NameCensus.

UK surname

Fell

An English topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a hill, mountain, or area of high ground.

In the 1881 census there were 4,150 people recorded with the Fell surname, ranking it #1,090 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,504, ranked #1,506, down from #1,090 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wigton, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Allerdale, Copeland and Kirklees.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fell is 5,131 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 8.5%.

1881 census count

4,150

Ranked #1,090

Modern count

4,504

2016, ranked #1,506

Peak year

1911

5,131 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fell had 4,150 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,090 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,504 in 2016, ranked #1,506.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5,131 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Fell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fell surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fell 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 2,696 #1,094
1861 historical 2,431 #1,202
1881 historical 4,150 #1,090
1891 historical 4,263 #1,125
1901 historical 4,933 #1,143
1911 historical 5,131 #1,023
1997 modern 4,780 #1,370
1998 modern 4,941 #1,381
1999 modern 4,916 #1,391
2000 modern 4,843 #1,406
2001 modern 4,726 #1,405
2002 modern 4,810 #1,414
2003 modern 4,680 #1,418
2004 modern 4,643 #1,427
2005 modern 4,580 #1,428
2006 modern 4,569 #1,436
2007 modern 4,566 #1,449
2008 modern 4,573 #1,454
2009 modern 4,682 #1,458
2010 modern 4,700 #1,487
2011 modern 4,636 #1,485
2012 modern 4,512 #1,499
2013 modern 4,607 #1,494
2014 modern 4,628 #1,495
2015 modern 4,561 #1,502
2016 modern 4,504 #1,506

Geography

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Where Fells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wigton, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes, Manchester and Dalton-in-Furness. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Allerdale, Copeland, Kirklees and Stratford-on-Avon. 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 Wigton Cumberland
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Dalton-in-Furness Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Allerdale 001 Allerdale
2 Copeland 008 Copeland
3 Kirklees 049 Kirklees
4 Kirklees 052 Kirklees
5 Stratford-on-Avon 004 Stratford-on-Avon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fell

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Fell is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Fell is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Fell falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Fell

The surname Fell is of English origin, derived from the Old English word 'fell,' meaning a hill or high ground. This surname first emerged in the northern counties of England, particularly in areas such as Lancashire and Yorkshire, where the landscape is characterized by hills and fells.

The name Fell is believed to have originated as a descriptive surname, given to someone who lived on or near a hill or fell. It may have also been an occupational surname for someone who worked on the fells, such as a shepherd or a farmer.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Fell can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire from the year 1197, where a Richard de Fell is mentioned. The Domesday Book, compiled in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname Fell, but it does mention several place names containing the word 'fell,' such as Felmingham in Norfolk and Felkingham in Lincolnshire.

In the 13th century, the surname Fell appeared in various records, including the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire from 1260, which mention a William del Fell. During this time, the name was often spelled with different variations, such as Fell, Felle, and Felle.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname Fell was John Fell (1625-1686), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Bishop of Oxford and was instrumental in the establishment of the Oxford University Press.

Another prominent figure was Ralph Fell (1615-1698), a Quaker and philanthropist from Swarthmoor Hall in Cumbria. He played a significant role in the early development of the Quaker movement and was a close associate of George Fox, the founder of the Society of Friends.

In the realm of literature, John Fell (1735-1797) was an English author and biographer who wrote extensively on the lives of poets and other literary figures.

Samuel Fell (1784-1843) was a notable British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and became a Rear Admiral in the Royal Navy.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Fell in the United States can be traced back to John Fell, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 and settled in the colony.

While these are just a few examples, the surname Fell has a rich history spanning several centuries and can be found in various regions across England and beyond, reflecting the diverse origins and stories of those who bore this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fell 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. Lancashire leads with 1,121 Fells recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.30x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 1,121 2.30x
Yorkshire 780 1.92x
Middlesex 307 0.75x
Cumberland 267 7.56x
Warwickshire 233 2.25x
Nottinghamshire 152 2.75x
Surrey 147 0.74x
Lincolnshire 122 1.86x
Northumberland 96 1.57x
Westmorland 95 10.53x
Essex 76 0.94x
Derbyshire 74 1.15x
Durham 74 0.61x
Wiltshire 72 1.98x
Isle of Man 59 7.74x
Staffordshire 43 0.31x
Kent 42 0.30x
Lanarkshire 41 0.31x
Angus 31 0.82x
Norfolk 31 0.49x
Cheshire 30 0.33x
Perthshire 30 1.63x
Suffolk 28 0.56x
Somerset 26 0.39x
Oxfordshire 22 0.87x
Hampshire 21 0.25x
Devon 17 0.20x
Sussex 17 0.25x
West Lothian 16 2.59x
Midlothian 15 0.27x
Buckinghamshire 14 0.56x
Berkshire 13 0.42x
Leicestershire 13 0.29x
Argyllshire 8 0.70x
Denbighshire 8 0.52x
Hertfordshire 8 0.28x
Worcestershire 8 0.15x
Dumfriesshire 7 0.77x
Cambridgeshire 6 0.23x
Cornwall 6 0.13x
Gloucestershire 6 0.07x
Kirkcudbrightshire 6 1.01x
Fife 4 0.16x
Berwickshire 3 0.60x
Dorset 2 0.07x
Shropshire 2 0.06x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.03x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.06x
Channel Islands 1 0.08x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.09x
Northamptonshire 1 0.03x
Renfrewshire 1 0.03x
Selkirkshire 1 0.27x
Stirlingshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Preston in Lancashire leads with 70 Fells recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.37x.

Place Total Index
Preston 70 5.37x
Barrow In Furness 66 9.97x
Aston 62 2.18x
Dalton In Furness 61 32.45x
Ulverston 41 28.91x
Arnold 40 49.54x
Louth 37 24.60x
Toxteth Park 37 2.24x
Mansfield 36 18.81x
Islington London 34 0.85x
Oldham 34 2.16x
Sheffield 34 2.63x
Blackburn 33 2.55x
Flamborough 32 162.44x
Tynemouth 32 9.79x
Birmingham 30 0.87x
Chelsea London 30 2.43x
Accrington 29 6.55x
Newington 29 1.91x
Colton 27 106.38x
Hackney London 27 1.17x
Shipley 27 12.79x
St Pancras London 27 0.82x
Bowness 26 190.20x
Lancaster 26 8.97x
Applethwaite 25 92.94x
Little Bolton 25 3.99x
Manchester 25 1.14x
Rotherham 25 10.90x
Barrowford Booth 24 44.54x
Battersea 24 1.59x
Salford 24 1.68x
Burnley 23 5.61x
Clitheroe 23 16.05x
Great Bolton 22 3.41x
Halifax 22 3.68x
Scarborough 22 5.95x
Southam 22 87.48x
Wigton 22 41.53x
Caldewgate 21 10.85x
Crosscanonby 21 17.97x
Giggleswick 21 153.06x
Sculcoates 21 3.26x
Soothill 21 14.30x
West Ham 21 1.17x
Batley 20 5.17x
Nottingham St Mary 20 1.40x
Shoreditch London 20 1.12x
Bethnal Green London 19 1.07x
Camberwell 19 0.72x
Drighlington 19 32.07x
Great Little Marsden 19 8.52x
Lambeth 19 0.53x
Kendal 18 10.90x
Liverpool 18 0.61x
Lytham 18 24.21x
Radford 18 6.41x
Swinton In Rotherham 18 16.74x
Wigan 18 2.65x
Blairgowrie 17 23.34x
Dewsbury 17 4.08x
Huddersfield 17 2.87x
Shap 17 85.47x
Beausale 16 581.82x
Broughton In Salford 16 3.59x
Devizes St Mary 16 43.62x
Hopwood 16 25.13x
West Derby 16 1.12x
Workington 16 7.91x
Holy Trinity 15 1.53x
St Cuthbert W O 15 8.71x
Whitburn 15 16.80x
Clerkenwell London 14 1.45x
Compton Bassett 14 266.67x
Kirkdale 14 1.71x
Leeds 14 0.61x
Manningham 14 2.79x
Napton On Hill 14 112.45x
Pennington In Ulverston 14 57.80x
Hulme 13 1.28x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 306
Elizabeth 182
Sarah 144
Jane 108
Margaret 93
Ann 79
Annie 69
Hannah 66
Alice 57
Ellen 50
Emma 48
Eliza 42
Martha 39
Agnes 30
Louisa 29
Edith 26
Emily 26
Fanny 26
Isabella 26
Catherine 21
Clara 20
Maria 19
Florence 18
Charlotte 17
Frances 17
Eleanor 16
Harriet 15
Ada 14
Anne 13
Caroline 13
Gertrude 12
Julia 12
Rebecca 11
Esther 10
Amy 9
Betsy 9
Grace 9
Laura 9
Lucy 9
Margret 9
Harriett 8
Jessie 8
Kate 8
Lydia 8
Rachel 8
Amelia 7
Bessie 7
Dorothy 7
Mabel 7
Rose 7

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 273
William 249
Thomas 142
James 134
George 113
Joseph 98
Robert 80
Henry 51
Charles 49
Richard 47
Edward 43
Frederick 40
Arthur 30
Alfred 28
Walter 25
Harry 24
Albert 20
Herbert 19
Benjamin 18
Samuel 18
Christopher 16
Isaac 16
Ernest 14
Wm. 14
Tom 12
Fred 11
Stephen 11
Edwin 10
Frank 10
Thos. 10
Geo. 9
David 8
Daniel 7
Matthew 7
Anthony 6
Peter 6
Willie 6
Andrew 5
Francis 5
Marshall 5
Sydney 5
Alexander 4
Jonathan 4
Leonard 4
Percy 4
Robt. 4
Edmund 3
Fredrick 3
Jesse 3
Sam 3

FAQ

Fell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4,150 people were recorded with the Fell surname. That placed it at #1,090 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,504 in 2016. That gives Fell a modern rank of #1,506.

What does the Fell surname mean?

An English topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a hill, mountain, or area of high ground.

What does the Fell map show?

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