NameCensus.

UK surname

Dabell

A surname derived from a diminutive of "David" or "Dabel", a Middle English variant.

In the 1881 census there were 208 people recorded with the Dabell surname, ranking it #12,511 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 332, ranked #13,706, down from #12,511 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Chale, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Bulwell. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rushcliffe, Isle of Wight and Ashfield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dabell is 354 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 59.6%.

1881 census count

208

Ranked #12,511

Modern count

332

2016, ranked #13,706

Peak year

1911

354 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dabell had 208 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,511 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 332 in 2016, ranked #13,706.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 354 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Dabell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dabell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dabell 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 137 #13,812
1861 historical 138 #16,365
1881 historical 208 #12,511
1891 historical 251 #12,729
1901 historical 312 #11,339
1911 historical 354 #10,192
1997 modern 344 #12,319
1998 modern 351 #12,511
1999 modern 350 #12,609
2000 modern 339 #12,857
2001 modern 334 #12,789
2002 modern 331 #13,115
2003 modern 310 #13,522
2004 modern 308 #13,655
2005 modern 317 #13,323
2006 modern 309 #13,633
2007 modern 305 #13,891
2008 modern 316 #13,661
2009 modern 323 #13,720
2010 modern 327 #13,889
2011 modern 323 #13,868
2012 modern 326 #13,691
2013 modern 347 #13,260
2014 modern 344 #13,426
2015 modern 343 #13,365
2016 modern 332 #13,706

Geography

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Where Dabells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Chale, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Bulwell, St Werburgh and Nottingham St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rushcliffe, Isle of Wight, Ashfield, Nuneaton and Bedworth and Mansfield. 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 Chale Hampshire
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 Bulwell Nottinghamshire
4 St Werburgh Derbyshire
5 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rushcliffe 014 Rushcliffe
2 Isle of Wight 017 Isle of Wight
3 Ashfield 015 Ashfield
4 Nuneaton and Bedworth 002 Nuneaton and Bedworth
5 Mansfield 003 Mansfield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dabell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dabell

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Dabell is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Dabell is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Dabell

The surname Dabell has its origins in England, with records showing its presence dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be a variant spelling of the name D'Abell, which derives from the Old French word "abelon" meaning "small apple" or "crab apple." This suggests that the name may have originally been a descriptive nickname for someone associated with the fruit.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Dabell name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1230, which mentions a "William Dabelle." The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also list a "Henry Dabelle" from Oxfordshire. These early records indicate the name's presence in various regions of England during the medieval period.

In the 16th century, the Dabell surname appeared in the Parish Registers of Staffordshire, where a "Thomas Dabell" was recorded in 1580. Around the same time, a "John Dabell" was mentioned in the records of St. Peter's Church in Nottinghamshire in 1592. These entries provide evidence of the name's continued use and spread across different counties.

Notable individuals with the Dabell surname include Sir Edward Dabell (1610-1672), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Taunton during the reign of Charles II. Another prominent figure was John Dabell (1678-1743), a successful London merchant and philanthropist who donated generously to various charitable causes.

In the literary world, Henry Dabell (1617-1668) was an English dramatist and poet known for his plays "The Poor Scholar" and "The Traitor." He was also a prominent member of the Cavalier poets, a group of 17th-century poets known for their courtly and witty works.

Across the Atlantic, the Dabell name found its way to the American colonies, with records showing a "Thomas Dabell" arriving in Virginia in 1635. Another notable figure was James Dabell (1767-1831), an American Revolutionary War soldier who later became a successful businessman and landowner in New York.

Throughout its history, the Dabell surname has undergone various spelling variations, including Dabel, Dabelle, and Dabbelle, reflecting the fluidity of surname spellings in earlier times. The name's longevity and presence across different regions and historical periods demonstrate its enduring legacy as a distinctive English surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dabell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dabell 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. Nottinghamshire leads with 146 Dabells recorded in 1881 and an index of 53.39x.

County Total Index
Nottinghamshire 146 53.39x
Hampshire 20 4.81x
Middlesex 7 0.35x
Yorkshire 7 0.35x
Derbyshire 6 1.89x
Durham 6 0.99x
Leicestershire 6 2.67x
Lincolnshire 3 0.92x
Huntingdonshire 2 4.96x
Rutland 2 13.42x
Sussex 2 0.58x
Lancashire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Gotham in Nottinghamshire leads with 41 Dabells recorded in 1881 and an index of 5774.65x.

Place Total Index
Gotham 41 5774.65x
Nottingham St Mary 37 52.31x
Chale 20 4255.32x
Bulwell 13 218.49x
Hucknall Torkard 10 144.30x
Arnold 9 225.56x
Owthorpe 9 10000.00x
Handsworth 6 112.78x
Nottingham St Peter 6 196.72x
Woodland 6 1500.00x
Ripley 5 127.23x
Stapleford 5 225.23x
Lenton 4 62.11x
Hugglescote 3 90.63x
Long Bennington 3 476.19x
St Pancras London 3 1.84x
Ashwell 2 1176.47x
East Stoke 2 1428.57x
Farnsfield 2 273.97x
Hartford 2 769.23x
Kensington London 2 1.77x
Preston 2 33.50x
Radford Lenton 2 294.12x
Bottesford 1 108.70x
Hillingdon 1 15.46x
Ilkeston 1 11.22x
Leicester St Margaret 1 1.82x
Leicester St Mary 1 5.50x
Lowdham 1 196.08x
Newark Upon Trent 1 10.17x
Normanton On Wolds 1 2000.00x
Norwood 1 21.55x
Oxton 1 277.78x
Rusholme 1 15.58x
Snenton 1 9.31x
Southcoates 1 8.96x
Standard Hill 1 153.85x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 15
Mary 12
Elizabeth 6
Annie 5
Ellen 5
Alice 4
Ann 4
Charlotte 4
Edith 3
Hannah 3
Jane 3
Caroline 2
Catherine 2
Emily 2
Fanny 2
Harriett 2
Rachell 2
Rebecca 2
Agness 1
Bertha 1
Betsy 1
Elisabeth 1
Eliza 1
Elizh. 1
Ethel 1
Ethelyn 1
Evans 1
Frances 1
Harriet 1
Jennie 1
Lizzie 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Maud 1
Mercy 1
Rose 1
Susan 1
Sybil 1
Welyn 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 18
John 14
Thomas 12
Henry 6
Joseph 6
Edward 5
George 4
Frederick 3
James 3
Philip 3
Samuel 3
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Charles 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Walter 2
Willie 2
Wm. 2
Alexander 1
Alexr. 1
Arnold 1
Daniel 1
Elijah 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Geo. 1
Gordon 1
Harold 1
Ned 1
Percy 1
Richd. 1
Robert 1
Stanley 1
Will. 1

FAQ

Dabell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dabell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 208 people were recorded with the Dabell surname. That placed it at #12,511 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dabell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 332 in 2016. That gives Dabell a modern rank of #13,706.

What does the Dabell surname mean?

A surname derived from a diminutive of "David" or "Dabel", a Middle English variant.

What does the Dabell map show?

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