NameCensus.

UK surname

Eels

In the 1881 census there were 105 people recorded with the Eels surname, ranking it #19,183 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 128, ranked #26,401, down from #19,183 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hawkesbury, St George in the East and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wiltshire, Colchester and Eastbourne.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Eels is 144 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 21.9%.

1881 census count

105

Ranked #19,183

Modern count

128

2016, ranked #26,401

Peak year

2010

144 bearers

Map years

5

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Eels had 105 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,183 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 128 in 2016, ranked #26,401.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 105 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Eels surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Eels surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Eels 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 75 #20,268
1861 historical 31 #30,058
1881 historical 105 #19,183
1891 historical 61 #29,103
1901 historical 105 #22,179
1911 historical 77 #25,106
1997 modern 129 #23,143
1998 modern 142 #22,406
1999 modern 138 #22,983
2000 modern 141 #22,648
2001 modern 135 #22,945
2002 modern 136 #23,296
2003 modern 138 #22,823
2004 modern 136 #23,207
2005 modern 141 #22,688
2006 modern 139 #23,044
2007 modern 142 #23,025
2008 modern 140 #23,511
2009 modern 136 #24,485
2010 modern 144 #24,147
2011 modern 143 #24,056
2012 modern 131 #25,439
2013 modern 131 #25,932
2014 modern 130 #26,216
2015 modern 128 #26,356
2016 modern 128 #26,401

Geography

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Where Eels' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hawkesbury, St George in the East, London parishes and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wiltshire, Colchester, Eastbourne and Harlow. 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 Hawkesbury Gloucestershire
2 St George in the East London (East Districts)
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wiltshire 008 Wiltshire
2 Wiltshire 010 Wiltshire
3 Colchester 001 Colchester
4 Eastbourne 003 Eastbourne
5 Harlow 007 Harlow

Forenames

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First names often paired with Eels

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Eels

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Eels is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Eels 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

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

1881 census detail

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Eels families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Eels 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 25 Eels' recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.45x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 25 12.45x
Surrey 25 5.01x
Middlesex 15 1.46x
Warwickshire 14 5.42x
Oxfordshire 12 18.97x
Worcestershire 6 4.49x
Hampshire 3 1.43x
Yorkshire 3 0.30x
Buckinghamshire 1 1.62x
Staffordshire 1 0.29x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hawkesbury in Gloucestershire leads with 14 Eels' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2058.82x.

Place Total Index
Hawkesbury 14 2058.82x
Birmingham 10 11.62x
Kingswood 9 2727.27x
Lambeth 9 10.08x
Ascott Under Wychwood 8 5714.29x
St George In East London 7 72.69x
Broadway 6 1034.48x
Kingston On Thames 6 50.04x
Frimley 5 352.11x
Aston 4 5.62x
Leafield 4 1600.00x
Ratcliffe London 4 70.67x
Woking 4 132.89x
Islington London 3 3.02x
Great Badminton 2 1176.47x
Melsonby 2 1052.63x
Aldershot 1 14.22x
Camberwell 1 1.53x
Chalfont St Peter 1 196.08x
Christ Church Newgate 1 208.33x
Farnborough 1 45.45x
Harborne 1 9.03x
Parlington 1 1250.00x
Ventnor 1 50.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 9
Ann 5
Emma 4
Eliza 3
Jane 3
Sarah 3
Alice 2
Emily 2
Florence 2
Helena 2
Matilda 2
Ada 1
Charlotte 1
Edith 1
Elizabeth 1
Elizth. 1
Ellen 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Georgina 1
Harriett 1
Kate 1
Laura 1
Maria 1
Minnie 1
Rachel 1
Rhoda 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1
Teresa 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Eels surname: questions and answers

How common was the Eels surname in 1881?

In 1881, 105 people were recorded with the Eels surname. That placed it at #19,183 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Eels surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 128 in 2016. That gives Eels a modern rank of #26,401.

What does the Eels map show?

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