NameCensus.

UK surname

Castel

A surname derived from the Latin word "castellum" meaning a castle or fortress.

In the 1881 census there were 78 people recorded with the Castel surname, ranking it #22,500 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 95, ranked #31,782, down from #22,500 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Thornton and Kinglassie, Huntingdonshire and Glenrothes Auchmuty.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Castel is 107 in 2008. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 21.8%.

1881 census count

78

Ranked #22,500

Modern count

95

2016, ranked #31,782

Peak year

2008

107 bearers

Map years

1

2006 to 2006

Key insights

  • Castel had 78 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,500 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 95 in 2016, ranked #31,782.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 79 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Castel surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Castel surname density by area, 2006 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Castel 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 62 #22,232
1861 historical 75 #24,238
1881 historical 78 #22,500
1891 historical 79 #26,897
1901 historical 73 #26,069
1911 historical 46 #28,224
1997 modern 83 #29,216
1998 modern 87 #29,240
1999 modern 89 #29,168
2000 modern 91 #28,952
2001 modern 84 #29,508
2002 modern 83 #30,070
2003 modern 85 #29,877
2004 modern 92 #29,197
2005 modern 100 #28,025
2006 modern 106 #27,332
2007 modern 105 #27,868
2008 modern 107 #27,844
2009 modern 106 #28,666
2010 modern 101 #30,078
2011 modern 92 #31,301
2012 modern 93 #31,409
2013 modern 96 #31,381
2014 modern 97 #31,518
2015 modern 96 #31,624
2016 modern 95 #31,782

Geography

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Where Castels are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Thornton and Kinglassie, Huntingdonshire, Glenrothes Auchmuty, Corby and Leslie and Newcastle. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Thornton and Kinglassie Fife
2 Huntingdonshire 016 Huntingdonshire
3 Glenrothes Auchmuty Fife
4 Corby 005 Corby
5 Leslie and Newcastle Fife

Forenames

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First names often paired with Castel

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Castel

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Castel surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Castel household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Castel is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Castel is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Castel 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 Castel 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 Castel, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Castel

The surname Castel is of French origin, derived from the Old French word "castel," meaning "castle." It first appeared in France during the medieval period, particularly in the regions of Normandy and Picardy, where many castles and fortified structures were built.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Castel can be found in the Domesday Book, a survey commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This document mentions several individuals with the name Castel, indicating their presence in England shortly after the Norman Conquest.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Castel was often associated with those who lived near or worked in castles, such as guards, gatekeepers, or castle staff. It was also common for families to adopt surnames based on their proximity to prominent landmarks, like castles.

In the 13th century, a notable figure named Robert de Castel (born circa 1220) was a French knight who fought alongside King Louis IX in the Seventh Crusade to the Holy Land. His name is recorded in chronicles of the time, reflecting the prominence of the Castel surname during that era.

Another individual of note was Jean Castel (1510-1592), a French jurist and legal scholar who served as the President of the Parlement of Toulouse. His writings on French civil law were highly influential during the 16th century.

In England, the surname Castel can be traced back to the Norman Conquest, with families bearing this name settling in various parts of the country. One notable figure was Sir William Castel (1460-1513), a member of the English gentry who served as Sheriff of Hertfordshire in 1503.

Moving into the 17th century, François Castel (1642-1712) was a French soldier and military engineer who played a significant role in the construction of fortifications and defenses during the reign of Louis XIV.

Another prominent individual was René Castel (1758-1832), a French philosopher and social theorist who wrote extensively on the concept of social risk and its impact on society. His works influenced the development of modern social policies and welfare systems.

These examples illustrate the rich history and diverse backgrounds associated with the surname Castel, which has been carried by notable figures across various fields throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Castel families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Castel 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. Aberdeenshire leads with 43 Castels recorded in 1881 and an index of 54.71x.

County Total Index
Aberdeenshire 43 54.71x
Middlesex 13 1.53x
Channel Islands 8 31.81x
Surrey 6 1.45x
Kent 3 1.04x
Warwickshire 3 1.40x
Devon 2 1.13x
Oxfordshire 2 3.82x
Sussex 2 1.40x
Gloucestershire 1 0.60x
Isle of Man 1 6.35x
Leicestershire 1 1.06x
Perthshire 1 2.63x
Staffordshire 1 0.35x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Fyvie in Aberdeenshire leads with 17 Castels recorded in 1881 and an index of 1328.13x.

Place Total Index
Fyvie 17 1328.13x
Peterhead 9 216.35x
Bow London 6 55.56x
Cruden 5 495.05x
Lambeth 5 6.76x
Grouville 4 571.43x
Tarves 4 540.54x
Clerkenwell London 3 14.98x
Forgue 3 422.54x
Long Compton 3 1500.00x
St Sampson 3 265.49x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 2 13.60x
Birchington 2 487.80x
Crediton 2 119.76x
Dyce 2 588.24x
Kensington London 2 4.24x
Oxford St Ebbe 2 129.87x
Aberdeen Old Machar 1 6.09x
Brighton 1 3.46x
Clifton 1 11.89x
Dorking 1 35.97x
Dunblane 1 109.89x
Hove 1 15.92x
Islington London 1 1.22x
Leicester St Nicholas 1 188.68x
Onchan 1 22.03x
St Helier 1 12.21x
St Marylebone London 1 2.21x
St Peters 1 74.63x
Walsall Foreign 1 6.76x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Annie 2
Elisa 2
Alice 1
Angelina 1
Augustine 1
Celestine 1
Delicia 1
Elizabeh 1
Elizabeth 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Eulalie 1
Jane 1
Jeanne 1
Jenne 1
Marguerite 1
Sarah 1
Selene 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 4
William 3
Albert 2
Jean 2
Walter 2
Benjamin 1
Desire 1
Frances 1
George 1
James 1
Josa 1
Louis 1
Maurice 1
Pierre 1

Top occupations

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 Castel households.

FAQ

Castel surname: questions and answers

How common was the Castel surname in 1881?

In 1881, 78 people were recorded with the Castel surname. That placed it at #22,500 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Castel surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 95 in 2016. That gives Castel a modern rank of #31,782.

What does the Castel surname mean?

A surname derived from the Latin word "castellum" meaning a castle or fortress.

What does the Castel map show?

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