NameCensus.

UK surname

Currell

A variant spelling of the French surname Curel, referring to someone who makes curls or ringlets.

In the 1881 census there were 462 people recorded with the Currell surname, ranking it #7,183 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 722, ranked #7,525, down from #7,183 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Mitcham, London parishes and Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bath and North East Somerset, Central Bedfordshire and South Oxfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Currell is 836 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 56.3%.

1881 census count

462

Ranked #7,183

Modern count

722

2016, ranked #7,525

Peak year

1911

836 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Currell had 462 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,183 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 722 in 2016, ranked #7,525.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 836 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Currell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Currell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Currell 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 335 #6,984
1861 historical 330 #7,721
1881 historical 462 #7,183
1891 historical 543 #6,951
1901 historical 734 #6,034
1911 historical 836 #5,288
1997 modern 772 #6,729
1998 modern 791 #6,815
1999 modern 789 #6,872
2000 modern 800 #6,778
2001 modern 766 #6,876
2002 modern 804 #6,747
2003 modern 764 #6,910
2004 modern 761 #6,948
2005 modern 740 #7,035
2006 modern 731 #7,126
2007 modern 732 #7,199
2008 modern 738 #7,192
2009 modern 750 #7,248
2010 modern 764 #7,288
2011 modern 754 #7,282
2012 modern 709 #7,534
2013 modern 729 #7,497
2014 modern 735 #7,504
2015 modern 724 #7,527
2016 modern 722 #7,525

Geography

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Where Currells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Mitcham, London parishes, Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a and Hitchin. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bath and North East Somerset, Central Bedfordshire, South Oxfordshire and Hartlepool. 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 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a Essex
5 Hitchin Hertfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bath and North East Somerset 021 Bath and North East Somerset
2 Central Bedfordshire 010 Central Bedfordshire
3 Central Bedfordshire 002 Central Bedfordshire
4 South Oxfordshire 012 South Oxfordshire
5 Hartlepool 008 Hartlepool

Forenames

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First names often paired with Currell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Currell

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Currell, 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 Currell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Currell 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Currell 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

Currell is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Currell 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 Currell 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 Currell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Currell

The surname Currell is believed to have originated in England, possibly in the county of Dorset or surrounding areas. It is thought to have derived from the Old English words "cyrr" meaning "turn" or "bend" and "heal" meaning "nook" or "corner." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a bend or corner of a road or river.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Currell can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Cyrrehyll." This entry indicates that the name was already established in certain parts of England by the late 11th century.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, various spellings of the name began to emerge, including Currall, Currell, and Currill. These variations were likely influenced by regional dialects and the evolving nature of English orthography at the time.

In the 16th century, a notable individual bearing the name Currell was John Currell, a merchant and alderman of London who lived from around 1520 to 1585. He was known for his involvement in the city's trade and governance.

Another historical figure with the surname Currell was William Currell (1599-1678), an English clergyman and theologian who served as the Rector of Bamburgh in Northumberland. He is particularly known for his published sermons and religious writings.

In the 18th century, Thomas Currell (1725-1787) was a prominent architect and surveyor who worked on various projects in the city of London, including the construction of several churches and other notable buildings.

Moving into the 19th century, one of the more famous individuals with the surname Currell was William Currell (1811-1887), an English artist and painter known for his landscapes and rural scenes depicting the countryside around Surrey and Hampshire.

Another noteworthy figure was Sir Charles Currell (1856-1935), a British civil servant and diplomat who served as the Governor of Sierra Leone from 1905 to 1911 and later as the Governor of the Bahamas from 1914 to 1919.

While the surname Currell may have originated in specific regions of England, over time it has spread to other parts of the country and even internationally as families migrated and relocated. However, its roots and earliest documented occurrences can be traced back to the English counties of Dorset and surrounding areas.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Currell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Currell 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. Hertfordshire leads with 127 Currells recorded in 1881 and an index of 41.33x.

County Total Index
Hertfordshire 127 41.33x
Middlesex 69 1.55x
Surrey 51 2.35x
Essex 30 3.41x
Oxfordshire 28 10.17x
Somerset 24 3.34x
Buckinghamshire 17 6.31x
Hampshire 17 1.86x
Yorkshire 17 0.38x
Worcestershire 15 2.58x
Berkshire 10 2.99x
Lancashire 8 0.15x
Monmouthshire 7 2.17x
Kent 6 0.39x
Sussex 6 0.80x
Renfrewshire 5 1.45x
Norfolk 4 0.58x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.67x
Suffolk 3 0.55x
Bedfordshire 2 0.87x
Devon 2 0.22x
Gloucestershire 2 0.23x
Leicestershire 1 0.20x
Northamptonshire 1 0.24x
Northumberland 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hitchin in Hertfordshire leads with 25 Currells recorded in 1881 and an index of 180.25x.

Place Total Index
Hitchin 25 180.25x
East Harptree 24 2376.24x
Hertford St Andrew 23 606.86x
Lexden 19 538.24x
Mitcham 19 138.38x
Hatfield 16 256.82x
Edmonton 15 41.76x
Tottenham 13 18.31x
Bowling 12 27.43x
Bromley London 12 12.24x
Marsh Baldon 11 2291.67x
Blockley 10 303.95x
Watton 10 800.00x
Godalming 9 65.84x
Newbury 9 83.96x
Cowley 8 93.13x
St Mary Kalendar 8 421.05x
Essendon 7 752.69x
Gorton 7 14.08x
Newington 7 4.25x
Saunderton 7 1076.92x
Trevethin 7 23.00x
Bygrave 6 1666.67x
Mortlake 6 61.98x
West Ham 6 3.09x
Abbey 5 9.49x
Abbots Langley 5 109.65x
Armley 5 25.67x
Aylesbury 5 41.88x
Camberwell 5 1.76x
Finchley 5 29.26x
Hackney London 5 2.00x
Norton 5 980.39x
St Albans St Peter 5 48.22x
St Lawrence Winchester 5 1351.35x
Wheatley 5 320.51x
Arnold 4 45.61x
Brighton 4 2.64x
Chelsea London 4 2.98x
St Albans 4 63.49x
Swanbourne 4 540.54x
Ware 4 45.40x
Droitwich St Nicholas 3 138.89x
Hertford St John 3 65.50x
Hillingdon 3 21.11x
Lee 3 13.59x
Long Melford 3 59.41x
Norwich St Paul 3 73.17x
Shoreditch London 3 1.55x
St Ippollitts 3 193.55x
Aldbury 2 143.88x
Dorchester 2 129.03x
Luton 2 5.01x
North Chapel 2 165.29x
North Mimms 2 103.63x
Richmond 2 6.57x
St Marylebone London 2 0.84x
St Peter Cheesehill 2 155.04x
St Thomas Winchester 2 31.01x
Tooting Graveney 2 33.11x
Worcester St Peter 2 18.15x
Brickendon 1 69.93x
Buckland Monachorum 1 50.51x
Clifton Hampden 1 188.68x
Colchester St Botolph 1 13.37x
Colchester St Martin 1 62.11x
Colchester St Mary At 1 32.05x
Heigham 1 2.72x
Hemel Hempstead 1 7.23x
Islington London 1 0.23x
Kings Walden 1 57.47x
Kirby Le Soken 1 79.37x
Lambeth 1 0.26x
Milton In Gravesend 1 4.38x
St Andrew Holborn London 1 5.18x
St Katherine Coleman 1 238.10x
St Pancras London 1 0.28x
Stevenage 1 21.01x
Welwyn 1 37.59x
Whitherley 1 126.58x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 19
Sarah 15
Ann 13
Elizabeth 13
Emma 10
Eliza 9
Alice 8
Ellen 8
Emily 8
Caroline 7
Fanny 7
Jane 7
Susan 6
Charlotte 5
Edith 5
Louisa 5
Florence 4
Frances 4
Hannah 4
Amelia 3
Anne 3
Maria 3
Ada 2
Agnes 2
Clara 2
Eleanor 2
Elizth. 2
Ethel 2
Kate 2
Lydia 2
Margaret 2
Martha 2
Nellie 2
Rebecca 2
Sophia 2
Annah 1
Catherine 1
Charlot 1
Ellenor 1
Ester 1
Esther 1
Florance 1
Julia 1
Juliana 1
Laura 1
Lizzey 1
Lizzy 1
Lousia 1
Lucy 1
Ursula 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 23
John 22
James 18
George 17
Alfred 12
Charles 11
Henry 9
Thomas 9
Edward 7
Richard 7
Harry 6
Robert 6
Samuel 6
Frederick 5
Joseph 5
Arthur 4
Ernest 4
Walter 4
Albert 3
Frank 3
Anthony 2
Benjn. 2
Edwin 2
Jabez 2
Noah 2
Alexander 1
Benjamin 1
Christopher 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Dick 1
Emanuel 1
Francis 1
Fredk 1
Free 1
Herbert 1
Jas. 1
Jeremiah 1
Jesse 1
Jonathan 1
Joshua 1
Josiah 1
Lou 1
Patrick 1
Sidney 1
Timothy 1
Valentine 1
Wm. 1
Wm.George 1
Wm.J. 1

FAQ

Currell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Currell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 462 people were recorded with the Currell surname. That placed it at #7,183 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Currell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 722 in 2016. That gives Currell a modern rank of #7,525.

What does the Currell surname mean?

A variant spelling of the French surname Curel, referring to someone who makes curls or ringlets.

What does the Currell map show?

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