NameCensus.

UK surname

Counsell

An English occupational surname derived from the word "counsel", referring to someone who provided advice or counsel.

In the 1881 census there were 739 people recorded with the Counsell surname, ranking it #4,958 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,032, ranked #5,656, down from #4,958 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Mark, Chapel Allerton, Weare, East Brent, South Brent. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Somerset, Hyndburn and Sedgemoor.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Counsell is 1,132 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 39.6%.

1881 census count

739

Ranked #4,958

Modern count

1,032

2016, ranked #5,656

Peak year

1911

1,132 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Counsell had 739 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,958 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,032 in 2016, ranked #5,656.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,132 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Counsell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Counsell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Counsell 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 342 #6,879
1861 historical 372 #6,857
1881 historical 739 #4,958
1891 historical 734 #5,406
1901 historical 1,030 #4,640
1911 historical 1,132 #4,115
1997 modern 1,073 #5,183
1998 modern 1,103 #5,248
1999 modern 1,104 #5,273
2000 modern 1,114 #5,218
2001 modern 1,073 #5,275
2002 modern 1,096 #5,285
2003 modern 1,099 #5,186
2004 modern 1,067 #5,317
2005 modern 1,044 #5,357
2006 modern 1,030 #5,428
2007 modern 1,022 #5,514
2008 modern 1,016 #5,578
2009 modern 1,046 #5,570
2010 modern 1,057 #5,619
2011 modern 1,049 #5,592
2012 modern 1,028 #5,610
2013 modern 1,060 #5,551
2014 modern 1,077 #5,514
2015 modern 1,052 #5,563
2016 modern 1,032 #5,656

Geography

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Where Counsells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Mark, Chapel Allerton, Weare, East Brent, South Brent, Ribchester and Preston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Somerset, Hyndburn, Sedgemoor and Neath Port Talbot. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Mark, Chapel Allerton, Weare, East Brent, South Brent Somerset
4 Ribchester Lancashire
5 Preston Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Somerset 018 North Somerset
2 Hyndburn 003 Hyndburn
3 Sedgemoor 002 Sedgemoor
4 Hyndburn 001 Hyndburn
5 Neath Port Talbot 004 Neath Port Talbot

Forenames

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First names often paired with Counsell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Counsell

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

Counsell 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

Counsell falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Counsell

The surname COUNSELL is of English origin, derived from the Old French word 'conseil', meaning counsel or advice. It is an occupational surname that was initially given to those who served as counselors or advisers, often in a legal or administrative capacity.

The name can be traced back to the 12th century, with early recordings found in various medieval records and documents. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was William Counsell, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1199.

During the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Counseil, Cunseil, and Cunsail, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation at the time. In the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, dated 1273, there is a record of a Robert Cunseil.

As the surname spread across England, it became associated with certain localities, leading to the formation of place-names like Counsell's Green in Oxfordshire and Counsell's Farm in Gloucestershire.

Notable individuals bearing the COUNSELL surname include Sir John Counsell (1568-1638), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Taunton during the reign of King James I. Another prominent figure was Thomas Counsell (1727-1789), a renowned architect who designed several churches and buildings in Bath and Bristol.

In the 18th century, the name gained recognition through the work of Edward Counsell (1740-1819), a renowned engraver and illustrator whose prints and etchings captured the landscapes and architectural wonders of England.

During the 19th century, William Counsell (1806-1873) made significant contributions to the field of engineering, working on various railway projects and serving as the Chief Engineer of the London and North Western Railway.

Another notable figure was Henry Counsell (1854-1932), a British military officer who served in the Boer War and World War I, earning several decorations for his bravery and leadership.

Throughout its history, the COUNSELL surname has been associated with individuals from various professions, including law, architecture, engineering, and the military, reflecting the diverse backgrounds of those who bore this occupational name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Counsell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Counsell 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. Lancashire leads with 427 Counsells recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.95x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 427 4.95x
Somerset 140 11.97x
Gloucestershire 55 3.86x
Herefordshire 32 10.74x
Surrey 20 0.56x
Monmouthshire 17 3.24x
Berkshire 11 2.02x
Middlesex 10 0.14x
Isle of Man 8 5.93x
Worcestershire 5 0.53x
Devon 4 0.26x
Dorset 3 0.63x
Durham 3 0.14x
Yorkshire 3 0.04x
Kent 2 0.08x
Sussex 2 0.16x
Cornwall 1 0.12x
Glamorgan 1 0.08x
Hertfordshire 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Blackburn in Lancashire leads with 163 Counsells recorded in 1881 and an index of 71.05x.

Place Total Index
Blackburn 163 71.05x
Preston 55 23.84x
Dilworth 34 643.94x
Mellor 24 879.12x
Clayton Le Moors 18 107.59x
Ross 18 151.90x
Weston Super Mare 18 60.93x
Burnham 17 190.58x
Alston 14 349.13x
Peterstow 12 1304.35x
Glastonbury 11 115.18x
Great Faringdon 11 140.31x
Lambeth 11 1.74x
Winscombe 11 348.10x
Badgworth 10 1428.57x
Hulme 10 5.55x
Bristol St Michael 9 73.65x
Clayton Le Dale 9 1232.88x
Freckleton 9 318.02x
Hatch Beauchamp 9 1000.00x
Ashton Under Lyne 8 4.24x
Bristol St George 8 12.14x
Bristol St James St Paul 8 16.83x
Patrick 8 121.58x
Pendleton In Salford 8 7.79x
Ribchester 8 245.40x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 7 5.22x
Clevedon 7 57.57x
Monmouth 7 50.25x
Walton Le Dale 7 30.21x
Biddisham 6 1935.48x
Bitton Oldland 6 41.18x
Lower Darwen 6 53.00x
Pleasington 6 517.24x
Weare 6 370.37x
Wedmore 6 78.84x
Westbury 6 402.68x
Wheelton 6 155.44x
Acton 5 11.74x
Barrow In Furness 5 4.26x
Beckford 5 434.78x
Liverpool 5 0.95x
Oswaldtwistle 5 16.41x
Trevethin 5 10.08x
Worcester St Martin 5 39.06x
Backwell 4 166.67x
East Brent 4 225.99x
Livesey 4 26.44x
Pennington In Leigh 4 24.17x
St Woollos 4 6.82x
Bath St Michael 3 50.76x
Bristol St Paul In 3 7.90x
Chopwell 3 74.63x
Chorlton On Medlock 3 2.19x
Clifton 3 4.16x
Hackney London 3 0.74x
Longfleet 3 54.35x
Mark 3 109.89x
Newington 3 1.12x
Spaxton 3 131.58x
Walcot 3 4.82x
Wigan 3 2.49x
Ashwater 2 93.46x
Bedminster 2 1.82x
Binegar 2 303.03x
Bridstow 2 117.65x
Bristol St John Baptist 2 151.52x
Compton Bishop 2 145.99x
Crowle 2 28.29x
Farington 2 39.84x
Kingston On Thames 2 2.35x
Read 2 86.58x
Toxteth Park 2 0.68x
Uphill 2 125.00x
Wimbledon 2 5.03x
Bristol St Augustine 1 4.35x
Gillingham 1 1.96x
Hurstpierpoint 1 14.66x
Madron Penzance 1 3.34x
Westonsuper Mare 1 41.84x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 64
Elizabeth 33
Alice 29
Ellen 19
Annie 17
Sarah 17
Ann 15
Jane 15
Margaret 15
Emily 9
Agnes 7
Catherine 7
Eliza 7
Emma 6
Louisa 6
Ada 4
Anna 4
Clara 4
Florence 4
Hester 4
Martha 4
Charlotte 3
Lucy 3
Maria 3
Maud 3
Bessie 2
Betsy 2
Edith 2
Elizth. 2
Hannah 2
Isabella 2
Margt. 2
Nancy 2
Phoebe 2
Ruth 2
Selina 2
Susan 2
Susannah 2
Allice 1
Beatrice 1
Drasilla 1
Eleanor 1
Elenor 1
Eliz. 1
Elizebeth 1
Harriett 1
Idate 1
Juannah 1
Julia 1
Theresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 57
William 50
James 33
Thomas 26
George 22
Joseph 19
Charles 13
Henry 13
Samuel 9
Richard 8
Robert 8
Albert 7
Walter 7
Frank 6
Isaac 6
Edward 5
Frederick 5
Adam 3
Alfred 3
Edwin 3
Fred 3
Lawrence 3
Arthur 2
Bartholomew 2
Benjamin 2
Doctor 2
Edgar 2
Ernest 2
Gabriel 2
Harry 2
Jervie 2
Laurence 2
Oliver 2
Ralph 2
Thos. 2
Willm. 2
Wm. 2
Ambrose 1
Blyth 1
Charley 1
Daniel 1
Egbert 1
Francis 1
Lionel 1
Lot 1
Mark 1
Nathan 1
Newton 1
Octavius 1
Philip 1

FAQ

Counsell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Counsell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 739 people were recorded with the Counsell surname. That placed it at #4,958 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Counsell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,032 in 2016. That gives Counsell a modern rank of #5,656.

What does the Counsell surname mean?

An English occupational surname derived from the word "counsel", referring to someone who provided advice or counsel.

What does the Counsell map show?

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