NameCensus.

UK surname

Fells

Derived from a place name meaning "rough hill" or "barren upland," likely referring to an inhabitant of such an area.

In the 1881 census there were 310 people recorded with the Fells surname, ranking it #9,488 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 387, ranked #12,170, down from #9,488 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ash-near-Sandwich, London parishes and St Dunstan Stepney. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rotherham, North Hertfordshire and Waltham Forest.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fells is 420 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 24.8%.

1881 census count

310

Ranked #9,488

Modern count

387

2016, ranked #12,170

Peak year

1911

420 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fells had 310 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,488 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 387 in 2016, ranked #12,170.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 420 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Fells surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fells surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fells 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 213 #9,934
1861 historical 233 #10,501
1881 historical 310 #9,488
1891 historical 364 #9,538
1901 historical 364 #10,128
1911 historical 420 #8,969
1997 modern 395 #11,106
1998 modern 402 #11,295
1999 modern 409 #11,264
2000 modern 401 #11,382
2001 modern 400 #11,229
2002 modern 400 #11,443
2003 modern 393 #11,401
2004 modern 374 #11,843
2005 modern 372 #11,813
2006 modern 364 #12,106
2007 modern 357 #12,413
2008 modern 372 #12,123
2009 modern 384 #12,100
2010 modern 404 #11,902
2011 modern 396 #11,943
2012 modern 393 #11,874
2013 modern 408 #11,740
2014 modern 405 #11,880
2015 modern 398 #11,949
2016 modern 387 #12,170

Geography

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Where Fells' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ash-near-Sandwich, London parishes, St Dunstan Stepney, Hitchin and Rotherham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rotherham, North Hertfordshire, Waltham Forest and Uttlesford. 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 Ash-near-Sandwich Kent
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Dunstan Stepney London (East Districts)
4 Hitchin Hertfordshire
5 Rotherham Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rotherham 018 Rotherham
2 Rotherham 021 Rotherham
3 North Hertfordshire 011 North Hertfordshire
4 Waltham Forest 004 Waltham Forest
5 Uttlesford 005 Uttlesford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fells

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fells

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Fells surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Fells household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Fells 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

Fells is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Fells falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Fells 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
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Fells

The surname "FELLS" is of English origin, deriving from the Old English word "fell," which meant a hill or mountainous region. The name likely originated in the northern counties of England, such as Northumberland, Cumberland, and Westmorland, where the term "fell" was commonly used to describe the rugged, hilly terrain.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "de Fellis," indicating a family or individual residing in or near a fell or hill. This early form of the name suggests a connection to a specific geographic location, possibly a manor or estate situated on a fell.

The surname "FELLS" continued to appear in various records throughout the Middle Ages and beyond. For example, in the 13th century, a Richard de Fellis is mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Westmorland, indicating the presence of the name in that region.

Notable individuals with the surname "FELLS" include John Fells (1625-1670), an English clergyman and theologian who served as the principal of St. Edmund Hall, Oxford. Another prominent figure was Robert Fells (1799-1855), a British politician and Member of Parliament for Grimsby.

In the 18th century, a family of Fells resided in the village of Longtown, Cumbria, where they were landowners and farmers. One member of this family, John Fells (1710-1789), was a renowned clockmaker whose works are still highly prized by collectors today.

The name "FELLS" has also been associated with various place names in northern England, such as Fellside and Fells Rigg, further reinforcing its connection to the local geography and landscape.

Throughout history, the surname "FELLS" has maintained a strong presence in the northern counties of England, particularly in areas where the Old English word "fell" was commonly used to describe the local terrain. While the name has spread to other parts of the country and beyond, its roots remain firmly embedded in the rugged landscapes of northern England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fells families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fells 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. Middlesex leads with 89 Fells' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.94x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 89 2.94x
Hertfordshire 52 24.95x
Surrey 31 2.10x
Yorkshire 27 0.90x
Kent 26 2.52x
Nottinghamshire 23 5.64x
Derbyshire 14 2.96x
Bedfordshire 13 8.30x
Buckinghamshire 7 3.83x
Leicestershire 7 2.09x
Essex 6 1.01x
Lancashire 5 0.14x
Norfolk 3 0.65x
Cornwall 2 0.58x
Durham 2 0.22x
Glamorgan 1 0.19x
Lanarkshire 1 0.10x
Warwickshire 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hitchin in Hertfordshire leads with 24 Fells' recorded in 1881 and an index of 255.05x.

Place Total Index
Hitchin 24 255.05x
Harpenden 20 628.93x
Bermondsey 10 11.11x
Westminster St John 10 27.15x
Marston Moretaine 9 737.70x
Tottenham 9 18.69x
Whitechapel London 9 30.19x
Camberwell 8 4.14x
Ecclesall Bierlow 8 13.13x
Mile End Old Town London 8 12.43x
Bromley London 7 10.52x
Farnham Royal 7 648.15x
Leicester St Margaret 7 8.56x
Rotherham 7 41.44x
St Albans 7 163.93x
St Pancras London 7 2.88x
Chelsea London 6 6.58x
Eckington 6 52.17x
Spitalfields London 6 26.39x
West Ham 6 4.55x
Ash Next Sandwich 5 219.30x
Babworth 5 657.89x
Brightside Bierlow 5 8.51x
Deal 5 56.82x
Greasley 5 54.35x
Kimberworth 5 30.07x
Limehouse London 5 15.06x
Margate St John Baptist 5 26.47x
Newington 5 4.48x
Pleasley 5 420.17x
Ramsgate 5 29.69x
Bethnal Green London 4 3.05x
Clerkenwell London 4 5.60x
Elksley 4 1176.47x
Lambeth 4 1.52x
Kenninghall 3 234.38x
Shoreditch London 3 2.29x
Southwark St John 3 32.43x
West Derby 3 2.86x
Brampton 2 30.21x
Edwinstowe 2 206.19x
Gateshead 2 2.97x
Hendon 2 18.38x
Madron Penzance 2 16.06x
Manchester 2 1.24x
Millbrook 2 689.66x
Poplar London 2 3.50x
Sandwich St Peter 2 185.19x
St George In East London 2 7.03x
Sutton 2 512.82x
Wakefield 2 8.70x
Ampthill 1 42.74x
Barony 1 0.40x
Bedford St Mary 1 24.81x
Chartham 1 38.91x
Clowne 1 53.19x
East Retford 1 28.25x
Fulham London 1 2.28x
Gamston 1 384.62x
Gillingham 1 4.70x
Hammersmith London 1 1.34x
Hampstead London 1 2.12x
Milton In Gravesend 1 6.46x
Milverton 1 44.64x
Minster In Sheppey 1 5.85x
Ordsall 1 32.05x
Redbourn 1 43.86x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 1.64x
Southwell 1 33.67x
St Marylebone London 1 0.62x
Swansea Town 1 2.32x
Tuxford 1 100.00x
Westminster St James 1 3.22x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 24
George 14
John 12
Charles 11
Arthur 6
Frederick 6
James 6
Joseph 6
Alfred 4
Thomas 4
Ambrose 3
Ernest 3
Samuel 3
Albert 2
Chas. 2
Edwin 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Henry 2
Robert 2
Sidney 2
Walter 2
Wm. 2
Abraham 1
Augustus 1
Cristopher 1
Edward 1
Fredk.G. 1
G. 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Jas.Richard 1
Morris 1
Percival 1
Tom 1
Willie 1
Wilson 1
Wm.A. 1

FAQ

Fells surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fells surname in 1881?

In 1881, 310 people were recorded with the Fells surname. That placed it at #9,488 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fells surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 387 in 2016. That gives Fells a modern rank of #12,170.

What does the Fells surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "rough hill" or "barren upland," likely referring to an inhabitant of such an area.

What does the Fells map show?

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