NameCensus.

UK surname

Darnell

Derived from Old French d'Arnelle, meaning "from Arnelle," a place in France.

In the 1881 census there were 860 people recorded with the Darnell surname, ranking it #4,399 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,297, ranked #4,617, down from #4,399 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Soham and Rushden. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Northamptonshire, Bedford and Wellingborough.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Darnell is 1,400 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 50.8%.

1881 census count

860

Ranked #4,399

Modern count

1,297

2016, ranked #4,617

Peak year

1999

1,400 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Darnell had 860 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,399 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,297 in 2016, ranked #4,617.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,153 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Darnell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Darnell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Darnell 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 438 #5,615
1861 historical 459 #5,654
1881 historical 860 #4,399
1891 historical 804 #5,008
1901 historical 1,009 #4,728
1911 historical 1,153 #4,051
1997 modern 1,294 #4,410
1998 modern 1,367 #4,358
1999 modern 1,400 #4,300
2000 modern 1,380 #4,343
2001 modern 1,347 #4,340
2002 modern 1,366 #4,378
2003 modern 1,358 #4,321
2004 modern 1,353 #4,343
2005 modern 1,360 #4,287
2006 modern 1,325 #4,382
2007 modern 1,322 #4,420
2008 modern 1,332 #4,420
2009 modern 1,358 #4,433
2010 modern 1,359 #4,518
2011 modern 1,350 #4,494
2012 modern 1,321 #4,502
2013 modern 1,333 #4,551
2014 modern 1,343 #4,538
2015 modern 1,318 #4,576
2016 modern 1,297 #4,617

Geography

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Where Darnells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Soham, Rushden, St Mary Islington and Northill, Sandy. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Northamptonshire, Bedford, Wellingborough and East Cambridgeshire. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Soham Cambridgeshire
3 Rushden Northamptonshire
4 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)
5 Northill, Sandy Bedfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Northamptonshire 010 East Northamptonshire
2 Bedford 018 Bedford
3 East Northamptonshire 006 East Northamptonshire
4 Wellingborough 008 Wellingborough
5 East Cambridgeshire 001 East Cambridgeshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Darnell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Darnell

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

Darnell is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Darnell falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Darnell

The surname Darnell is of English origin, derived from the Old French word "darne," which means a sheltered or hidden place. It is believed to have originated in the 12th century as a topographic name, given to someone who lived near a secluded or sheltered area.

In its earliest recorded form, the name appeared as "de Darnhale" in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire in 1199. This suggests that the name may have been associated with a specific place name, possibly referring to a small valley or dell.

The name Darnell can also be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is recorded as "Darnhale" in Shropshire. This entry provides evidence of the name's existence in England during the Norman conquest.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Darnell surname was Walter Darnell, who was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1202. Another early instance is found in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1279, which mention a Richard de Darnhale.

Over the centuries, the surname has undergone various spelling variations, including Darnall, Dernell, Dernel, and Darnill. These variations likely arose from regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling practices of the time.

Notable individuals with the surname Darnell include Sir Thomas Darnell (1508-1586), an English politician and landowner who served as Sheriff of Lincolnshire. Another prominent figure was Ralph Darnell (1641-1711), an English mathematician and astrologer who wrote extensively on astronomy and astrology.

In the literary world, Henry Darnell (1776-1844) was an English poet and playwright, known for his work "The Hermit of Warkworth." Meanwhile, Ralph Darnell (1816-1885) was a British diplomat and politician who served as the Governor of the Straits Settlements from 1869 to 1877.

It is worth mentioning that the surname Darnell has also been associated with several place names in England, such as Darnall in Yorkshire and Darnal in Derbyshire, further reinforcing its topographic origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Darnell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Darnell 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. Middlesex leads with 141 Darnells recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.69x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 141 1.69x
Northamptonshire 92 11.73x
Bedfordshire 77 17.83x
Lincolnshire 64 4.80x
Cambridgeshire 53 10.03x
Surrey 51 1.26x
Hertfordshire 47 8.18x
Norfolk 34 2.65x
Yorkshire 31 0.38x
Northumberland 28 2.26x
Lancashire 27 0.27x
Derbyshire 23 1.76x
Kent 18 0.63x
Nottinghamshire 18 1.60x
Durham 16 0.64x
Gloucestershire 16 0.98x
Hampshire 15 0.88x
Suffolk 14 1.38x
Monmouthshire 11 1.82x
Sussex 10 0.71x
Leicestershire 9 0.97x
Essex 8 0.49x
Huntingdonshire 8 4.83x
Midlothian 8 0.72x
Staffordshire 8 0.28x
Buckinghamshire 7 1.39x
Devon 6 0.35x
Lanarkshire 6 0.22x
Wiltshire 3 0.41x
Berkshire 1 0.16x
Cornwall 1 0.11x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 0.83x
Oxfordshire 1 0.19x
Rutland 1 1.63x
Worcestershire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Rushden in Northamptonshire leads with 35 Darnells recorded in 1881 and an index of 333.65x.

Place Total Index
Rushden 35 333.65x
Northill 32 792.08x
Great Yarmouth 28 26.36x
Islington London 24 2.97x
Sandy 23 302.23x
Soham 22 193.49x
Tynemouth 16 24.07x
Great Grimsby 15 17.72x
Lambeth 15 2.06x
St Andrewthe Less 15 24.86x
Bethnal Green London 14 3.86x
Paddington London 12 3.91x
Gorleston 11 42.62x
Pennington In Leigh 11 57.93x
Holy Trinity 10 5.03x
Nottingham St Mary 10 3.44x
Shoreditch London 10 2.77x
Stranton 10 11.97x
Derby St Peter 9 21.64x
Digswell 9 1384.62x
Mile End Old Town London 9 5.07x
St Pancras London 9 1.34x
Wollaston 9 208.82x
Benniworth 8 733.95x
Berkhampstead 8 61.92x
Clerkenwell London 8 4.06x
Croydon Cum Clapton 8 588.24x
Irchester 8 164.27x
Kingston On Thames 8 8.20x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 8 10.79x
North Leith 8 15.47x
West Bromwich 8 4.96x
Aylesbury 7 31.33x
Bardney 7 175.88x
Camberwell 7 1.31x
Clifton 7 8.46x
Deptford St Paul 7 3.19x
Fen Stanton 7 229.51x
Killerby 7 4117.65x
Newport 7 24.34x
Northampton All Sts 7 26.30x
Northampton St Giles 7 23.43x
Rainham 7 195.53x
Stanstead Abbots 7 200.57x
Wellingborough 7 17.75x
Blaby 6 161.29x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 6 3.90x
Cottingham 6 221.40x
Glasgow 6 1.25x
Hartley Wintney 6 116.73x
Hasland 6 45.15x
Hougham 6 35.46x
Kempston 6 61.22x
Kensington London 6 1.29x
Limehouse London 6 6.55x
Orby 6 512.82x
St Michael Queenhithe 6 1111.11x
Aldwinkle St Peter 5 847.46x
Appleby 5 322.58x
Bromley London 5 2.72x
Datchworth 5 279.33x
Grantham 5 28.77x
Hastings St Mary 5 14.29x
Louth 5 16.36x
Radford 5 8.76x
Richmond 5 8.78x
St Marylebone London 5 1.12x
Watton 5 212.77x
Whitechapel London 5 6.08x
Wormegay 5 370.37x
Bermondsey 4 1.61x
Chelsea London 4 1.59x
Chorlton On Medlock 4 2.54x
Croxton 4 1176.47x
Derby St Alkmund 4 10.22x
Ham 4 220.99x
Little Eversden 4 655.74x
Northampton St Sepulchre 4 10.02x
Westleigh 4 17.80x
Wymington 4 283.69x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 60
John 45
James 30
George 29
Charles 23
Henry 18
Joseph 15
Arthur 12
Samuel 12
Thomas 11
Alfred 10
Richard 8
Robert 8
Walter 8
Frederick 7
Albert 6
Fred 5
Herbert 5
Daniel 4
Edward 4
Francis 4
Jesse 4
David 3
Harry 3
Nathaniel 3
Anthony 2
Christopher 2
Ernest 2
Geo. 2
Horace 2
Joshua 2
Josiah 2
Mathew 2
Stephen 2
Willm. 2
Wm. 2
Benjn. 1
Bryan 1
Edmund 1
Fling 1
Frank 1
Fredk 1
Geo.James 1
Leopard 1
Lewis 1
Mark 1
Newman 1
Nicholas 1
Philip 1
Phillip 1

FAQ

Darnell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Darnell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 860 people were recorded with the Darnell surname. That placed it at #4,399 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Darnell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,297 in 2016. That gives Darnell a modern rank of #4,617.

What does the Darnell surname mean?

Derived from Old French d'Arnelle, meaning "from Arnelle," a place in France.

What does the Darnell map show?

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