NameCensus.

UK surname

Ethell

An English surname derived from a medieval personal name, probably of Anglo-Saxon origin.

In the 1881 census there were 138 people recorded with the Ethell surname, ranking it #16,292 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 120, ranked #27,563, down from #16,292 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Norton, Offley, High and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wyre and Denbighshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ethell is 204 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 13.0%.

1881 census count

138

Ranked #16,292

Modern count

120

2016, ranked #27,563

Peak year

1911

204 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ethell had 138 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,292 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 120 in 2016, ranked #27,563.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 204 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Ethell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ethell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ethell 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 120 #15,144
1861 historical 121 #18,148
1881 historical 138 #16,292
1891 historical 166 #17,077
1901 historical 197 #15,272
1911 historical 204 #14,784
1997 modern 120 #24,158
1998 modern 126 #24,094
1999 modern 125 #24,366
2000 modern 132 #23,562
2001 modern 127 #23,781
2002 modern 121 #24,984
2003 modern 126 #24,146
2004 modern 127 #24,224
2005 modern 119 #25,193
2006 modern 116 #25,813
2007 modern 119 #25,747
2008 modern 120 #25,922
2009 modern 129 #25,314
2010 modern 133 #25,379
2011 modern 135 #24,922
2012 modern 123 #26,561
2013 modern 122 #27,122
2014 modern 122 #27,358
2015 modern 113 #28,645
2016 modern 120 #27,563

Geography

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Where Ethells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Norton, Offley, High, Manchester, Gillingham, Grange, Lidsing and St Helen on the Wall, St Cuthbert, All Saints Peasholm, St Saviour. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wyre and Denbighshire. 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 Norton Yorkshire, North Riding
2 Offley, High Shropshire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Gillingham, Grange, Lidsing Kent
5 St Helen on the Wall, St Cuthbert, All Saints Peasholm, St Saviour Yorkshire, East Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wyre 001 Wyre
2 Wyre 003 Wyre
3 Wyre 005 Wyre
4 Wyre 002 Wyre
5 Denbighshire 013 Denbighshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ethell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ethell

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Ethell is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Ethell is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ethell falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Ethell

The surname Ethell has its roots in England, with records dating back to the late 12th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old English word "aethel," which meant "noble" or "illustrious." This suggests that the name was likely a descriptive surname given to someone of noble birth or high social standing.

One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1195, where a person named William Ethell is mentioned. The name also appears in various medieval manuscripts and records, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it is spelled as "Athell."

The surname Ethell has been associated with several place names in England, including Etheleston (now Ethelaston) in Staffordshire and Ethel Hill in Wiltshire. These place names may have contributed to the formation and variations of the surname over time.

Notable individuals with the surname Ethell include Sir John Ethell (c. 1520-1590), an English landowner and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another prominent figure was Thomas Ethell (1737-1799), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War.

In the literary world, Ethell Malvern (1861-1931) was a prolific English author known for her novels and historical fiction. Ethell Revill (1890-1965) was a British actress and singer who performed in various stage productions in the early 20th century.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname Ethell was also found in various spellings, such as Ethell, Ethel, Ethele, and Ethelle, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling conventions of the time.

While the surname Ethell may not be as widespread as some other English surnames, it has a rich history rooted in the noble origins of its bearers and their contributions to various fields throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ethell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ethell 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. Yorkshire leads with 62 Ethells recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.61x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 62 4.61x
Lancashire 16 0.99x
Warwickshire 13 3.80x
Kent 12 2.59x
Durham 9 2.23x
Middlesex 7 0.52x
Nottinghamshire 7 3.83x
Staffordshire 7 1.53x
Shropshire 2 1.71x
Cheshire 1 0.33x
Huntingdonshire 1 3.71x
Royal Navy 1 6.19x
Worcestershire 1 0.56x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Gateshead in Durham leads with 9 Ethells recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.80x.

Place Total Index
Gateshead 9 29.80x
Norton In Malton 8 490.80x
Ardwick 7 48.24x
Carlton 7 334.93x
Pickering 7 414.20x
Birmingham 6 5.27x
Aston 5 5.31x
Gillingham 5 52.41x
Salford 5 10.57x
Whitwell On The Hill 5 5555.56x
Castleford 4 81.80x
Teynham 4 481.93x
York All Sts North 4 597.01x
High Offley 3 789.47x
Huntington 3 1111.11x
Islington London 3 2.28x
Lofthouse 3 149.25x
Nafferton 3 526.32x
Rillington 3 731.71x
Settrington 3 1153.85x
York St Mary 3 53.96x
Chorlton On Medlock 2 7.82x
Clifton In York 2 71.17x
Edgbaston 2 18.87x
Great Driffield 2 72.46x
Huttons Ambo 2 1052.63x
Leeds 2 2.64x
Poplar London 2 7.82x
Ryton 2 2000.00x
St Marylebone London 2 2.76x
Wolstanton Chesterton 2 85.47x
York St Saviour 2 156.25x
Allerston 1 476.19x
Barughs Ambo 1 833.33x
Boughton Malherbe 1 476.19x
Chatham 1 7.86x
Crambe 1 1428.57x
Drayton In Hales 1 41.49x
Kings Norton 1 6.30x
Lenham 1 108.70x
Macclesfield 1 7.52x
Newport 1 70.92x
Norton Canes 1 59.88x
Offord Cluny 1 769.23x
Pickering Marishes 1 666.67x
Royal Navy 1 7.24x
Warrington 1 5.24x
Wednesbury 1 8.74x
Widnes 1 8.62x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 9
James 7
George 5
Richard 5
Joseph 4
Thomas 4
William 4
Alfred 3
Benjamin 2
Samuel 2
Abel 1
Able 1
Albert 1
Alice 1
Arthur 1
Beetham 1
Bielby 1
David 1
Edward 1
Frank 1
Grice 1
Henry 1
John. 1
Mark 1
Percy 1
Robert 1
Shimas 1
Thos. 1
Thos.Henry 1
Tom 1
Willm. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Ethell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ethell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 138 people were recorded with the Ethell surname. That placed it at #16,292 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ethell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 120 in 2016. That gives Ethell a modern rank of #27,563.

What does the Ethell surname mean?

An English surname derived from a medieval personal name, probably of Anglo-Saxon origin.

What does the Ethell map show?

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