NameCensus.

UK surname

Bonnell

Derived from a French place name meaning "good news," likely referring to a messenger or bearer of good tidings.

In the 1881 census there were 196 people recorded with the Bonnell surname, ranking it #13,006 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 346, ranked #13,291, down from #13,006 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lambeth and Oxted. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Carmarthenshire, North Dorset and Tandridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bonnell is 348 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 76.5%.

1881 census count

196

Ranked #13,006

Modern count

346

2016, ranked #13,291

Peak year

2014

348 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bonnell had 196 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,006 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 346 in 2016, ranked #13,291.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 317 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bonnell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bonnell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bonnell 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 127 #14,547
1861 historical 195 #12,263
1881 historical 196 #13,006
1891 historical 266 #12,169
1901 historical 308 #11,446
1911 historical 317 #11,011
1997 modern 331 #12,668
1998 modern 330 #13,046
1999 modern 339 #12,892
2000 modern 333 #12,999
2001 modern 328 #12,944
2002 modern 332 #13,090
2003 modern 322 #13,192
2004 modern 319 #13,342
2005 modern 307 #13,625
2006 modern 310 #13,603
2007 modern 313 #13,648
2008 modern 314 #13,720
2009 modern 329 #13,548
2010 modern 333 #13,717
2011 modern 330 #13,664
2012 modern 333 #13,468
2013 modern 337 #13,537
2014 modern 348 #13,320
2015 modern 348 #13,221
2016 modern 346 #13,291

Geography

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Where Bonnells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Lambeth, Oxted, Pembrey and Llanelly. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Carmarthenshire, North Dorset and Tandridge. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Lambeth London (South Districts)
3 Oxted Surrey
4 Pembrey Carmarthenshire
5 Llanelly Carmarthenshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Carmarthenshire 018 Carmarthenshire
2 Carmarthenshire 023 Carmarthenshire
3 North Dorset 004 North Dorset
4 Tandridge 009 Tandridge
5 Carmarthenshire 020 Carmarthenshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bonnell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bonnell

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Inner London Working Professionals

Within London, Bonnell is most associated with areas classed as Inner London Working Professionals, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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

These primarily Inner London neighbourhoods are more densely populated than the Supergroup average. Residents have a younger over-all age profile than the Supergroup as a whole, and are less likely to be owner occupiers. Full time employment is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup and multiple car ownership is uncommon. Chinese and non-EU-born European migrants are less in evidence than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bonnell is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bonnell falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Bonnell

The surname Bonnell has its origins in Normandy, France, dating back to the Middle Ages. The name is derived from the Old French word "bon," meaning "good," and the diminutive suffix "-el." This suggests that the name originally referred to someone of good character or a "good fellow."

One of the earliest records of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Bonnel." This seminal survey, commissioned by William the Conqueror, documented the landholders and properties in England following the Norman Conquest.

In the 12th century, the name appeared in various spellings, such as "Bonel," "Bonell," and "Bonnell," reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling during that time. The Bonnell family is believed to have been among the Norman nobility who accompanied William the Conqueror to England and settled in various parts of the country.

One notable figure with the surname Bonnell was Sir Thomas Bonnell, a wealthy merchant and politician who lived in the 16th century (c. 1535-1603). He served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1593 and was a member of Parliament for the City of London.

Another prominent individual was Edward Bonnell (1675-1736), an English clergyman and author. He served as the Archdeacon of Leicester and published several works on theology and church history.

In the 18th century, John Bonnell (1720-1792) was a renowned English scholar and educator. He served as the headmaster of the prestigious Merchant Taylors' School in London and was widely respected for his contributions to education.

The name Bonnell has also been associated with place names, such as Bonnell's Mill in Pennsylvania, named after the Bonnell family who owned a mill in the area during the colonial era.

Additionally, there was a notable family of architects and builders in England during the 19th century, including Samuel Bonnell (1805-1869) and his son, Samuel Bonnell Jr. (1835-1916), who designed and constructed several notable buildings in London and other parts of England.

Throughout history, the surname Bonnell has been found in various regions, including England, France, and parts of North America, reflecting the migration and settlement patterns of those bearing the name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bonnell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bonnell 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. Carmarthenshire leads with 60 Bonnells recorded in 1881 and an index of 70.50x.

County Total Index
Carmarthenshire 60 70.50x
Glamorgan 18 5.12x
Lancashire 17 0.71x
Middlesex 16 0.79x
Staffordshire 16 2.35x
Surrey 14 1.42x
Cheshire 8 1.79x
Lincolnshire 8 2.48x
Yorkshire 8 0.40x
Channel Islands 7 11.70x
Warwickshire 6 1.18x
Huntingdonshire 5 12.47x
Kent 5 0.73x
Gloucestershire 4 1.01x
Royal Navy 4 16.63x
Essex 3 0.75x
Pembrokeshire 2 3.12x
Caithness 1 3.62x
Cumberland 1 0.58x
Hampshire 1 0.24x
Lanarkshire 1 0.15x
Norfolk 1 0.32x
Sussex 1 0.29x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Pembrey in Carmarthenshire leads with 53 Bonnells recorded in 1881 and an index of 1355.50x.

Place Total Index
Pembrey 53 1355.50x
Warrington 15 52.82x
Priscerwyn 13 3250.00x
Burntwood Edial 11 252.87x
Castle Northwich 7 472.97x
Bradford 6 12.39x
Gainsborough 6 78.84x
Llanelly 6 31.30x
Oxted 6 508.47x
Westminster St John 6 24.40x
Bluntisham 5 666.67x
Lambeth 5 2.84x
St Martin 5 136.24x
Tonbridge 5 20.12x
Aston 4 2.85x
Royal Navy 4 19.45x
St George Martyr London 4 97.80x
Sturmere 3 1153.85x
Wednesfield 3 29.91x
Ystradyfodwg 3 9.73x
Bethnal Green London 2 2.28x
Birmingham 2 1.18x
Godalming 2 32.31x
Horton In Bradford 2 6.40x
Pembroke St Mary 2 24.21x
South Hamlet 2 81.63x
Spittlegate 2 44.74x
St Peter Port 2 18.07x
Wavertree 2 26.08x
Wednesbury 2 11.74x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 7.57x
Bristol St Michael 1 29.41x
Caterham 1 22.99x
Chelsea London 1 1.64x
Govan 1 0.62x
Hackney London 1 0.88x
Hastings St Leonards 1 20.00x
Kensington London 1 0.89x
Kidwelly 1 57.47x
Llandilo Talybont 1 54.05x
Newton In Ashton Under 1 22.73x
Northwood 1 16.98x
Rickergate 1 27.17x
South Lynn 1 28.57x
Swansea Higher 1 27.32x
Westminster St Margaret 1 10.27x
Wick 1 11.20x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 14
Sarah 8
Jane 7
Ann 5
Elizabeth 5
Margaret 5
Anne 3
Martha 3
Alice 2
Annie 2
Betsy 2
Charlotte 2
Eliza 2
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Hannah 2
Susannah 2
Ada 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Clare 1
Edith 1
Elen 1
Emeline 1
Emma 1
Esther 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Francess 1
Georgina 1
Harriet 1
Lilly 1
Louisa 1
Lousia 1
Maria 1
Matilda 1
Minnie 1
Naomi 1
Rebecca 1
Ruth 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 21
William 17
David 14
Thomas 7
James 6
Henry 4
Joseph 4
Francis 3
George 3
Richard 3
Angelo 2
Arthur 2
Charles 2
Harry 2
Owen 2
Alfred 1
Alphonse 1
Anthony 1
Bentley 1
Bromley 1
Cedric 1
Cornelias 1
Edward 1
Evan 1
Frank 1
Frederic 1
Frederick 1
Harold 1
Infant 1
Jacob 1
Peter 1
Phillip 1
Samuel 1
Thos. 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Bonnell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bonnell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 196 people were recorded with the Bonnell surname. That placed it at #13,006 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bonnell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 346 in 2016. That gives Bonnell a modern rank of #13,291.

What does the Bonnell surname mean?

Derived from a French place name meaning "good news," likely referring to a messenger or bearer of good tidings.

What does the Bonnell map show?

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