harriett 3
Margaret 3
Maria 3
Susan 3
Annie 2
Caroline 2
Emma 2
Kate 2
Louisa 2
Martha 2
Pamela 2
Sophia 2
A.M. 1
Agnes 1
Anna 1
Asenath 1
Bertha 1
Catherine 1
Cherrine 1
Clara 1
Elise 1
Ethel 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Harriet 1
Harriete 1
Janet 1
Jessie 1
Kezia 1
Keziah 1
Laura 1
Leah 1
Lydia 1
Minnie 1
Plesance 1
Rachel 1
Rose 1
Rosina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 15
James 11
George 10
John 10
Alfred 7
Edward 6
Henry 6
Charles 5
Richard 5
Thomas 5
Arthur 3
Frederick 3
Robert 3
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Harry 2
Isaac 2
Joseph 2
Samuel 2
Albert 1
Alexander 1
Burtrum 1
Charlie 1
E.J.P. 1
Frederic 1
Georges 1
Herbert 1
Hy. 1
J.W. 1
Ralph 1
Sidney 1
Sydney 1
W.N.A. 1

FAQ

Bendell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bendell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 247 people were recorded with the Bendell surname. That placed it at #11,173 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bendell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 344 in 2016. That gives Bendell a modern rank of #13,347.

What does the Bendell surname mean?

An English surname derived from the archaic word 'bend', meaning a binding or bandage.

What does the Bendell map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bendell 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.