NameCensus.

UK surname

Chessell

In the 1881 census there were 214 people recorded with the Chessell surname, ranking it #12,284 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 328, ranked #13,831, down from #12,284 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Helen, Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst and Newchurch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Isle of Wight and Brighton and Hove.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chessell is 354 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 53.3%.

1881 census count

214

Ranked #12,284

Modern count

328

2016, ranked #13,831

Peak year

1998

354 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Chessell had 214 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,284 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 328 in 2016, ranked #13,831.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 317 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Chessell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Chessell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Chessell 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 189 #10,896
1861 historical 118 #18,512
1881 historical 214 #12,284
1891 historical 271 #11,992
1901 historical 301 #11,627
1911 historical 317 #11,011
1997 modern 336 #12,549
1998 modern 354 #12,438
1999 modern 352 #12,552
2000 modern 338 #12,877
2001 modern 332 #12,841
2002 modern 348 #12,674
2003 modern 342 #12,627
2004 modern 342 #12,645
2005 modern 342 #12,579
2006 modern 333 #12,941
2007 modern 345 #12,714
2008 modern 350 #12,694
2009 modern 350 #12,972
2010 modern 352 #13,187
2011 modern 340 #13,375
2012 modern 314 #14,063
2013 modern 326 #13,893
2014 modern 329 #13,918
2015 modern 334 #13,645
2016 modern 328 #13,831

Geography

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Where Chessells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Helen, Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst, Newchurch, London parishes and Brighton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Isle of Wight and Brighton and Hove. 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 St Helen Hampshire
2 Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst Sussex
3 Newchurch Hampshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Brighton Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Isle of Wight 011 Isle of Wight
2 Isle of Wight 003 Isle of Wight
3 Isle of Wight 009 Isle of Wight
4 Brighton and Hove 009 Brighton and Hove
5 Isle of Wight 001 Isle of Wight

Forenames

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First names often paired with Chessell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Chessell

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Chessell, 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 Chessell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Chessell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

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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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Chessell 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

Chessell is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Chessell falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

1881 census detail

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Chessell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Chessell 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. Hampshire leads with 120 Chessells recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.91x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 120 27.91x
Sussex 26 7.35x
Middlesex 16 0.76x
Lancashire 15 0.60x
Surrey 15 1.47x
Wiltshire 9 4.85x
Devon 6 1.37x
Berkshire 2 1.27x
Gloucestershire 2 0.49x
Bedfordshire 1 0.92x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.79x
Hertfordshire 1 0.69x
Royal Navy 1 4.00x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Northwood in Hampshire leads with 38 Chessells recorded in 1881 and an index of 620.92x.

Place Total Index
Northwood 38 620.92x
St Helens 37 1182.11x
Brighton 18 25.23x
Carisbrooke 17 284.76x
Marlborough St Peter St 9 947.37x
Fulham London 8 26.30x
Ryde 8 86.67x
Putney 7 73.22x
Blackawton 5 657.89x
Bradford 5 42.92x
Broadwater 5 61.65x
Paddington London 5 6.48x
Shere 5 406.50x
St Nicholas 5 2000.00x
Openshaw 4 34.31x
Beswick 3 47.17x
Brixton 3 857.14x
St George In East London 3 15.21x
Whippingham 3 92.31x
Arreton 2 144.93x
Cookham 2 40.73x
Gorton 2 8.55x
Hastings St Mary In The 2 26.53x
Newport 2 85.84x
Aldingbourn 1 188.68x
Ashton Under Lyne 1 1.84x
Biggleswade 1 28.09x
Bristol St Augustine 1 15.06x
Cheltenham 1 3.15x
Cheshunt 1 19.80x
Farnborough 1 22.17x
Farnham 1 12.58x
Little Marlow 1 142.86x
Portsea 1 1.19x
Portsmouth 1 10.10x
Royal Navy 1 4.68x
Shalfleet 1 120.48x
Stokenham 1 81.30x
Streatham 1 6.43x
Ventnor 1 24.45x
Wimbledon 1 8.72x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 13
Jane 10
Ann 7
Maria 6
Ellen 5
Sarah 5
Eliza 4
Elizabeth 4
Fanny 4
Emily 3
Frances 3
Alice 2
Amelia 2
Amy 2
Charlotte 2
Hannah 2
Miriam 2
Rose 2
Ada 1
Angelina 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Beatrice 1
E.Maria 1
Edith 1
Emilie 1
Emma 1
Emol 1
Esther 1
Flora 1
Florence 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
Harriet 1
Isabella 1
Jemima 1
Kate 1
Lily 1
Lucy 1
Margaret 1
Martha 1
Minnie 1
Rowda 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Henry 14
James 12
George 9
William 8
Charles 6
Alfred 5
John 5
David 4
Frank 4
Harry 4
Albert 3
Mark 3
Frederick 2
Fredk. 2
Walter 2
Willm. 2
Wm. 2
Alex 1
Allen 1
Andrew 1
Arthur 1
Chas. 1
Daniel 1
Edmund 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Emanuel 1
Ernest 1
Fred 1
Herbert 1
Hy. 1
Hy.John 1
Infant 1
Jeremiah 1
Maurice 1
Morris 1
Oliver 1
Osmund 1
Robert 1
Thomas 1
Thos. 1
W.Hennery 1

FAQ

Chessell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Chessell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 214 people were recorded with the Chessell surname. That placed it at #12,284 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Chessell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 328 in 2016. That gives Chessell a modern rank of #13,831.

What does the Chessell map show?

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