NameCensus.

UK surname

Favell

An English surname derived from the Norman French word "favel," meaning a "yellow-brown" or "bay" color.

In the 1881 census there were 398 people recorded with the Favell surname, ranking it #7,996 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 487, ranked #10,172, down from #7,996 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rugby, London parishes and Wilden. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Holland, Boston and Daventry.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Favell is 594 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 22.4%.

1881 census count

398

Ranked #7,996

Modern count

487

2016, ranked #10,172

Peak year

1911

594 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Favell had 398 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,996 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 487 in 2016, ranked #10,172.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 594 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Favell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Favell surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Favell 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 217 #9,784
1861 historical 242 #10,154
1881 historical 398 #7,996
1891 historical 407 #8,750
1901 historical 496 #8,098
1911 historical 594 #6,890
1997 modern 512 #9,153
1998 modern 517 #9,357
1999 modern 520 #9,379
2000 modern 532 #9,181
2001 modern 522 #9,162
2002 modern 542 #9,074
2003 modern 526 #9,151
2004 modern 526 #9,167
2005 modern 502 #9,419
2006 modern 505 #9,415
2007 modern 499 #9,574
2008 modern 503 #9,590
2009 modern 516 #9,614
2010 modern 536 #9,559
2011 modern 536 #9,468
2012 modern 494 #9,959
2013 modern 517 #9,766
2014 modern 512 #9,911
2015 modern 497 #10,046
2016 modern 487 #10,172

Geography

Back to top

Where Favells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rugby, London parishes, Wilden, St Ives and St Pancras. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Holland, Boston, Daventry and Blaby. 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 Rugby Warwickshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Wilden Bedfordshire
4 St Ives Huntingdonshire
5 St Pancras London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Holland 001 South Holland
2 Boston 007 Boston
3 Daventry 002 Daventry
4 Blaby 011 Blaby
5 Boston 004 Boston

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Favell

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Favell

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

Favell is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Favell

The surname Favell is of English origin and dates back to the late medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word 'favele', which means 'bean field' or 'bean patch'. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near or worked in a bean field.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1273, where it appears as 'Favill'. The spelling variations during this period included Favell, Favill, Favyll, and Favel.

In the 14th century, records show the name appearing in various parts of England, including Yorkshire, Staffordshire, and Essex. One notable bearer of the name was John Favell, who was born in Oxfordshire around 1380 and served as a member of the English Parliament.

The Favell surname also has connections to several place names in England, such as Favell's Green in Gloucestershire and Favell's Farm in Berkshire. These locations likely derived their names from early settlers or landowners with the Favell surname.

Among the prominent individuals with the Favell surname throughout history are:

1. Sir John Favell (c. 1520 - 1592), an English politician and landowner who served as Sheriff of Lincolnshire. 2. Richard Favell (1617 - 1674), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works. 3. Thomas Favell (1725 - 1804), a British architect known for his work on several churches and country houses in Wiltshire. 4. William Favell (1809 - 1890), an English artist and engraver famous for his landscapes and architectural prints. 5. Mary Favell (1845 - 1922), a British educator and feminist who advocated for women's rights and access to higher education.

While the Favell surname has its roots in medieval England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including North America and Australia, through migration and settlement patterns.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Favell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Favell 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. Bedfordshire leads with 74 Favells recorded in 1881 and an index of 36.81x.

County Total Index
Bedfordshire 74 36.81x
Yorkshire 68 1.77x
Huntingdonshire 58 75.25x
Middlesex 55 1.42x
Lincolnshire 35 5.64x
Lancashire 25 0.54x
Surrey 17 0.90x
Northamptonshire 16 4.38x
Durham 14 1.21x
Cambridgeshire 8 3.25x
Warwickshire 6 0.61x
Derbyshire 5 0.82x
Hampshire 5 0.63x
Kent 5 0.38x
Hertfordshire 2 0.75x
Berkshire 1 0.34x
Cumberland 1 0.30x
Dorset 1 0.39x
Somerset 1 0.16x
Staffordshire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hemingford Grey in Huntingdonshire leads with 31 Favells recorded in 1881 and an index of 2627.12x.

Place Total Index
Hemingford Grey 31 2627.12x
Islington London 28 7.44x
Wilden 21 3559.32x
Leighton Buzzard 17 196.53x
Nether Hallam 17 32.66x
St Pancras London 13 4.16x
Ecclesall Bierlow 12 15.34x
Paddington London 11 7.71x
Coppingford 9 7500.00x
Donington 9 403.59x
Gateshead 9 10.41x
Ormesby 9 87.04x
Stotfold 9 233.77x
Henlow 8 645.16x
West Derby 8 5.94x
Battersea 7 4.90x
Goldington 7 909.09x
Old Weston 7 1627.91x
Rotherham 7 32.27x
Whiston 7 378.38x
Lambeth 6 1.77x
Sawtry All Sts 6 666.67x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 5 13.95x
Clapham 5 617.28x
Harpurhey 5 78.25x
Irthlingborough 5 139.66x
Kettering 5 33.85x
Manchester 5 2.41x
St Giles Cambridge 5 157.23x
St Nicholas Lincoln 5 84.32x
Alverstoke 4 13.89x
Dore 4 344.83x
Easton Maudit 4 1739.13x
Greenwich 4 6.47x
Kirton 4 160.64x
Newington 4 2.79x
Birmingham 3 0.92x
Heckington 3 127.12x
Hulme 3 3.12x
Hunslet 3 5.00x
Knaresborough 3 49.67x
Lamesley 3 48.23x
St Marythe Less 3 200.00x
Swineshead 3 147.06x
Bow London 2 4.05x
Frieston 2 136.05x
Gainsborough 2 13.67x
Huntingdon All Sts 2 370.37x
Leamington 2 30.82x
Middle Hulton 2 73.26x
Sheffield 2 1.63x
Skirbeck 2 57.47x
St Peterin Eastgate 2 104.17x
Abbots Bromley 1 51.55x
Blunham 1 73.53x
Chadderton 1 4.44x
Charlton Next Woolwich 1 7.24x
Eaton Socon 1 31.75x
Ecclesfield 1 3.54x
Edgbaston 1 3.29x
Godmanchester 1 34.25x
Harpham 1 303.03x
Heworth 1 4.39x
Hilton 1 212.77x
Holy Trinity 1 1.08x
Houghton 1 147.06x
Kempston 1 21.93x
Kensington London 1 0.46x
Keswick 1 23.42x
Kirton Simon Weir 1 158.73x
Lyncombe Widcombe 1 6.11x
Melcombe Regis 1 9.47x
Monkwearmouth 1 9.04x
Peterborough 1 3.78x
Portsmouth 1 5.46x
Reading St Giles 1 3.50x
Sandy 1 28.25x
Spalding 1 8.12x
Stevington 1 120.48x
Sudbury 1 144.93x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 30
Elizabeth 23
Eliza 13
Ann 10
Sarah 7
Catherine 6
Ellen 6
Emma 5
Alice 4
Annie 4
Clara 4
Margaret 4
Martha 4
Ada 3
Agnes 3
Caroline 3
Esther 3
Fanny 3
Frances 3
Harriet 3
Jane 3
Louisa 3
Lucy 3
Rose 3
Edith 2
Elizth. 2
Emily 2
Gertrude 2
Julia 2
Rachel 2
Susan 2
Anna 1
Anne 1
Ethel 1
Eveleen 1
Evelina 1
Fanney 1
Florence 1
Hannah 1
Harriett 1
Kate 1
Laura 1
Levani 1
Lilian 1
Lily 1
Lizzie 1
Lottie 1
Lydia 1
Maria 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 29
John 28
Thomas 13
Charles 12
George 10
Henry 10
Alfred 9
James 8
Arthur 7
Frederick 7
Edward 5
Walter 5
Harry 4
Joseph 4
Albert 3
Francis 3
Frank 3
Herbert 3
Richard 3
Stephen 3
Benjamin 2
Eli 2
Samuel 2
Burns 1
Chas. 1
Edmund 1
Elijah 1
Fred 1
Hamon 1
Harrold 1
Isaac 1
Ishmael 1
Jeremiah 1
Johnson 1
Jonah 1
Lemuel 1
Matthew 1
Peter 1
Rupert 1
Terence 1
Thom. 1
Valentine 1
Vernon 1

FAQ

Favell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Favell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 398 people were recorded with the Favell surname. That placed it at #7,996 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Favell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 487 in 2016. That gives Favell a modern rank of #10,172.

What does the Favell surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Norman French word "favel," meaning a "yellow-brown" or "bay" color.

What does the Favell map show?

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