UK surname
A surname derived from the animal camel, possibly indicating a relationship to camel herding or trading.
In the 1881 census there were 36 people recorded with the Camel surname, ranking it #28,559 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 15, ranked #37,092, down from #28,559 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Minster, Christ Church Spitalfields and Acton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Camel is 131 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 58.3%.
1881 census count
36
Ranked #28,559
Modern count
15
2016, ranked #37,092
Peak year
1861
131 bearers
Map years
2
1851 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Camel surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Camel surname density by area, 1861 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 | 101 | #17,036 |
| 1861 | historical | 131 | #17,052 |
| 1881 | historical | 36 | #28,559 |
| 1891 | historical | 24 | #32,320 |
| 1901 | historical | 9 | #33,154 |
| 1911 | historical | 6 | #33,255 |
| 1997 | modern | 8 | #37,372 |
| 1998 | modern | 7 | #37,533 |
| 1999 | modern | 7 | #37,513 |
| 2000 | modern | 6 | #37,624 |
| 2001 | modern | 6 | #37,456 |
| 2002 | modern | 6 | #37,532 |
| 2003 | modern | 4 | #37,951 |
| 2004 | modern | 4 | #38,013 |
| 2005 | modern | 4 | #38,078 |
| 2006 | modern | 3 | #38,334 |
| 2007 | modern | 3 | #38,372 |
| 2008 | modern | 3 | #38,396 |
| 2009 | modern | 5 | #38,122 |
| 2010 | modern | 7 | #37,904 |
| 2011 | modern | 6 | #38,016 |
| 2012 | modern | 7 | #37,854 |
| 2013 | modern | 10 | #37,539 |
| 2014 | modern | 12 | #37,355 |
| 2015 | modern | 14 | #37,157 |
| 2016 | modern | 15 | #37,092 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Minster, Christ Church Spitalfields, Acton, Wandsworth and Gateshead. 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 | Minster | Kent |
| 2 | Christ Church Spitalfields | London (East Districts) |
| 3 | Acton | Cheshire |
| 4 | Wandsworth | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | Gateshead | Durham |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Camel 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 Camel, 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 Camel surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Camel 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, Camel 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 Camel is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Camel, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Camel is of English origin, derived from an occupational name for someone who dealt with camels or camel caravans. It dates back to the 13th century, during the time of the Crusades and the establishment of trade routes between Europe and the Middle East.
The earliest recorded instance of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, where a William le Cameler was mentioned in 1273. This spelling variation, using the Old French suffix "-er," indicates that the name was likely brought to England by Norman settlers after the Conquest in 1066.
Another early reference to the name appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327, where a John Camel is listed. This spelling, without the occupational suffix, suggests that the name had become hereditary by this time.
In the 14th century, a notable figure bearing this name was Sir Thomas Camel, a wealthy merchant and landowner from Somerset. He served as Sheriff of Somerset and Dorset in 1379 and was a member of the Parliament summoned by Richard II in 1388.
During the Tudor period, a prominent member of the Camel family was Sir John Camel (c. 1455-1539), a Member of Parliament for Somerset in 1491 and 1497. He was also appointed High Sheriff of Somerset and Dorset in 1512.
In the 17th century, a notable bearer of the name was Baptist Camel (1628-1693), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Sherburn Hospital in Durham.
Another significant figure was Sir Joseph Camel (1661-1743), a British merchant and diplomat who served as the Governor of the Levant Company, an organization that regulated English trade with the Ottoman Empire.
Throughout history, the Camel surname has also been associated with various place names, such as Cameley in Somerset and Camelsdale in Sussex, both of which likely derived their names from early bearers of the surname.
Overall, the surname Camel has a rich history rooted in the occupational trades and international commerce of medieval England, with numerous notable bearers contributing to various fields throughout the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Camel 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. Durham leads with 6 Camels recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.67x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Durham | 6 | 6.67x |
| Yorkshire | 5 | 1.67x |
| Lanarkshire | 4 | 4.09x |
| Hampshire | 3 | 4.84x |
| Lancashire | 3 | 0.84x |
| Suffolk | 3 | 8.15x |
| Cumberland | 2 | 7.68x |
| Devon | 1 | 1.59x |
| Dorset | 1 | 5.04x |
| Norfolk | 1 | 2.15x |
| Shropshire | 1 | 3.83x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.68x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 5 Camels recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.55x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Leeds | 5 | 29.55x |
| Usworth | 4 | 833.33x |
| Barony | 2 | 8.08x |
| Bishop Auckland | 2 | 165.29x |
| Glasgow | 2 | 11.52x |
| Ipswich St Helen | 2 | 454.55x |
| Portsea | 2 | 16.46x |
| Bacton | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Bury | 1 | 24.39x |
| Camberwell | 1 | 5.18x |
| Cleator | 1 | 92.59x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 4.59x |
| Ludford | 1 | 2000.00x |
| Norwich St Paul | 1 | 357.14x |
| Ormskirk | 1 | 144.93x |
| Shobrooke | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Symondsbury | 1 | 769.23x |
| Workington | 1 | 67.11x |
| Yarmouth | 1 | 1250.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Camel 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 Camel 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 Camel households.
FAQ
In 1881, 36 people were recorded with the Camel surname. That placed it at #28,559 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 15 in 2016. That gives Camel a modern rank of #37,092.
A surname derived from the animal camel, possibly indicating a relationship to camel herding or trading.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Camel 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.