UK surname
Derived from a French place name, likely referring to a cable or rope maker.
In the 1881 census there were 94 people recorded with the Cabell surname, ranking it #20,467 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 85, ranked #32,637, down from #20,467 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Poole St James, Sherborne and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cabell is 131 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 9.6%.
1881 census count
94
Ranked #20,467
Modern count
85
2016, ranked #32,637
Peak year
1911
131 bearers
Map years
4
1861 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Cabell surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Cabell surname density by area, 1911 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 | 67 | #21,440 |
| 1861 | historical | 113 | #19,151 |
| 1881 | historical | 94 | #20,467 |
| 1891 | historical | 125 | #20,713 |
| 1901 | historical | 124 | #20,163 |
| 1911 | historical | 131 | #19,404 |
| 1997 | modern | 79 | #29,672 |
| 1998 | modern | 85 | #29,439 |
| 1999 | modern | 84 | #29,700 |
| 2000 | modern | 82 | #29,922 |
| 2001 | modern | 83 | #29,617 |
| 2002 | modern | 82 | #30,181 |
| 2003 | modern | 74 | #31,091 |
| 2004 | modern | 80 | #30,679 |
| 2005 | modern | 77 | #31,156 |
| 2006 | modern | 82 | #30,933 |
| 2007 | modern | 81 | #31,408 |
| 2008 | modern | 81 | #31,713 |
| 2009 | modern | 92 | #30,820 |
| 2010 | modern | 88 | #31,875 |
| 2011 | modern | 86 | #32,006 |
| 2012 | modern | 89 | #31,934 |
| 2013 | modern | 85 | #32,658 |
| 2014 | modern | 84 | #32,823 |
| 2015 | modern | 82 | #32,911 |
| 2016 | modern | 85 | #32,637 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Poole St James, Sherborne, London parishes, Road, Woolverton and Great Bradford , Winkfield with Rowley, Westwood, Great and Little Chalfield. 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 | Poole St James | Dorset |
| 2 | Sherborne | Dorset |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | Road, Woolverton | Somerset |
| 5 | Great Bradford , Winkfield with Rowley, Westwood, Great and Little Chalfield | Wiltshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Cabell 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 Cabell, 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 Cabell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Cabell 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, Cabell 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 Cabell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Cabell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Cabell originated in Normandy, France, during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "cabelle," which means "tax" or "duty," suggesting that the name may have been associated with a tax collector or a customs official.
The earliest recorded instance of the Cabell name dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Cabellio." This entry indicates that the name was already established in England by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066.
In the 12th century, the Cabell family held lands in Buckinghamshire, England. One notable member of the family was William Cabell, who served as a knight and participated in the Third Crusade, led by King Richard I, in the late 12th century.
By the 14th century, the Cabell family had established themselves in various parts of England, including Somerset and Kent. In 1327, John Cabell was listed as a landowner in the Subsidy Rolls of Somerset.
In the 15th century, the Cabell name was associated with the village of Cabill in Wiltshire, England. This place name may have influenced the spelling of the surname during that time.
One of the most notable members of the Cabell family was George Cabell (1579-1646), a prominent English merchant and Member of Parliament. He played a significant role in the Virginia Company, which established the first permanent English settlement in North America at Jamestown.
In the 17th century, several members of the Cabell family emigrated to Virginia, including William Cabell (1605-1658), who settled in Henrico County. His descendants went on to become influential landowners and politicians in the American colonies and later the United States.
Another prominent member of the Cabell family was Joseph Cabell (1732-1798), a planter and statesman from Virginia. He served in the Virginia House of Burgesses and was a close friend of Thomas Jefferson.
During the 19th century, the Cabell family continued to play a significant role in Virginia's history. Notable figures include William H. Cabell (1772-1853), who served as the Governor of Virginia, and William Lewis Cabell (1827-1899), a Confederate officer during the American Civil War.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cabell 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. Dorset leads with 21 Cabells recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.90x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Dorset | 21 | 34.90x |
| Hampshire | 17 | 9.05x |
| Wiltshire | 12 | 14.80x |
| Somerset | 10 | 6.78x |
| Surrey | 9 | 2.01x |
| Middlesex | 7 | 0.76x |
| Buckinghamshire | 5 | 9.02x |
| Nottinghamshire | 5 | 4.05x |
| Yorkshire | 5 | 0.55x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.09x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 0.81x |
| Suffolk | 1 | 0.90x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Holwell in Dorset leads with 11 Cabells recorded in 1881 and an index of 8461.54x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Holwell | 11 | 8461.54x |
| Sherborne | 8 | 451.98x |
| Bradford On Avon | 7 | 269.23x |
| Long Sutton | 7 | 7000.00x |
| Abbotts Ann | 5 | 2380.95x |
| Eton | 5 | 396.83x |
| Nottingham St Mary | 5 | 15.64x |
| Settle | 5 | 714.29x |
| Southwark St George Martyr | 5 | 27.10x |
| Christchurch | 4 | 98.28x |
| St Pancras London | 4 | 5.42x |
| Closworth | 3 | 7500.00x |
| North Bradley | 3 | 508.47x |
| Bath St James | 2 | 129.87x |
| Camberwell | 2 | 3.42x |
| Road | 2 | 1111.11x |
| Winkfield With Rowley | 2 | 1818.18x |
| Frome | 1 | 28.33x |
| Great Finborough | 1 | 769.23x |
| Hendon | 1 | 30.30x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 1.25x |
| Lyncombe Widcombe | 1 | 25.91x |
| Monckton Combe | 1 | 212.77x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 2.97x |
| Pendleton In Salford | 1 | 7.72x |
| Portsmouth | 1 | 23.09x |
| Puddletown | 1 | 270.27x |
| Queensferry | 1 | 833.33x |
| Richmond | 1 | 15.97x |
| St George Hanover Square | 1 | 6.19x |
| Weymouth | 1 | 87.72x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Cabell surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Cabell 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 Cabell households.
FAQ
In 1881, 94 people were recorded with the Cabell surname. That placed it at #20,467 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 85 in 2016. That gives Cabell a modern rank of #32,637.
Derived from a French place name, likely referring to a cable or rope maker.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Cabell 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.