UK surname
A surname derived from the Catalan word for "castle" or "fort", indicating a person who lived near or guarded a castle.
In the 1881 census there were 15 people recorded with the Castells surname, ranking it #31,451 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 9, ranked #37,705, down from #31,451 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Stockport, Yardley and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Castells is 132 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 40.0%.
1881 census count
15
Ranked #31,451
Modern count
9
2016, ranked #37,705
Peak year
1891
132 bearers
Map years
1
1891 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Castells surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Castells surname density by area, 1891 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 | 32 | #27,570 |
| 1861 | historical | 92 | #22,112 |
| 1881 | historical | 15 | #31,451 |
| 1891 | historical | 132 | #19,976 |
| 1901 | historical | 22 | #31,562 |
| 1911 | historical | 31 | #29,952 |
| 1997 | modern | 3 | #38,317 |
| 1998 | modern | 7 | #37,533 |
| 1999 | modern | 8 | #37,367 |
| 2000 | modern | 6 | #37,624 |
| 2001 | modern | 6 | #37,456 |
| 2002 | modern | 6 | #37,532 |
| 2003 | modern | 6 | #37,586 |
| 2004 | modern | 9 | #37,213 |
| 2005 | modern | 10 | #37,180 |
| 2006 | modern | 7 | #37,634 |
| 2007 | modern | 7 | #37,687 |
| 2008 | modern | 7 | #37,735 |
| 2009 | modern | 5 | #38,122 |
| 2010 | modern | 6 | #38,024 |
| 2011 | modern | 7 | #37,865 |
| 2012 | modern | 6 | #38,008 |
| 2013 | modern | 8 | #37,767 |
| 2014 | modern | 8 | #37,806 |
| 2015 | modern | 10 | #37,563 |
| 2016 | modern | 9 | #37,705 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Stockport, Yardley, Manchester, St Marylebone and Liverpool. 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 | Stockport | Cheshire |
| 2 | Yardley | Warwickshire |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Castells 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 Castells, 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 Castells surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Castells 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, Castells 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 Castells is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Castells, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Castells originated in Catalonia, a region located in northeastern Spain and southeastern France, during the medieval period. It is derived from the Catalan word "castell," which means "castle" or "fortified building." This suggests that the name may have been related to the occupation or ownership of a castle or defensive structure.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Castells can be traced back to the 12th century, when it appeared in various documents and records from the region. One notable example is the appearance of the name in the "Llibre Verd," a cartulary or collection of documents from the Cathedral of Girona, dated around 1145.
In the 13th century, the name Castells was also found in the "Libre de Repartiment," a document detailing the distribution of lands and properties in the Kingdom of Valencia after its conquest by the Crown of Aragon in 1238. This indicates that individuals bearing the name Castells may have been involved in the settlement or administration of the newly conquered territories.
Over the centuries, several notable individuals have carried the surname Castells. One of the earliest was Bernat de Castells, a Catalan nobleman who lived in the 13th century and held the title of "Senyor de Castells" (Lord of Castells). Another prominent figure was Jaume Castells, a Catalan soldier and diplomat who served King Peter IV of Aragon in the 14th century.
In the 15th century, Joan Castells was a renowned Catalan physician and author, known for his medical treatise titled "Tractatus de Causis Pestilentiae" (Treatise on the Causes of Plague). Around the same time, Pere Castells was a Catalan painter and sculptor who contributed to the artistic heritage of the region.
Fast-forwarding to the 19th century, Josep Antoni Castells i Casanovas (1818-1890) was a Catalan architect and urban planner who designed several notable buildings and urban projects in Barcelona, including the iconic Eixample district.
It is worth noting that the surname Castells has also been adopted by individuals and families in other regions, particularly in Latin America, due to the Spanish colonial expansion. However, its origins can be traced back to the Catalan region of Spain and its historical connections to castles and fortified structures.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Castells 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. Lancashire leads with 8 Castells' recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.62x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 8 | 4.62x |
| Middlesex | 4 | 2.74x |
| Aberdeenshire | 1 | 7.39x |
| Dorset | 1 | 10.43x |
| Sussex | 1 | 4.06x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Manchester in Lancashire leads with 8 Castells' recorded in 1881 and an index of 102.70x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Manchester | 8 | 102.70x |
| Hackney London | 3 | 36.63x |
| Gillingham | 1 | 625.00x |
| Oyne | 1 | 2000.00x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 18.62x |
| Seaford | 1 | 1250.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Castells 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 Castells 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 Castells households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 5 |
| Tailoress | 2 |
| Cook | 1 |
| Fireman MS | 1 |
| Ironer | 1 |
| Laundry Girl | 1 |
| Schoolmistress | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 15 people were recorded with the Castells surname. That placed it at #31,451 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 9 in 2016. That gives Castells a modern rank of #37,705.
A surname derived from the Catalan word for "castle" or "fort", indicating a person who lived near or guarded a castle.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Castells 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.