NameCensus.

UK surname

Cardell

Of Anglo-Norman origin, a topographic surname denoting someone living near an area of carded wool.

In the 1881 census there were 161 people recorded with the Cardell surname, ranking it #14,801 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 96, ranked #31,684, down from #14,801 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Columb Major, St Leonard Shoreditch and St Columb Minor. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bromley, South Hams and Huntingdonshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cardell is 217 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 40.4%.

1881 census count

161

Ranked #14,801

Modern count

96

2016, ranked #31,684

Peak year

1891

217 bearers

Map years

7

1851 to 1998

Key insights

  • Cardell had 161 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,801 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 96 in 2016, ranked #31,684.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 217 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Cardell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cardell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cardell 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 133 #14,106
1861 historical 138 #16,365
1881 historical 161 #14,801
1891 historical 217 #14,062
1901 historical 205 #14,884
1911 historical 176 #16,185
1997 modern 114 #24,967
1998 modern 117 #25,190
1999 modern 125 #24,366
2000 modern 111 #26,111
2001 modern 110 #25,900
2002 modern 119 #25,231
2003 modern 116 #25,415
2004 modern 111 #26,293
2005 modern 98 #28,325
2006 modern 94 #29,264
2007 modern 91 #30,061
2008 modern 91 #30,431
2009 modern 96 #30,239
2010 modern 93 #31,239
2011 modern 93 #31,169
2012 modern 85 #32,395
2013 modern 91 #32,020
2014 modern 91 #32,219
2015 modern 93 #31,972
2016 modern 96 #31,684

Geography

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Where Cardells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Columb Major, St Leonard Shoreditch, St Columb Minor, Glasgow and Dorchester Holy Trinity, Fordington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bromley, South Hams, Huntingdonshire, Powys and Cornwall. 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 St Columb Major Cornwall
2 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
3 St Columb Minor Cornwall
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Dorchester Holy Trinity, Fordington Dorset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bromley 011 Bromley
2 South Hams 011 South Hams
3 Huntingdonshire 002 Huntingdonshire
4 Powys 018 Powys
5 Cornwall 066 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cardell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cardell

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Cardell 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

Cardell 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

Cardell falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Cardell

The surname Cardell is believed to have originated in England. Its earliest recorded use can be traced back to the 12th century, with the name likely derived from an Old English word meaning "dweller by the gorge or ravine."

The name was initially concentrated in the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk in East Anglia, where many early records of individuals bearing the Cardell surname can be found. One of the earliest known references to the name is in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk from 1195, which mentions a William Cardell.

In the 13th century, the Cardell name appears in various medieval records, including the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which list a Robert Cardell residing in Norfolk. The Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk from 1327 also record a John Cardell and a William Cardell.

By the 14th century, the Cardell surname had spread to other parts of England, with records showing families bearing the name in counties such as Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. The Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1332 mention a Thomas Cardell in Yorkshire, while the Poll Tax Returns of 1379 list a John Cardell in Lincolnshire.

One notable individual with the Cardell surname was Sir John Cardell (c. 1460-1525), a member of the English gentry and a landowner in Norfolk. He served as a Member of Parliament for Norfolk in 1491 and 1495.

Another prominent figure was Thomas Cardell (c. 1500-1565), an English clergyman who served as the Dean of Chichester Cathedral from 1558 until his death. He was a fervent Protestant during the English Reformation and played a role in the religious upheavals of the time.

In the 17th century, the Cardell surname appears in various parish records and tax rolls across England. One such example is William Cardell (1620-1689), a wealthy merchant and landowner in Norfolk who held the position of High Sheriff of Norfolk in 1669.

The Cardell name also found its way to North America during the colonial era, with several individuals bearing the surname arriving as early settlers. One notable example is John Cardell (c. 1625-1695), who immigrated to Virginia from England in the mid-17th century and established a prosperous plantation there.

Another notable figure was Samuel Cardell (1673-1756), an early settler in Pennsylvania and a member of the Provincial Assembly of Pennsylvania. He played a prominent role in the development of the American colonies in the 18th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cardell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cardell 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. Cornwall leads with 65 Cardells recorded in 1881 and an index of 36.79x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 65 36.79x
Middlesex 19 1.22x
Surrey 11 1.45x
Lanarkshire 9 1.78x
Staffordshire 9 1.71x
Lancashire 8 0.43x
Dorset 7 6.83x
Lincolnshire 7 2.81x
Essex 6 1.95x
Yorkshire 5 0.32x
Kent 3 0.56x
Devon 2 0.62x
Durham 2 0.43x
Glamorgan 2 0.74x
Royal Navy 2 10.75x
Warwickshire 2 0.51x
Argyllshire 1 2.30x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Erth in Cornwall leads with 16 Cardells recorded in 1881 and an index of 1495.33x.

Place Total Index
St Erth 16 1495.33x
St Columb Minor 15 1013.51x
Shoreditch London 11 16.26x
Barony 8 6.26x
Stoke Upon Trent 8 14.32x
Fordington 7 316.74x
Bodmin 6 205.48x
St Columb Major 6 408.16x
West Ham 6 8.82x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 5 34.70x
Oldham 5 8.37x
Sithney 5 279.33x
Islington London 4 2.64x
Whaplode 4 470.59x
Bermondsey 3 6.46x
Clapham 3 15.38x
Laneast 3 2142.86x
Mawgan In Pyder 3 789.47x
Radcliffe 3 33.59x
Tonbridge 3 15.63x
Aston 2 1.85x
Camberwell 2 2.01x
Cardiff St Mary 2 13.36x
Colan 2 1538.46x
Harton 2 109.29x
Lambeth 2 1.47x
Royal Navy 2 12.58x
South Petherwin 2 454.55x
St Thomas Apostle 2 370.37x
Ardchattan Muckairn 1 93.46x
Burslem 1 6.63x
Chelsea London 1 2.13x
Donington 1 111.11x
East Stonehouse 1 15.63x
Grays Inn Staple Inn 1 500.00x
Hackney London 1 1.14x
Madron Penzance 1 15.58x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 4.00x
Probus 1 138.89x
Richmond 1 9.38x
Shettleston 1 22.12x
Spalding 1 20.20x
St Clement 1 54.35x
St Erme 1 370.37x
St Hilary 1 196.08x
Surfleet 1 192.31x
Westminster St James 1 6.23x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 12
Elizabeth 8
Alice 5
Catherine 3
Jane 3
Rebecca 3
Sarah 3
Annie 2
Edith 2
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Martha 2
Ada 1
Amy 1
Ann 1
Bessie 1
Charlotte 1
Constance 1
E.M. 1
Eleanor 1
Eliza 1
Emmeline 1
Ethel 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Honor 1
Keziah 1
Laura 1
Louisa 1
Margaret 1
Maud 1
Naomi 1
Nurance 1
Phoebe 1
S.A. 1
Selina 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Cardell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cardell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 161 people were recorded with the Cardell surname. That placed it at #14,801 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cardell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 96 in 2016. That gives Cardell a modern rank of #31,684.

What does the Cardell surname mean?

Of Anglo-Norman origin, a topographic surname denoting someone living near an area of carded wool.

What does the Cardell map show?

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