NameCensus.

UK surname

Chell

An English habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "chalky" or "lime-rich."

In the 1881 census there were 669 people recorded with the Chell surname, ranking it #5,393 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,068, ranked #5,475, down from #5,393 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Leigh and Stapenhill. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stafford, Derbyshire Dales and East Staffordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chell is 1,119 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 59.6%.

1881 census count

669

Ranked #5,393

Modern count

1,068

2016, ranked #5,475

Peak year

2002

1,119 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Chell had 669 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,393 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,068 in 2016, ranked #5,475.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,030 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Chell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Chell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Chell 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 390 #6,155
1861 historical 461 #5,634
1881 historical 669 #5,393
1891 historical 698 #5,614
1901 historical 853 #5,345
1911 historical 1,030 #4,449
1997 modern 819 #6,417
1998 modern 1,088 #5,307
1999 modern 1,101 #5,282
2000 modern 1,113 #5,221
2001 modern 1,082 #5,243
2002 modern 1,119 #5,215
2003 modern 1,106 #5,158
2004 modern 1,111 #5,142
2005 modern 1,101 #5,123
2006 modern 1,097 #5,152
2007 modern 1,097 #5,199
2008 modern 1,088 #5,266
2009 modern 1,088 #5,366
2010 modern 1,096 #5,456
2011 modern 1,095 #5,392
2012 modern 1,084 #5,353
2013 modern 1,095 #5,393
2014 modern 1,095 #5,415
2015 modern 1,081 #5,427
2016 modern 1,068 #5,475

Geography

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Where Chells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Leigh, Stapenhill and Dilhorne. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stafford, Derbyshire Dales, East Staffordshire and Staffordshire Moorlands. 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 London parishes London 3
3 Leigh Staffordshire
4 Stapenhill Staffordshire
5 Dilhorne Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stafford 005 Stafford
2 Derbyshire Dales 009 Derbyshire Dales
3 East Staffordshire 002 East Staffordshire
4 Staffordshire Moorlands 011 Staffordshire Moorlands
5 Staffordshire Moorlands 010 Staffordshire Moorlands

Forenames

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First names often paired with Chell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Chell

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Chell is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Chell 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

Chell falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Chell

The surname Chell is believed to have originated in England, with its roots tracing back to the early medieval period. This name is thought to be derived from the Old English word "celle," which means a small room or cell, often referring to a monastic dwelling or a hermit's abode.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Chell surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land and property ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name is mentioned in connection with landholdings in various parts of England, suggesting that it was already an established surname by the late 11th century.

The Chell surname is closely associated with several place names across England, including Chell in Staffordshire and Chell Green in Cheshire. These locations likely played a role in the evolution and dissemination of the surname, as families often adopted names based on their place of origin or residence.

In the 13th century, records show a Richard de Chell mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1272. Similarly, a John de Chelle is documented in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, indicating the name's presence in different regions of the country.

One notable individual with the Chell surname was Sir Walter Chell (1613-1672), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Shropshire during the reign of Charles II. Another prominent figure was Samuel Chell (1675-1736), an English engraver and printer who was known for his intricate book illustrations and maps.

Other historical figures bearing the Chell surname include John Chell (1758-1828), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars, and William Chell (1804-1865), an English architect responsible for designing several churches and public buildings in the Midlands region of England.

It is worth noting that the Chell surname has undergone various spelling variations over time, including Chelle, Chelle, and Chell, reflecting regional dialectal differences and scribal variations in record-keeping practices of the past.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Chell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Chell 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. Staffordshire leads with 339 Chells recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.39x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 339 15.39x
Derbyshire 93 9.10x
Lancashire 59 0.76x
Middlesex 32 0.49x
Worcestershire 28 3.29x
Cheshire 22 1.53x
Leicestershire 21 2.90x
Nottinghamshire 10 1.14x
Suffolk 9 1.13x
Warwickshire 9 0.55x
Yorkshire 9 0.14x
Lincolnshire 8 0.77x
Surrey 8 0.25x
Durham 5 0.26x
Shropshire 4 0.71x
Kent 3 0.13x
Norfolk 3 0.30x
Cornwall 1 0.14x
Denbighshire 1 0.41x
Gloucestershire 1 0.08x
Hampshire 1 0.07x
Lanarkshire 1 0.05x
Somerset 1 0.10x
Sussex 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 89 Chells recorded in 1881 and an index of 38.10x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Upon Trent 89 38.10x
Stapenhill 37 243.26x
Stone 28 99.40x
Fulham London 25 26.42x
Ashton Under Lyne 20 11.82x
Uttoxeter 18 159.57x
Wolverhampton 17 10.04x
Cheadle 14 132.33x
Congleton 13 52.23x
Belper 12 60.58x
Lower Mitton 12 159.79x
Audley 11 50.46x
Cannock 11 28.62x
Dilhorne 11 299.73x
Checkley 10 174.83x
Manchester 10 2.87x
Trentham 10 53.39x
Woodhouse 10 347.22x
Bury St Edmunds St James 9 42.39x
Fenny Bentley 9 1636.36x
Toxteth Park 9 3.43x
Chartley Holme 8 8888.89x
Leigh 8 547.95x
St Swithin Lincoln 8 48.75x
Wensley Snitterton 8 526.32x
Burslem 7 11.09x
Castle Donnington 7 116.67x
Cotton 7 479.45x
Newcastle Under Lyme 7 17.96x
Oldbury 7 16.69x
Sedgley 7 8.56x
Smallthorne 7 85.57x
Sturston 7 414.20x
Betley 6 327.87x
Caverswall 6 52.40x
Cheddleton 6 130.15x
Crich 6 89.96x
Tipton 6 8.90x
Ashborne 5 71.94x
Bosden 5 113.12x
Eccleshall 5 59.88x
Milwich 5 409.84x
Monkwearmouth 5 26.91x
Newington 5 2.07x
Normanton 5 25.73x
Penkridge 5 88.03x
St Pancras London 5 0.95x
Wavertree 5 20.17x
Abbots Bromley 4 122.32x
Birmingham 4 0.73x
Bury 4 4.52x
Draycott In Moors 4 439.56x
Everton 4 1.62x
Harborne 4 5.67x
Kneesall 4 634.92x
Leek Lowe 4 13.65x
Little Bolton 4 4.02x
Shrewsbury St Chad 4 20.21x
Aston 3 0.66x
Basford 3 7.40x
Farnsfield 3 128.76x
Greenwich 3 2.89x
Rushall 3 23.15x
Southwark St Saviour 3 8.94x
Thetford St Cuthbert 3 82.64x
Titteworth 3 88.76x
Upper Mitton 3 157.07x
Acton 2 5.23x
Bilston 2 4.68x
Habergham Eaves 2 2.83x
Kidderminster Borough 2 4.01x
Macclesfield 2 3.12x
Marston Montgomery 2 232.56x
Saddleworth 2 4.01x
Warley Wigorn 2 73.53x
Yardley 2 9.17x
Kingston 1 158.73x
Linton 1 37.17x
Ruardean 1 34.60x
Wednesbury 1 1.82x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 49
Sarah 29
Elizabeth 27
Ann 17
Ellen 16
Emma 16
Annie 14
Hannah 10
Alice 9
Eliza 8
Emily 8
Lucy 8
Maria 8
Florence 7
Frances 6
Harriet 5
Jane 5
Agnes 4
Clara 4
Harriett 4
Martha 4
Anne 3
Catherine 3
Fanny 3
Lizzie 3
Louisa 3
Amy 2
Charlotte 2
Edith 2
Elizh. 2
Francis 2
Julia 2
Margaret 2
Maud 2
Minnie 2
Rose 2
Selina 2
Amice 1
Beatrice 1
Bertha 1
Betsy 1
Drucilla 1
Drusilla 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth. 1
Hester 1
Isabel 1
Isabella 1
Issabella 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 42
John 40
George 38
Thomas 31
Henry 15
Joseph 15
Edward 14
James 14
Arthur 11
Charles 10
Frederick 8
Albert 6
Samuel 6
Daniel 5
Ernest 4
Herbert 4
Edwin 3
Nathan 3
Alfred 2
Edwd. 2
Ephraim 2
Francis 2
Fredrick 2
Harry 2
Nathaniel 2
Peter 2
Philip 2
Richard 2
Thos. 2
Wm. 2
Emmanuel 1
Ernald 1
Frances 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
G.H. 1
Geo. 1
Godfrey 1
Isaac 1
Job 1
Leonard 1
Levi 1
Louis 1
Luke 1
Michael 1
Nehemiah 1
Norman 1
Reuben 1
Saml. 1
Wm.Mcewan 1

FAQ

Chell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Chell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 669 people were recorded with the Chell surname. That placed it at #5,393 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Chell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,068 in 2016. That gives Chell a modern rank of #5,475.

What does the Chell surname mean?

An English habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "chalky" or "lime-rich."

What does the Chell map show?

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