NameCensus.

UK surname

Courtnell

In the 1881 census there were 77 people recorded with the Courtnell surname, ranking it #22,617 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 211, ranked #18,904, up from #22,617 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Mitcham, London parishes and Monkwearmouth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wirral, Hammersmith and Fulham and Havant.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Courtnell is 235 in 2003. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 174.0%.

1881 census count

77

Ranked #22,617

Modern count

211

2016, ranked #18,904

Peak year

2003

235 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Courtnell had 77 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,617 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 211 in 2016, ranked #18,904.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 153 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Courtnell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Courtnell surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Courtnell 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 43 #25,518
1861 historical 55 #27,007
1881 historical 77 #22,617
1891 historical 101 #23,870
1901 historical 125 #20,061
1911 historical 153 #17,633
1997 modern 204 #17,409
1998 modern 211 #17,532
1999 modern 215 #17,425
2000 modern 211 #17,603
2001 modern 207 #17,573
2002 modern 222 #17,147
2003 modern 235 #16,291
2004 modern 222 #17,020
2005 modern 214 #17,378
2006 modern 203 #18,105
2007 modern 201 #18,428
2008 modern 204 #18,403
2009 modern 213 #18,284
2010 modern 225 #18,000
2011 modern 218 #18,206
2012 modern 217 #18,184
2013 modern 220 #18,324
2014 modern 218 #18,583
2015 modern 213 #18,769
2016 modern 211 #18,904

Geography

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Where Courtnells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Mitcham, London parishes, Monkwearmouth, Portsmouth, Portsea and Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wirral, Hammersmith and Fulham, Havant, Greenwich and Southend-on-Sea. 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 Mitcham Surrey
2 London parishes London 3
3 Monkwearmouth Durham
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wirral 010 Wirral
2 Hammersmith and Fulham 007 Hammersmith and Fulham
3 Havant 019 Havant
4 Greenwich 034 Greenwich
5 Southend-on-Sea 013 Southend-on-Sea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Courtnell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Courtnell

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Courtnell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Courtnell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Courtnell is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Courtnell is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Courtnell falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Courtnell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

1881 census detail

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Courtnell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Courtnell 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 24 Courtnells recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.82x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 24 14.82x
Middlesex 13 1.65x
Norfolk 13 10.70x
Surrey 7 1.82x
Hertfordshire 6 11.02x
Shropshire 5 7.33x
Berkshire 4 6.75x
Devon 3 1.82x
Royal Navy 3 31.88x
Warwickshire 2 1.00x
Durham 1 0.43x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portsea in Hampshire leads with 21 Courtnells recorded in 1881 and an index of 66.18x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 21 66.18x
Hackney London 12 27.09x
Norwich St Martin At Oak 7 945.95x
Mitcham 6 246.91x
Northchurch 6 1034.48x
Norwich St Augustine 6 1224.49x
Condover 5 1041.67x
Reading St Giles 4 68.73x
Royal Navy 3 37.27x
Stoke Damerel 3 26.06x
Rowington 2 909.09x
Aldershot 1 18.45x
Bishopwearmouth 1 4.96x
Eling 1 60.98x
Northwood 1 43.29x
Shoreditch London 1 2.92x
Windlesham 1 138.89x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 3
Ada 2
Annie 2
Eleanor 2
Eliza 2
Ellen 2
Harriet 2
Jane 2
Julia 2
Sarah 2
Ann 1
Anne 1
Charlotte 1
Elizat. 1
Emma 1
Florence 1
Hannah 1
Kate 1
Louisa 1
Louise 1
Martha 1
Priscilla 1
Rachel 1
Rose 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Frederick 5
Henry 5
Francis 3
George 3
John 3
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Charles 2
Daniel 2
Edward 2
James 2
Thomas 2
William 2
Benjamin 1
Edmund 1
Ernest 1
Harry 1
Jos.C. 1
Walter 1
Will 1

FAQ

Courtnell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Courtnell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 77 people were recorded with the Courtnell surname. That placed it at #22,617 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Courtnell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 211 in 2016. That gives Courtnell a modern rank of #18,904.

What does the Courtnell map show?

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