UK surname
A surname possibly derived from the term "to cavil" meaning to make petty or trivial objections.
In the 1881 census there were 107 people recorded with the Cavil surname, ranking it #18,982 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 11, ranked #37,501, down from #18,982 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bedminster and Lyndhurst. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cavil is 149 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 89.7%.
1881 census count
107
Ranked #18,982
Modern count
11
2016, ranked #37,501
Peak year
1851
149 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Cavil surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Cavil surname density by area, 1881 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 | 149 | #12,967 |
| 1861 | historical | 111 | #19,429 |
| 1881 | historical | 107 | #18,982 |
| 1891 | historical | 115 | #21,878 |
| 1901 | historical | 53 | #28,271 |
| 1911 | historical | 35 | #29,478 |
| 1997 | modern | 8 | #37,372 |
| 1998 | modern | 10 | #37,048 |
| 1999 | modern | 8 | #37,367 |
| 2000 | modern | 8 | #37,264 |
| 2001 | modern | 10 | #36,852 |
| 2002 | modern | 8 | #37,206 |
| 2003 | modern | 8 | #37,248 |
| 2004 | modern | 8 | #37,346 |
| 2005 | modern | 10 | #37,180 |
| 2006 | modern | 10 | #37,224 |
| 2007 | modern | 9 | #37,435 |
| 2008 | modern | 9 | #37,473 |
| 2009 | modern | 11 | #37,336 |
| 2010 | modern | 10 | #37,517 |
| 2011 | modern | 10 | #37,504 |
| 2012 | modern | 12 | #37,292 |
| 2013 | modern | 12 | #37,342 |
| 2014 | modern | 12 | #37,355 |
| 2015 | modern | 12 | #37,371 |
| 2016 | modern | 11 | #37,501 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bedminster, Lyndhurst, Redruth and Tunbridge, Bidborough. 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 | Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) | Glamorganshire |
| 2 | Bedminster | Somerset |
| 3 | Lyndhurst | Hampshire |
| 4 | Redruth | Cornwall |
| 5 | Tunbridge, Bidborough | Kent |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Cavil 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 Cavil, 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 Cavil surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Cavil 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, Cavil 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 Cavil is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Cavil, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Cavil is of English origin, deriving from the Old French word "caviller" which means "to raise trifling objections" or "to quibble." This name likely emerged during the late 13th or early 14th century in England.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Cavil surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1273, which mentions a John Cavyl. This suggests that the name may have originated in the county of Bedfordshire or its surrounding areas.
In the 14th century, the name appears in various forms, such as Cavill, Cavyll, and Cavylle. These variations in spelling were common during this time due to the lack of standardized orthography.
The Cavil surname is not prominently featured in historical records like the Domesday Book, but it can be found in various parish records and tax rolls from the 15th and 16th centuries across England.
One notable figure bearing this surname was William Cavill (c. 1530-1605), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Wallingford in 1584 and 1586.
Another individual of note was John Cavill (1637-1715), an English clergyman who served as the Dean of Norwich from 1699 until his death.
In the 18th century, Thomas Cavill (1722-1794) was a prominent English architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Royal Opera House in London.
Moving into the 19th century, Samuel Cavill (1818-1892) was a British engineer and inventor who held several patents for improvements in steam engines and boilers.
Finally, one of the more recent historical figures with the Cavil surname was Henry Lancelot Cavill (1882-1962), a British army officer who served in World War I and was awarded the Military Cross for his bravery.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cavil 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. Somerset leads with 28 Cavils recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.67x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Somerset | 28 | 16.67x |
| Hampshire | 13 | 6.08x |
| Yorkshire | 13 | 1.26x |
| Monmouthshire | 9 | 11.93x |
| Montgomeryshire | 9 | 37.64x |
| Lancashire | 7 | 0.57x |
| Gloucestershire | 5 | 2.44x |
| Middlesex | 5 | 0.48x |
| Glamorgan | 4 | 2.20x |
| Lincolnshire | 4 | 2.40x |
| Cornwall | 3 | 2.54x |
| Devon | 3 | 1.38x |
| Bedfordshire | 2 | 3.70x |
| Buckinghamshire | 1 | 1.59x |
| Dorset | 1 | 1.46x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lyndhurst in Hampshire leads with 13 Cavils recorded in 1881 and an index of 2203.39x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lyndhurst | 13 | 2203.39x |
| Llanidloes | 9 | 508.47x |
| Newport | 9 | 250.00x |
| Mark | 7 | 1794.87x |
| Taunton St Mary | 7 | 227.27x |
| Newton | 6 | 62.89x |
| Bishops Hull | 5 | 925.93x |
| Sheffield | 5 | 15.19x |
| St Marylebone London | 5 | 8.98x |
| Ubley | 5 | 5000.00x |
| Llanwonno | 4 | 61.26x |
| Barton St Peter | 2 | 263.16x |
| Bristol St Mary Redcliff | 2 | 107.53x |
| Kenn | 2 | 2000.00x |
| Luton | 2 | 21.39x |
| Redruth | 2 | 59.88x |
| Tiverton | 2 | 53.48x |
| Bilton Cum Harrogate | 1 | 28.25x |
| Bolton On Dearne | 1 | 277.78x |
| Brampton Bierlow | 1 | 75.76x |
| Brightside Bierlow | 1 | 4.93x |
| Bristol St James In | 1 | 33.22x |
| Bristol St Philip Jacob | 1 | 5.19x |
| Burstwick With | 1 | 666.67x |
| Chorlton On Medlock | 1 | 5.08x |
| Clifton | 1 | 9.66x |
| Congresbury | 1 | 232.56x |
| Ecclesall Bierlow | 1 | 4.76x |
| Hardwick | 1 | 3333.33x |
| Lavington | 1 | 1666.67x |
| Nether Hallam | 1 | 7.15x |
| Poole St James | 1 | 38.91x |
| Rackenford | 1 | 769.23x |
| St Clement | 1 | 81.30x |
| Tingewick | 1 | 357.14x |
| Uphill | 1 | 434.78x |
| Whiston | 1 | 200.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Cavil 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 Cavil 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 Cavil households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 21 |
| Coal Miner | 4 |
| Domestic Servant | 3 |
| Farmer Son | 2 |
| Labourer On Sewerage | 2 |
| Lead Ore Miner | 2 |
| Serv Domestic | 2 |
| Bricklayer | 1 |
| Carpenter Out Of Employment | 1 |
| Carter In Iron Works | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Cook | 1 |
| Cook Dom Servt | 1 |
| Cook Domestic | 1 |
| Coombe Maker | 1 |
| Dairymaid | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Farm Servant (Indr) | 1 |
| Farmer | 1 |
| Farmer 12 Acres | 1 |
| Farmer Daughter | 1 |
| Farmers Wife | 1 |
| Finisher Straw Hat | 1 |
| Formerly Charwoman | 1 |
| Garden Lab | 1 |
| Gardener | 1 |
| Gardener (N D) | 1 |
| Gardeners Wife | 1 |
| Gas Fitter | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Governess (Sch) | 1 |
| Groom | 1 |
| Groom And Gardener | 1 |
| Groom Wife | 1 |
| Housewife | 1 |
| Inn Keeper | 1 |
| Knitting (Fancy) | 1 |
| Lives On Interest Of Money | 1 |
| NK | 1 |
| Nurse | 1 |
| Pen Blade Grinder | 1 |
| Plasterer | 1 |
| Plumbers Labourer | 1 |
| Plumbers Labourer Wife | 1 |
| Printers Apprentice | 1 |
| Retired Laborer | 1 |
| Serv Cook (Dom) | 1 |
| Smith Unemployed | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 107 people were recorded with the Cavil surname. That placed it at #18,982 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 11 in 2016. That gives Cavil a modern rank of #37,501.
A surname possibly derived from the term "to cavil" meaning to make petty or trivial objections.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Cavil 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.