NameCensus.

UK surname

Bickell

A variant of the English surname Buckell, which derived from the French buquet meaning "little bucket."

In the 1881 census there were 259 people recorded with the Bickell surname, ranking it #10,808 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 321, ranked #14,065, down from #10,808 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and St Luke. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Devon, King's Lynn and West Norfolk and Plymouth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bickell is 378 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 23.9%.

1881 census count

259

Ranked #10,808

Modern count

321

2016, ranked #14,065

Peak year

1998

378 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bickell had 259 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,808 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 321 in 2016, ranked #14,065.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 375 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bickell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bickell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bickell 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 207 #10,148
1861 historical 206 #11,725
1881 historical 259 #10,808
1891 historical 270 #12,027
1901 historical 302 #11,592
1911 historical 375 #9,747
1997 modern 352 #12,117
1998 modern 378 #11,871
1999 modern 362 #12,316
2000 modern 360 #12,309
2001 modern 340 #12,620
2002 modern 340 #12,884
2003 modern 353 #12,345
2004 modern 347 #12,516
2005 modern 333 #12,847
2006 modern 327 #13,092
2007 modern 334 #13,036
2008 modern 322 #13,487
2009 modern 339 #13,281
2010 modern 348 #13,304
2011 modern 338 #13,435
2012 modern 318 #13,926
2013 modern 330 #13,777
2014 modern 336 #13,692
2015 modern 329 #13,800
2016 modern 321 #14,065

Geography

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Where Bickells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, St Luke, St Mary Islington 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 West Devon, King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Plymouth and North Norfolk. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Luke London (Central Districts)
4 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)
5 St Giles Camberwell London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Devon 004 West Devon
2 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 002 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
3 Plymouth 013 Plymouth
4 North Norfolk 009 North Norfolk
5 Plymouth 010 Plymouth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bickell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bickell

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Bickell, 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 Bickell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Bickell 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Bickell is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bickell is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

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

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bickell falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bickell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Bickell

The surname Bickell has its origins in England, with records of the name dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "bic" meaning brook or stream, and "hill" meaning a hill or slope. This suggests that the name likely originated as a regional name for someone who lived near a brook on a hillside.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, which lists a Richard de Bykhulle in Oxfordshire. The spelling variations of the name during this time included Bickhill, Bickell, Bickle, and Bykhulle.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in several tax records and manorial rolls. A John Bykell was listed in the Poll Tax of Yorkshire in 1379, while a Thomas Bykell was recorded in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in 1317.

The Bickell name has been associated with various places in England, such as Bickhill in Buckinghamshire and Bickleigh in Devon. These place names likely influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

Notable individuals with the surname Bickell include:

1. Richard Bickell (1619-1694), an English clergyman and author, who served as the Archdeacon of Stafford. 2. Thomas Bickell (1766-1834), an English architect and surveyor, known for his work on various churches and public buildings in London. 3. John Bickell (1815-1887), an English cricketer who played for Hampshire and Sussex in the 1840s. 4. Charles Bickell (1842-1916), a Canadian businessman and politician, who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. 5. John Bickell (1884-1960), a Canadian businessman and philanthropist, who co-founded the Bickell Foundation, a charitable organization supporting medical research and education.

Throughout its history, the surname Bickell has maintained a strong presence in various regions of England, as well as in Canada, where it was introduced through immigration from Britain. Its origins can be traced back to the Old English language, reflecting the geographical features of the areas where the name first emerged.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bickell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bickell 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. Devon leads with 73 Bickells recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.72x.

County Total Index
Devon 73 13.72x
Middlesex 51 2.00x
Surrey 30 2.41x
Durham 14 1.84x
Hampshire 14 2.67x
Somerset 13 3.16x
Gloucestershire 12 2.39x
Lancashire 8 0.26x
Renfrewshire 7 3.53x
Yorkshire 7 0.28x
Carmarthenshire 6 5.57x
Cornwall 5 1.73x
Essex 4 0.79x
Westmorland 4 7.12x
Leicestershire 3 1.06x
Lincolnshire 3 0.73x
Royal Navy 3 9.85x
Bedfordshire 1 0.76x
Kent 1 0.11x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.29x
Staffordshire 1 0.12x
Sussex 1 0.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Plymouth St Andrew in Devon leads with 18 Bickells recorded in 1881 and an index of 43.92x.

Place Total Index
Plymouth St Andrew 18 43.92x
Camberwell 15 9.19x
Islington London 15 6.06x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 11 23.31x
Plymouth Charles The 11 46.93x
Kensington London 8 5.63x
Lifton 8 625.00x
Collierley 7 206.49x
Dulverton 7 583.33x
Ecclesall Bierlow 7 13.59x
Ryhope 7 132.58x
West Greenock 7 19.69x
Carmarthen St Peter 6 65.15x
Newington 6 6.36x
Shoreditch London 6 5.42x
South Molton 6 205.48x
Southwark St Saviour 6 45.70x
Milford 5 326.80x
Milton Abbott 5 649.35x
Portsea 5 4.87x
St Luke London 5 12.20x
Stoke Damerel 5 13.43x
Bromley London 4 7.11x
Kendal 4 38.91x
Oldham 4 4.09x
Paignton 4 98.77x
Ashton Under Lyne 3 4.53x
Chard 3 60.24x
Exeter Heavitree 3 75.57x
Exeter St Sidwell 3 24.63x
Lidford 3 125.52x
Maker 3 112.36x
Melton Mowbray 3 58.94x
Royal Navy 3 11.53x
St Marylebone London 3 2.20x
Taunton St Mary 3 39.74x
Tottenham 3 7.37x
West Ham 3 2.69x
Winteringham 3 508.47x
Bethnal Green London 2 1.80x
Clerkenwell London 2 3.32x
Devonport 2 32.73x
Northwood 2 26.81x
Stoke 2 34.01x
Antony 1 35.84x
Broughton In Salford 1 3.61x
Calstock 1 17.64x
Carisbrooke 1 13.76x
Clifton 1 3.95x
Exeter St Martin 1 625.00x
Luton 1 4.36x
Lymington 1 25.97x
Lympston 1 105.26x
Maidstone 1 3.85x
Nottingham St Mary 1 1.12x
Petworth 1 38.91x
Ratcliffe London 1 7.09x
Rotherhithe 1 3.17x
Rowley Regis 1 4.16x
Sandford 1 76.92x
St Michael Bassishaw 1 526.32x
St Pancras London 1 0.49x
Tavistock 1 16.50x
Tormoham 1 4.44x
Walthamstow 1 5.51x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 14
Mary 14
Emily 10
Sarah 8
Eliza 6
Alice 5
Jane 5
Catherine 4
Emma 4
Ann 3
Anne 3
Annie 3
Edith 3
Ellen 3
Anna 2
Caroline 2
Jessie 2
Maria 2
Martha 2
Bertha 1
Bessie 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Elizth. 1
Eva 1
Eveleen 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Hannah 1
Infant 1
Jianna 1
Judith 1
Kate 1
Lilly 1
Lily 1
Louisa 1
Lucretia 1
Lydia 1
Mable 1
Margaret 1
Matilda 1
May 1
Melina 1
Rebecca 1
Rosa 1
Rosanna 1
Rose 1
Rosetta 1
Sar. 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 27
William 11
Henry 9
Samuel 9
Thomas 9
Charles 8
George 5
Richard 5
Albert 3
Alfred 3
Geo. 3
James 3
Arthur 2
Edward 2
Edwin 2
Frederick 2
Harry 2
Jethro 2
Robert 2
Barnett 1
David 1
Edwd. 1
Emily 1
Ernest 1
F.C. 1
Frank 1
Fredrick 1
Herbert 1
Joseph 1
Solomon 1
W.H. 1
Walter 1
Will. 1
Williams 1

FAQ

Bickell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bickell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 259 people were recorded with the Bickell surname. That placed it at #10,808 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bickell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 321 in 2016. That gives Bickell a modern rank of #14,065.

What does the Bickell surname mean?

A variant of the English surname Buckell, which derived from the French buquet meaning "little bucket."

What does the Bickell map show?

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