NameCensus.

UK surname

Cannell

A dialectal English surname derived from the Old Norse "kanne" meaning a can or drinking vessel.

In the 1881 census there were 682 people recorded with the Cannell surname, ranking it #5,288 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,461, ranked #4,215, up from #5,288 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Toxteth Park and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Dorset, Sefton and Norwich.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cannell is 1,677 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 114.2%.

1881 census count

682

Ranked #5,288

Modern count

1,461

2016, ranked #4,215

Peak year

1998

1,677 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cannell had 682 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,288 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,461 in 2016, ranked #4,215.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,572 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Cannell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cannell surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cannell 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 533 #4,713
1861 historical 471 #5,515
1881 historical 682 #5,288
1891 historical 979 #4,224
1901 historical 1,282 #3,882
1911 historical 1,572 #3,089
1997 modern 1,627 #3,640
1998 modern 1,677 #3,674
1999 modern 1,669 #3,718
2000 modern 1,620 #3,806
2001 modern 1,573 #3,839
2002 modern 1,596 #3,863
2003 modern 1,539 #3,909
2004 modern 1,558 #3,867
2005 modern 1,522 #3,900
2006 modern 1,509 #3,950
2007 modern 1,539 #3,900
2008 modern 1,542 #3,919
2009 modern 1,566 #3,956
2010 modern 1,615 #3,929
2011 modern 1,567 #3,986
2012 modern 1,532 #4,001
2013 modern 1,526 #4,095
2014 modern 1,516 #4,143
2015 modern 1,492 #4,162
2016 modern 1,461 #4,215

Geography

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Where Cannells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Toxteth Park, Liverpool, West Derby and St Matthew Bethnal Green. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Dorset, Sefton, Norwich, Hartlepool and South 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 London parishes London 3
2 Toxteth Park Lancashire
3 Liverpool Lancashire
4 West Derby Lancashire
5 St Matthew Bethnal Green London (East Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Dorset 005 North Dorset
2 Sefton 031 Sefton
3 Norwich 003 Norwich
4 Hartlepool 002 Hartlepool
5 South Norfolk 010 South Norfolk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cannell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cannell

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Cannell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Cannell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Cannell is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Cannell is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cannell falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Cannell

The surname Cannell has its origins in England, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "cann" and "hyll," which together mean "hill with a can or cup-like depression." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to a geographical feature or a place where the earliest bearers of the name resided.

The earliest known recorded instance of the Cannell surname is found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, dating back to 1273. The entry mentions a person named William Cannel, indicating that the name was already in use at that time.

In the 14th century, the Cannell surname appeared in various records, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire (1327), where a Thomas Cannel was listed. The name also appeared in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield (1348), where a John Canel was mentioned.

During the 16th century, the surname was sometimes spelled as "Canell" or "Cannell," as evidenced by records from that period. For instance, in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire (1524), a William Canell was listed, while in the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire (1543), a John Cannell was recorded.

One notable figure bearing the Cannell surname was Robert Cannell (c. 1600-1670), an English landowner and justice of the peace who lived in Hertfordshire. Another notable individual was Thomas Cannell (1792-1868), an English publisher and bookseller active in London during the 19th century.

In the United States, one of the earliest recorded instances of the Cannell surname was William Cannell (1741-1807), a soldier from Pennsylvania who fought in the American Revolutionary War. John Cannell (1785-1865), another early American with this surname, was a shipbuilder from Maine.

Other notable individuals with the Cannell surname include George Cannell (1818-1894), an English horticulturist and nurseryman, and Stephen J. Cannell (1941-2010), an American television writer, novelist, and producer best known for creating popular shows like "The Rockford Files" and "The A-Team."

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cannell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cannell 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. Isle of Man leads with 612 Cannells recorded in 1881 and an index of 260.88x.

County Total Index
Isle of Man 612 260.88x
Norfolk 191 9.83x
Lancashire 163 1.09x
Middlesex 114 0.90x
Suffolk 34 2.21x
Cheshire 29 1.04x
Yorkshire 24 0.19x
Durham 15 0.40x
Surrey 15 0.24x
Kent 13 0.30x
Warwickshire 12 0.38x
Cumberland 11 1.01x
Staffordshire 10 0.23x
Essex 9 0.36x
Dorset 8 0.96x
Northamptonshire 8 0.67x
Lincolnshire 7 0.35x
Radnorshire 4 3.92x
Bedfordshire 2 0.31x
Flintshire 2 0.59x
Pembrokeshire 2 0.50x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.13x
Derbyshire 1 0.05x
Glamorgan 1 0.05x
Gloucestershire 1 0.04x
Hampshire 1 0.04x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.06x
Royal Navy 1 0.66x
Rutland 1 1.08x
Somerset 1 0.05x
Sussex 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Onchan in Isle of Man leads with 183 Cannells recorded in 1881 and an index of 270.83x.

Place Total Index
Onchan 183 270.83x
Michael 94 1970.65x
Bethnal Green London 52 9.48x
Maughold 51 281.77x
Braddan 49 382.51x
Malew 46 224.50x
Arbory 33 645.79x
Lonan 29 204.08x
German Peel 28 207.25x
West Derby 28 6.38x
Everton 27 5.65x
German 27 210.94x
Heigham 21 20.14x
Liverpool 19 2.09x
Lezayre 16 151.95x
Marown 16 373.83x
Toxteth Park 15 2.96x
Saddleworth 13 13.46x
St Pancras London 13 1.28x
Cringleford 12 1237.11x
Southwold 12 131.72x
Ballaugh 11 262.53x
Manchester 11 1.63x
Norwich St Benedict 11 127.02x
Rushen 11 69.31x
Great Yarmouth 10 6.22x
Aston 9 1.03x
Battersea 9 1.94x
Bootle Cum Linacre 9 7.56x
Costessey 9 215.31x
Gateshead 9 3.20x
Jurby 9 316.90x
Lakenham 9 32.61x
Liscard 9 17.91x
North Walsham 9 64.24x
Barford 8 579.71x
Blandford Forum 8 48.90x
Forncett St Peter 8 299.63x
Ipswich St Margaret 8 15.32x
Norwich St James 8 52.49x
Whitehaven 8 13.80x
Bedingham 7 538.46x
Mile End Old Town London 7 2.60x
Norwich St John Sepulchre 7 55.51x
Thorpe Next Norwich 7 34.00x
Clerkenwell London 6 2.01x
Deptford St Paul 6 1.80x
Felthorpe 6 297.03x
Great Little Marsden 6 8.74x
Queenborough 6 140.85x
St Giles In Fields London 6 9.68x
Walton On Hill 6 7.39x
Warrington 6 3.38x
Wednesbury 6 5.63x
Barrow In Furness 5 2.45x
Birkenhead 5 2.25x
Douglas 5 147.49x
Eaton St Andrew 5 92.76x
Hackney London 5 0.71x
Hellesdon 5 140.06x
Holt 5 75.30x
Horsford 5 166.11x
Kirkdale 5 1.98x
St Andrew Holborn London 5 9.14x
Benfieldside 4 16.18x
Broughton In Salford 4 2.92x
Buglawton 4 59.61x
Colchester St James 4 39.56x
Debden 4 113.31x
Fulham London 4 2.18x
Gorleston 4 10.23x
Knighton 4 48.54x
Morley 4 6.15x
Rusholme 4 10.01x
Scriven Cum Tentergate 4 86.21x
Tharston 4 246.91x
Wellingborough 4 6.70x
Barnham Broom 3 156.25x
Dalton In Furness 3 5.18x
Lowestoft 3 4.13x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 62
Mary 57
Margaret 40
Ann 36
Jane 33
Sarah 30
Catherine 29
Emily 24
Eleanor 17
Emma 16
Alice 15
Eliza 15
Louisa 13
Anne 12
Esther 12
Isabella 12
Annie 11
Edith 11
Ellen 11
Clara 9
Hannah 9
Maria 9
Martha 9
Christian 8
Charlotte 7
Frances 7
Susan 7
Agnes 6
Harriet 6
Lucy 5
Fanny 4
Ada 3
Amy 3
Anna 3
Laura 3
Lizzie 3
Lydia 3
Margt. 3
Maryann 3
Rose 3
Ruth 3
Amelia 2
Celia 2
Christiana 2
Eliz. 2
Julia 2
Leonora 2
Matilda 2
Mona 2
Naomi 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 114
William 79
Thomas 56
James 47
George 27
Robert 26
Charles 23
Edward 23
Henry 15
Joseph 13
Alfred 10
Arthur 9
Isaac 9
Richard 9
Frederick 8
Walter 8
Thos. 7
Daniel 6
Harry 6
Abraham 5
Benjamin 5
Ernest 5
Herbert 5
Philip 5
Albert 4
Francis 4
Frank 4
Fred 4
Jas. 4
Robt. 4
Claude 3
Jno. 3
David 2
Fredk. 2
Fredrick 2
Jacob 2
Louis 2
Michael 2
Percy 2
Samuel 2
Stanley 2
Wilfred 2
Willm. 2
Wm. 2
Basil 1
Edwd. 1
Essau 1
Evan 1
Fletcher 1
Wm.Edwd. 1

FAQ

Cannell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cannell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 682 people were recorded with the Cannell surname. That placed it at #5,288 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cannell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,461 in 2016. That gives Cannell a modern rank of #4,215.

What does the Cannell surname mean?

A dialectal English surname derived from the Old Norse "kanne" meaning a can or drinking vessel.

What does the Cannell map show?

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