NameCensus.

UK surname

Excell

A surname derived from the Old French "exceller," meaning "to surpass or excel."

In the 1881 census there were 372 people recorded with the Excell surname, ranking it #8,399 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 623, ranked #8,461, down from #8,399 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Barming, North Nibley, Wotton-under-Edge and Marden. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Maidstone, Ashford and Tunbridge Wells.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Excell is 674 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 67.5%.

1881 census count

372

Ranked #8,399

Modern count

623

2016, ranked #8,461

Peak year

1999

674 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Excell had 372 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,399 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 623 in 2016, ranked #8,461.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 584 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Excell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Excell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Excell 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 174 #11,590
1861 historical 170 #13,763
1881 historical 372 #8,399
1891 historical 455 #8,009
1901 historical 497 #8,090
1911 historical 584 #6,977
1997 modern 660 #7,584
1998 modern 669 #7,742
1999 modern 674 #7,733
2000 modern 665 #7,799
2001 modern 644 #7,852
2002 modern 660 #7,857
2003 modern 618 #8,139
2004 modern 616 #8,192
2005 modern 597 #8,299
2006 modern 600 #8,285
2007 modern 608 #8,262
2008 modern 607 #8,330
2009 modern 635 #8,221
2010 modern 636 #8,388
2011 modern 637 #8,290
2012 modern 613 #8,463
2013 modern 633 #8,376
2014 modern 626 #8,520
2015 modern 619 #8,517
2016 modern 623 #8,461

Geography

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Where Excells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Barming, North Nibley, Wotton-under-Edge, Marden, Goudhurst and Yalding, Aylesford, Burham, Mereworth, Wateringbury, Nettlestead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Maidstone, Ashford, Tunbridge Wells, Taunton Deane and Tonbridge and Malling. 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 Barming Kent
2 North Nibley, Wotton-under-Edge Gloucestershire
3 Marden Kent
4 Goudhurst Kent
5 Yalding, Aylesford, Burham, Mereworth, Wateringbury, Nettlestead Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Maidstone 017 Maidstone
2 Ashford 010 Ashford
3 Tunbridge Wells 001 Tunbridge Wells
4 Taunton Deane 003 Taunton Deane
5 Tonbridge and Malling 001 Tonbridge and Malling

Forenames

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First names often paired with Excell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Excell

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Excell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Excell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Excell is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Excell 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

Excell falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Excell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Excell

The surname Excell is of English origin and can be traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "ex," meaning outer or outside, and "cell," referring to a small room or dwelling. This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived in a secluded or remote place, such as a hermit or recluse.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Excell can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, dated around 1170. This document mentions a person named Robert Excell, who was likely a landowner or taxpayer in the region. The name also appears in various other medieval records, including the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1279, where a William Excell is mentioned.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the surname Excell was particularly prevalent in the counties of Yorkshire, Oxfordshire, and Gloucestershire. It is possible that the name was influenced by the placenames or locations within these areas, such as the village of Exhall in Warwickshire, which may have been spelled similarly to Excell in ancient times.

Notable individuals with the surname Excell include John Excell, a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of York during the late 16th century. Another notable figure was William Excell, a scholar and fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford, who lived in the early 17th century.

In the 18th century, the Excell family produced several notable clergymen, including Reverend Thomas Excell (1699-1778), who served as the vicar of St. Mary's Church in Warwick, and Reverend John Excell (1732-1812), who was the rector of Charlbury in Oxfordshire.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname Excell was Sir Edward Excell (1810-1887), a British industrialist and philanthropist. He made his fortune in the textile industry and was a significant contributor to various charitable causes, including the establishment of schools and hospitals in his hometown of Huddersfield.

Throughout its history, the surname Excell has maintained a strong presence in various parts of England, particularly in the northern counties and the Midlands region. While its origins can be traced back to the medieval period, the name has evolved and been carried forward by notable individuals from different walks of life, contributing to its enduring legacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Excell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Excell 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. Kent leads with 193 Excells recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.59x.

County Total Index
Kent 193 15.59x
Gloucestershire 59 8.29x
Middlesex 23 0.63x
Yorkshire 18 0.50x
Berkshire 17 6.24x
Surrey 13 0.74x
Glamorgan 12 1.90x
Essex 9 1.26x
Dorset 8 3.36x
Sussex 8 1.31x
Hampshire 5 0.67x
Brecknockshire 4 5.51x
Worcestershire 2 0.42x
Midlothian 1 0.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Marden in Kent leads with 52 Excells recorded in 1881 and an index of 1793.10x.

Place Total Index
Marden 52 1793.10x
Goudhurst 21 612.24x
Cheltenham 19 34.60x
Maidstone 18 48.81x
Ruscombe 15 3191.49x
Sutton Valence 15 1063.83x
Barming 13 1529.41x
Ashford 12 99.50x
Swansea Town 12 23.17x
Wotton Under Edge 12 286.40x
Shipley 9 48.23x
Shoreditch London 9 5.72x
East Farleigh 8 384.62x
Leyton Low 8 54.95x
Mitcham 8 71.56x
Charfield 7 1000.00x
Chatham 7 20.55x
Lewisham 7 10.60x
Minchinhampton 7 123.46x
Portland 7 54.64x
Willesborough 7 210.21x
Aldershot 5 20.06x
Brenchley 5 112.87x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 5 7.46x
Islington London 5 1.42x
Nettlestead 5 675.68x
Stoke Newington London 5 17.69x
Baildon 4 59.08x
Hastings All Sts 4 69.44x
Holbeck 4 16.79x
Llangunider 4 88.50x
Yalding 4 127.80x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 3 23.04x
St Mary Cray 3 126.58x
Stoke 3 35.97x
Berkeley Alkington 2 370.37x
Bristol St James St Paul 2 8.43x
Camberwell 2 0.86x
Headcorn 2 108.11x
Loose 2 109.89x
Northfield 2 22.25x
Rye 2 34.42x
St Luke London 2 3.44x
Staplehurst 2 98.52x
White Waltham 2 196.08x
Boxley 1 52.63x
Bristol St Paul In 1 5.27x
Cheriton 1 19.80x
Chislehurst 1 15.06x
Colchester St Botolph 1 16.42x
Hackney London 1 0.49x
Hove 1 3.73x
Icklesham 1 92.59x
Lenham 1 40.49x
Melcombe Regis 1 10.13x
Mereworth 1 100.00x
North Bierley 1 5.15x
Northfleet 1 9.17x
Pluckley 1 86.96x
Queensferry 1 204.08x
Ramsgate 1 4.95x
St Marylebone London 1 0.52x
Stapleton 1 7.41x
Tenterden 1 22.88x
Tonbridge 1 2.24x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 20
Mary 16
Sarah 13
Alice 9
Emily 8
Ann 7
Eliza 6
Ellen 6
Clara 5
Emma 5
Fanny 5
Harriett 5
Martha 5
Caroline 4
Rosa 4
Annie 3
Beatrice 3
Harriet 3
Jane 3
Mercy 3
Amy 2
Flora 2
Frances 2
Louisa 2
Maria 2
Phoebe 2
Rose 2
Susanna 2
Anna 1
Anne 1
Betsy 1
Cecilia 1
Charlott 1
Charlotte 1
E. 1
Ena 1
Esther 1
Floa 1
Florence 1
Hetty 1
Isabella 1
Julia 1
Lilly 1
Lusia 1
Marion 1
Matilda 1
Minnie 1
Nancy 1
Nelly 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Henry 20
George 18
Thomas 18
John 15
William 15
Charles 8
Frederick 6
Albert 5
James 5
Wm. 5
Alfred 4
Edward 4
Humphrey 4
Arthur 3
Robert 3
Benjamin 2
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Isaac 2
Joseph 2
Joshua 2
Samuel 2
Solomon 2
Daniel 1
Dennis 1
Ebenezer 1
Edgar 1
Edmd. 1
Edwin 1
Fred 1
Fredck. 1
Fredck.W. 1
Geo. 1
Henery 1
Herb. 1
Hezekiah 1
Horace 1
Jabez 1
Jas. 1
Jas.Ch. 1
Job 1
Marshall 1
Maurice 1
Paul 1
Peter 1
Richard 1
Sidney 1
Stephen 1

FAQ

Excell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Excell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 372 people were recorded with the Excell surname. That placed it at #8,399 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Excell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 623 in 2016. That gives Excell a modern rank of #8,461.

What does the Excell surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old French "exceller," meaning "to surpass or excel."

What does the Excell map show?

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