NameCensus.

UK surname

Damsell

In the 1881 census there were 81 people recorded with the Damsell surname, ranking it #22,082 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 174, ranked #21,466, up from #22,082 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Willesden and Bicknor, English. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stroud, Bristol and North Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Damsell is 204 in 2004. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 114.8%.

1881 census count

81

Ranked #22,082

Modern count

174

2016, ranked #21,466

Peak year

2004

204 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Damsell had 81 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,082 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 174 in 2016, ranked #21,466.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 140 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Damsell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Damsell surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Damsell 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 62 #22,232
1861 historical 78 #23,836
1881 historical 81 #22,082
1891 historical 96 #24,559
1901 historical 117 #20,830
1911 historical 140 #18,657
1997 modern 198 #17,729
1998 modern 202 #17,991
1999 modern 201 #18,179
2000 modern 194 #18,554
2001 modern 190 #18,520
2002 modern 200 #18,294
2003 modern 197 #18,311
2004 modern 204 #17,992
2005 modern 194 #18,512
2006 modern 186 #19,140
2007 modern 189 #19,146
2008 modern 187 #19,465
2009 modern 196 #19,274
2010 modern 196 #19,698
2011 modern 198 #19,410
2012 modern 190 #19,864
2013 modern 191 #20,124
2014 modern 192 #20,230
2015 modern 180 #20,997
2016 modern 174 #21,466

Geography

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Where Damsells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Willesden, Bicknor, English, Bisley, Miserdon and West Derby. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stroud, Bristol, North Devon and Forest of Dean. 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 Willesden Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
3 Bicknor, English Monmouthshire
4 Bisley, Miserdon Gloucestershire
5 West Derby Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stroud 006 Stroud
2 Bristol 051 Bristol, City of
3 Bristol 045 Bristol, City of
4 North Devon 008 North Devon
5 Forest of Dean 004 Forest of Dean

Forenames

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First names often paired with Damsell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Damsell

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Damsell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Damsell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Damsell is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Damsell 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

Damsell 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 Damsell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

1881 census detail

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Damsell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Damsell 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. Gloucestershire leads with 45 Damsells recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.68x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 45 28.68x
Middlesex 13 1.63x
Somerset 11 8.54x
Lancashire 4 0.42x
Kent 2 0.73x
Yorkshire 2 0.25x
Berkshire 1 1.67x
Cumberland 1 1.45x
Lincolnshire 1 0.78x
Royal Navy 1 10.49x
Worcestershire 1 0.96x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bisley in Gloucestershire leads with 23 Damsells recorded in 1881 and an index of 1619.72x.

Place Total Index
Bisley 23 1619.72x
Bedminster 9 74.38x
Islington London 7 9.03x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 6 40.62x
Westminster St Margaret 5 129.53x
Cheltenham 4 33.06x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 4 139.37x
Minchinhampton 4 320.00x
West Derby 4 14.40x
Stroud 3 98.36x
Handsworth 2 95.24x
Milton In Gravesend 2 48.90x
Walcot 2 29.15x
Bristol St Thomas 1 555.56x
Leigh 1 78.74x
Royal Navy 1 12.27x
St George Hanover Square 1 7.10x
St Martin Lincoln 1 84.03x
St Mary Within 1 116.28x
Wantage 1 104.17x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

FAQ

Damsell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Damsell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 81 people were recorded with the Damsell surname. That placed it at #22,082 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Damsell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 174 in 2016. That gives Damsell a modern rank of #21,466.

What does the Damsell map show?

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