NameCensus.

UK surname

Channell

An occupational surname for someone who made or sold candles, or dwelled near a canal.

In the 1881 census there were 236 people recorded with the Channell surname, ranking it #11,540 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 431, ranked #11,170, up from #11,540 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St James and South Stoneham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Southampton, New Forest and South Cambridgeshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Channell is 474 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 82.6%.

1881 census count

236

Ranked #11,540

Modern count

431

2016, ranked #11,170

Peak year

1998

474 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Channell had 236 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,540 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 431 in 2016, ranked #11,170.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 390 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Channell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Channell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Channell 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 164 #12,116
1861 historical 146 #15,628
1881 historical 236 #11,540
1891 historical 274 #11,880
1901 historical 348 #10,484
1911 historical 390 #9,455
1997 modern 456 #9,971
1998 modern 474 #10,004
1999 modern 473 #10,069
2000 modern 460 #10,245
2001 modern 450 #10,226
2002 modern 467 #10,136
2003 modern 461 #10,072
2004 modern 456 #10,188
2005 modern 430 #10,575
2006 modern 427 #10,683
2007 modern 424 #10,867
2008 modern 421 #11,010
2009 modern 438 #10,927
2010 modern 446 #10,988
2011 modern 440 #10,977
2012 modern 420 #11,278
2013 modern 420 #11,489
2014 modern 424 #11,463
2015 modern 425 #11,346
2016 modern 431 #11,170

Geography

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Where Channells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St James, South Stoneham and Southampton St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Southampton, New Forest and South Cambridgeshire. 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 1
2 St James Suffolk
3 South Stoneham Hampshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Southampton St Mary Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Southampton 016 Southampton
2 Southampton 019 Southampton
3 New Forest 004 New Forest
4 Southampton 018 Southampton
5 South Cambridgeshire 005 South Cambridgeshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Channell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Channell

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Channell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Channell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Channell 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

Channell is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Channell falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Channell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Channell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Channell

The surname Channell originates from the Old French word "chanel", meaning a channel or watercourse. It is believed to have first emerged in the region of Normandy, France, during the 11th century.

The earliest known record of the name dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "de Chanel". This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a channel or stream.

As the name spread throughout England during the Norman Conquest, various spelling variations emerged, including Chenell, Channill, and Channyll. These variations likely reflected regional dialects and pronunciations.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name was Sir William Channell, a knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War during the 14th century. Another notable figure was John Channell, a merchant from Bristol, England, who was active in the early 16th century.

In the 17th century, the name Channell appeared in historical records from the American colonies. One such individual was Richard Channell, who was born in Virginia in 1652 and served as a member of the House of Burgesses.

During the 18th century, the surname Channell was associated with several prominent figures, including Sir Thomas Channell (1718-1789), a British naval officer, and John Channell (1730-1803), an English clergyman and author.

In the 19th century, the name gained further recognition with individuals like William Henry Channell (1828-1901), a British painter and illustrator, and Frederick Channell (1853-1924), a Canadian businessman and politician.

Throughout its history, the surname Channell has been linked to various locations and place names, such as Channell Island in South Carolina, Channellville in Pennsylvania, and Channell Hill in Tennessee.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Channell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Channell 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. Surrey leads with 63 Channells recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.62x.

County Total Index
Surrey 63 5.62x
Suffolk 47 16.76x
Hampshire 38 8.05x
Middlesex 34 1.48x
Norfolk 17 4.80x
Cambridgeshire 8 5.49x
Gloucestershire 8 1.77x
Somerset 5 1.35x
Sussex 5 1.29x
Kent 3 0.38x
Yorkshire 3 0.13x
Essex 2 0.44x
Lancashire 1 0.04x
Lincolnshire 1 0.27x
Wiltshire 1 0.49x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. South Stoneham in Hampshire leads with 17 Channells recorded in 1881 and an index of 166.02x.

Place Total Index
South Stoneham 17 166.02x
Bury St Edmunds St James 14 186.92x
Gorleston 10 140.45x
Great Livermere 10 4545.45x
Southampton St Mary 10 33.70x
East Harling 9 1071.43x
Epsom 9 164.53x
Impington 8 2580.65x
Ewell 7 295.36x
Hampstead London 7 19.53x
Richmond 7 44.53x
Wortwell 7 2121.21x
Hook Malden 6 1333.33x
Islington London 6 2.69x
Portsea 6 6.49x
Walton On Thames 6 116.50x
Bristol St George 5 23.95x
Cheam 5 416.67x
Egham 5 72.57x
Ingham 5 2272.73x
Wimbledon 5 39.71x
Hornsey 4 13.74x
North Petherton 4 133.78x
St Pancras London 4 2.16x
Wandsworth 4 18.05x
Bromley London 3 5.92x
Kensington London 3 2.34x
Rogate 3 384.62x
Bristol St Michael 2 51.68x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 2 38.02x
Deptford St Paul 2 3.30x
Elvenden 2 800.00x
Great Barton 2 307.69x
Holy Trinity 2 3.65x
Lambeth 2 1.00x
Newington 2 2.35x
Southampton St Michael 2 129.03x
Tendring 2 298.51x
Waldron 2 188.68x
Alverstoke 1 5.85x
Ashton Under Lyne 1 1.68x
Bethnal Green London 1 1.00x
Bramshott 1 86.21x
Bridgham 1 454.55x
Bromley 1 8.35x
Capel 1 94.34x
Chelsea London 1 1.44x
Hackney London 1 0.77x
Hammersmith London 1 1.76x
Idmiston 1 217.39x
Ilminster 1 38.61x
Isleworth 1 9.78x
Kingston On Thames 1 3.71x
Little Cawthorpe 1 769.23x
Long Ditton 1 54.64x
Minchinhampton 1 27.78x
Norton 1 169.49x
Penge 1 6.80x
Rotherhithe 1 3.52x
South Hayling 1 119.05x
Spitalfields London 1 5.78x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 1 9.43x
Stowmarket 1 30.86x
Whitechapel London 1 4.41x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 16
James 13
Henry 9
George 8
John 7
Thomas 7
Frederick 6
Alfred 5
Charles 5
Joseph 4
Albert 3
Arthur 3
Harry 3
Robert 3
Edwin 2
Nicholas 2
Richard 2
Walter 2
Benjamin 1
Edgar 1
Edward 1
Ernast 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
Herbert 1
Jeremiah 1
Nathanial 1
Nathniell 1
Percy 1
Stanley 1
Tom 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Channell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Channell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 236 people were recorded with the Channell surname. That placed it at #11,540 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Channell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 431 in 2016. That gives Channell a modern rank of #11,170.

What does the Channell surname mean?

An occupational surname for someone who made or sold candles, or dwelled near a canal.

What does the Channell map show?

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