UK surname
An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "O'Driscoll", meaning descendent of the druid or elder.
In the 1881 census there were 212 people recorded with the Driscol surname, ranking it #12,373 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 9, ranked #37,705, down from #12,373 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St George in the East, St Mary Whitechapel and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Driscol is 508 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 95.8%.
1881 census count
212
Ranked #12,373
Modern count
9
2016, ranked #37,705
Peak year
1861
508 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Driscol surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Driscol surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 416 | #5,842 |
| 1861 | historical | 508 | #5,149 |
| 1881 | historical | 212 | #12,373 |
| 1891 | historical | 133 | #19,870 |
| 1901 | historical | 86 | #24,508 |
| 1911 | historical | 47 | #28,110 |
| 1997 | modern | 15 | #36,409 |
| 1998 | modern | 15 | #36,457 |
| 1999 | modern | 13 | #36,693 |
| 2000 | modern | 16 | #36,316 |
| 2001 | modern | 11 | #36,727 |
| 2002 | modern | 8 | #37,206 |
| 2003 | modern | 6 | #37,586 |
| 2004 | modern | 8 | #37,346 |
| 2005 | modern | 10 | #37,180 |
| 2006 | modern | 10 | #37,224 |
| 2007 | modern | 9 | #37,435 |
| 2008 | modern | 7 | #37,735 |
| 2009 | modern | 7 | #37,816 |
| 2010 | modern | 10 | #37,517 |
| 2011 | modern | 10 | #37,504 |
| 2012 | modern | 10 | #37,509 |
| 2013 | modern | 11 | #37,435 |
| 2014 | modern | 8 | #37,806 |
| 2015 | modern | 9 | #37,684 |
| 2016 | modern | 9 | #37,705 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St George in the East, St Mary Whitechapel, London parishes, St Giles-in-the-Fields and Trevethin with Pontypool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St George in the East | London (East Districts) |
| 2 | St Mary Whitechapel | London (East Districts) |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | St Giles-in-the-Fields | London (Central Districts) |
| 5 | Trevethin with Pontypool | Monmouthshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Driscol surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Driscol, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Driscol surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Driscol household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Driscol is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Driscol is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Driscol, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Driscol has its roots in Ireland, where it originated in the late medieval period. It is an Anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic name Ó Drisceóil, which means "descendant of Drisceóil." Drisceóil was a personal name derived from the Irish word "driscól," meaning "elder tree." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this surname may have lived near a place with an abundance of elder trees or had some association with these trees.
The name Driscol can be traced back to County Cork, located in the southwestern region of Ireland. It is believed that the Drisceóil family was among the prominent septs (clans) in this area during the 13th and 14th centuries. The name appears in various historical records from this period, such as the Annals of Inisfallen, which mentions a notable figure named Diarmaid Ó Drisceóil in the year 1292.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Anglicized form "Driscol" can be found in the Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns, a collection of official documents from the 16th century. In 1543, a pardon was granted to "Dermot Driscoll of Kilbree, County Cork."
Over the centuries, the Driscol surname has been associated with several notable individuals. One of the most prominent figures was Edmond Driscol (c. 1590-1634), an Irish soldier and adventurer who served in the Spanish Army of Flanders. He is known for his exploits during the Eighty Years' War against the Dutch Republic.
Another notable bearer of the Driscol surname was Michael Driscoll (1807-1881), an Irish Catholic priest and writer who served as the Archbishop of Cashel and Emly from 1868 until his death. He was a prominent figure in the Irish Church and played a significant role in the education and social movements of his time.
In the realm of literature, John Driscoll (1876-1925) was an Irish poet and playwright who gained recognition for his works, including the play "The Revolutionist" and the poetry collection "Poems of the Irish Revolutionary Brotherhood."
James Driscoll (1923-2018) was an American professional golfer who won several tournaments on the PGA Tour, including the 1965 Bing Crosby National Pro-Amateur. He was also a member of the Ryder Cup team in 1957.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who carried the surname Driscol throughout history. The name's Irish roots and association with County Cork have contributed to its rich heritage and cultural significance.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Driscol surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 84 Driscols recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.22x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 84 | 4.22x |
| Glamorgan | 47 | 13.57x |
| Monmouthshire | 20 | 13.90x |
| Lancashire | 10 | 0.42x |
| Yorkshire | 9 | 0.46x |
| Surrey | 8 | 0.83x |
| Hampshire | 6 | 1.47x |
| Berkshire | 5 | 3.35x |
| Gloucestershire | 5 | 1.28x |
| Kent | 3 | 0.44x |
| Carmarthenshire | 2 | 2.38x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.24x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.25x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 0.37x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 4.22x |
| Somerset | 1 | 0.31x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St George In East London in Middlesex leads with 17 Driscols recorded in 1881 and an index of 90.81x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Driscol surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 26 |
| Ellen | 10 |
| Elizabeth | 9 |
| Catherine | 6 |
| Margaret | 5 |
| Bridget | 3 |
| Hannah | 3 |
| Jane | 3 |
| Kate | 3 |
| Sarah | 3 |
| Ann | 2 |
| Beatrice | 2 |
| Johannah | 2 |
| Anna | 1 |
| C.T. | 1 |
| Cecelia | 1 |
| Cecilia | 1 |
| Eliza | 1 |
| Ethel | 1 |
| Fanny | 1 |
| Hanna | 1 |
| Honora | 1 |
| Joanna | 1 |
| Johana | 1 |
| Johanna | 1 |
| Kity | 1 |
| Louisa | 1 |
| Margarte | 1 |
| Margret | 1 |
| Margt. | 1 |
| Maria | 1 |
| Martha | 1 |
| May | 1 |
| Nelly | 1 |
| Norah | 1 |
| Susan | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Driscol surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Driscol households.
FAQ
In 1881, 212 people were recorded with the Driscol surname. That placed it at #12,373 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 9 in 2016. That gives Driscol a modern rank of #37,705.
An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "O'Driscoll", meaning descendent of the druid or elder.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Driscol bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.