NameCensus.

UK surname

Bodell

A locational surname derived from a place name, possibly of English or Germanic origin.

In the 1881 census there were 228 people recorded with the Bodell surname, ranking it #11,826 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 298, ranked #14,801, down from #11,826 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Duffield, St Leonard Shoreditch and Tamworth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Derbyshire, Mid Devon and North West Leicestershire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bodell is 369 in 2004. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 30.7%.

1881 census count

228

Ranked #11,826

Modern count

298

2016, ranked #14,801

Peak year

2004

369 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bodell had 228 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,826 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 298 in 2016, ranked #14,801.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 368 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Bodell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bodell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bodell 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 144 #13,277
1861 historical 130 #17,164
1881 historical 228 #11,826
1891 historical 223 #13,800
1901 historical 318 #11,187
1911 historical 368 #9,886
1997 modern 360 #11,929
1998 modern 350 #12,537
1999 modern 356 #12,456
2000 modern 349 #12,585
2001 modern 334 #12,789
2002 modern 357 #12,424
2003 modern 357 #12,233
2004 modern 369 #11,967
2005 modern 351 #12,343
2006 modern 355 #12,316
2007 modern 357 #12,413
2008 modern 347 #12,786
2009 modern 342 #13,193
2010 modern 359 #12,975
2011 modern 338 #13,435
2012 modern 331 #13,538
2013 modern 326 #13,893
2014 modern 319 #14,216
2015 modern 308 #14,463
2016 modern 298 #14,801

Geography

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Where Bodells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Duffield, St Leonard Shoreditch, Tamworth, London parishes and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Derbyshire, Mid Devon and North West Leicestershire. 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 Duffield Derbyshire
2 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
3 Tamworth Staffordshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Derbyshire 008 South Derbyshire
2 South Derbyshire 007 South Derbyshire
3 Mid Devon 009 Mid Devon
4 North West Leicestershire 008 North West Leicestershire
5 South Derbyshire 011 South Derbyshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bodell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bodell

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Bodell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Bodell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Bodell 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

Bodell is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bodell falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bodell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Bodell

The surname Bodell is believed to have originated in England, with roots tracing back to the 13th century. It is thought to be a locational name derived from a place called Budle, located in Northumberland. The name may have evolved from the Old English words "bu" and "dell," meaning a dwelling or shelter in a valley.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bodell appears in the Pipe Rolls of Northumberland in 1230, where a Robert de Bodhill is mentioned. This suggests that the name may have been initially spelled as Bodhill or Boddill before evolving into its current form.

In the late 14th century, the Bodell family held lands in the village of Budle, near the River Tweed. Records from this period indicate that a John Bodell was a prominent landowner in the area.

The Domesday Book, a historic manuscript commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname Bodell. However, it does mention the village of Budle, lending credence to the theory that the name originated from this location.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Bodell was John Bodell, who was born in Budle around 1450. He is mentioned in local records as a farmer and landowner in the area.

In the 16th century, a notable figure with the Bodell surname was William Bodell (1535-1592). He was a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of London and was involved in the wool trade.

During the 17th century, the Bodell family had a strong presence in Northumberland and the surrounding areas. Robert Bodell (1610-1672) was a respected landowner and justice of the peace in the county.

In the 18th century, a significant individual with the Bodell surname was Thomas Bodell (1725-1798). He was a successful merchant and shipowner based in Newcastle upon Tyne and played a crucial role in the region's maritime trade.

Another noteworthy figure was Elizabeth Bodell (1790-1865), who was a renowned philanthropist and social reformer. She dedicated her life to improving the living conditions of the poor in her native Northumberland.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bodell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bodell 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. Derbyshire leads with 62 Bodells recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.81x.

County Total Index
Derbyshire 62 17.81x
Middlesex 44 1.98x
Lancashire 31 1.17x
Warwickshire 28 4.99x
Nottinghamshire 17 5.67x
Leicestershire 10 4.06x
Yorkshire 10 0.45x
Kent 8 1.05x
Cheshire 3 0.61x
Midlothian 3 1.01x
Bedfordshire 2 1.74x
Durham 2 0.30x
Essex 2 0.46x
Surrey 2 0.18x
Berkshire 1 0.60x
Lanarkshire 1 0.14x
Somerset 1 0.28x
Sussex 1 0.27x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Church Gresley in Derbyshire leads with 22 Bodells recorded in 1881 and an index of 397.11x.

Place Total Index
Church Gresley 22 397.11x
Belper 18 266.67x
St Luke London 12 33.64x
Toxteth Park 11 12.31x
Wilnecote 11 683.23x
Brightside Bierlow 10 23.13x
Shoreditch London 10 10.37x
Hackney London 8 6.42x
Nuneaton 8 123.08x
Bow London 7 24.73x
Everton 7 8.32x
Ravenstone 7 2058.82x
Snenton 7 59.42x
Stapenhill 7 135.14x
Hartshorn 6 454.55x
West Derby 6 7.77x
West Wickham 6 821.92x
Kirkdale 5 11.26x
Lenton 5 70.82x
Sutton In Ashfield 5 76.80x
Coleshill 4 222.22x
Liscard 3 33.90x
South Leith 3 8.95x
Aston 2 1.30x
Chelsea London 2 2.98x
Derby St Alkmund 2 19.16x
Derby St Werburgh 2 9.95x
Framwellgate 2 51.02x
Islington London 2 0.93x
Luton 2 10.03x
Newton Solney 2 555.56x
Polesworth 2 75.19x
Ramsey 2 344.83x
Rotherhithe 2 7.28x
Seals 2 229.89x
St Pancras London 2 1.12x
Birmingham 1 0.54x
Chiddingly 1 147.06x
Derby St Peter 1 9.02x
Erith 1 13.37x
Glasgow 1 0.78x
Harrow 1 29.41x
Lancaster 1 6.37x
Leicester St Margaret 1 1.66x
Littleover 1 169.49x
South Hinksey 1 136.99x
Trull 1 136.99x
Walton On Hill 1 6.99x
Winshill 1 45.05x
Woolwich 1 3.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 16
Sarah 12
Ann 7
Alice 5
Elizabeth 5
Martha 5
Ada 4
Eliza 4
Hannah 4
Annie 3
Ellen 3
Jane 3
Charlotte 2
Florence 2
Louisa 2
Margaret 2
Maria 2
Agnes 1
Alma 1
Amy 1
Anne 1
Bertha 1
Betsy 1
Christina 1
Edith 1
Elleen 1
Emma 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Georgina 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Henrietta 1
Isabella 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Lewis 1
Louise 1
Maryann 1
May 1
Rebecca 1
Ruth 1
Salley 1
Selina 1
Silvey 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 17
William 12
George 10
Thomas 9
Edward 8
Henry 8
Charles 4
James 4
Joseph 4
Alfred 3
Arthur 3
Robert 3
Amos 2
Benjamin 2
Samuel 2
Walter 2
Abram 1
Adam 1
Albert 1
Benjm. 1
David 1
Earnest 1
Edwd. 1
Elias 1
Ernest 1
Evan 1
Ferrace 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Geo 1
Josephus 1
Louis 1
Peter 1
Tom 1

FAQ

Bodell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bodell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 228 people were recorded with the Bodell surname. That placed it at #11,826 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bodell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 298 in 2016. That gives Bodell a modern rank of #14,801.

What does the Bodell surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name, possibly of English or Germanic origin.

What does the Bodell map show?

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