NameCensus.

UK surname

Essel

A German surname derived from the Old German word "Esso" meaning "house" or "homestead."

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hounslow, Tower Hamlets and Milton Keynes.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Essel is 101 in 2006. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

100

2016, ranked #31,123

Peak year

2006

101 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 100 in 2016, ranked #31,123.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 15 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Essel surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Essel surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Essel 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 5 #32,456
1861 historical 15 #31,942
1891 historical 3 #34,257
1901 historical 3 #34,063
1997 modern 47 #32,975
1998 modern 49 #33,000
1999 modern 47 #33,320
2000 modern 48 #33,288
2001 modern 46 #33,311
2002 modern 56 #32,753
2003 modern 67 #31,796
2004 modern 77 #31,024
2005 modern 96 #28,671
2006 modern 101 #28,125
2007 modern 93 #29,777
2008 modern 99 #29,181
2009 modern 94 #30,538
2010 modern 101 #30,078
2011 modern 97 #30,552
2012 modern 86 #32,297
2013 modern 97 #31,239
2014 modern 101 #30,855
2015 modern 94 #31,872
2016 modern 100 #31,123

Geography

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Where Essels are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hounslow, Tower Hamlets, Milton Keynes, Croydon and Harrow. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hounslow 025 Hounslow
2 Tower Hamlets 020 Tower Hamlets
3 Milton Keynes 023 Milton Keynes
4 Croydon 016 Croydon
5 Harrow 027 Harrow

Forenames

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First names often paired with Essel

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Essel

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Essel surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Essel 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Essel 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

Essel is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Essel falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Essel 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
Black - African

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

Meaning and origin of Essel

The surname Essel is of German origin and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is believed to have originated from the German word "Essel," which means "donkey" or "ass." This name was likely initially given as a nickname to someone who exhibited characteristics or physical traits reminiscent of a donkey, such as stubbornness or strength.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Essel can be found in the town records of Cologne, Germany, dating back to 1287, where a person named Henrich Essel is mentioned. Another early reference is in the Würzburg municipal archives from 1311, which lists a Kunrad Essel.

In the 15th century, the name appeared in various German regions, including Bavaria and Saxony. During this time, the spelling variations included Essell, Esell, and Ezel. These variations were likely influenced by regional dialects and phonetic changes over time.

A notable bearer of the Essel name was Johann Essel, a German cartographer and mathematician who lived from 1566 to 1624. He is best known for his work "Novae Terrae Descriptio" (Description of a New Land), which was one of the first detailed maps of the Americas.

Another prominent figure was Wilhelm Essel, a German industrialist and founder of the Essel Group, a conglomerate involved in various industries, including steel, chemicals, and machinery. He was born in 1861 and passed away in 1934.

In the 16th century, the name Essel was also found in some place names, such as Esselbach, a small town in Bavaria. This suggests that some families may have derived their surname from the place where they lived or originated.

Other notable bearers of the Essel surname include:

1. Friedrich Essel (1805-1887), a German politician and lawyer. 2. Theodor Essel (1868-1943), a German painter and printmaker. 3. Hans Essel (1900-1973), a German writer and filmmaker. 4. Elsa Essel (1902-1983), a German-American painter and textile artist. 5. Karl Essel (1911-1994), a German film director and screenwriter.

While the surname Essel is of German origin, it has spread to other parts of the world through migration and has been adopted by families of different ethnicities and nationalities.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Essel surname: questions and answers

How common is the Essel surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 100 in 2016. That gives Essel a modern rank of #31,123.

What does the Essel surname mean?

A German surname derived from the Old German word "Esso" meaning "house" or "homestead."

What does the Essel map show?

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