NameCensus.

UK surname

Frankel

A surname of German origin, derived from the Middle High German word "vranc" meaning "frank" or "honest."

In the 1881 census there were 45 people recorded with the Frankel surname, ranking it #27,314 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 463, ranked #10,586, up from #27,314 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St George in the East, St Mary Whitechapel and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnet, Hackney and Bury.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Frankel is 472 in 2004. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 928.9%.

1881 census count

45

Ranked #27,314

Modern count

463

2016, ranked #10,586

Peak year

2004

472 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Frankel had 45 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #27,314 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 463 in 2016, ranked #10,586.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 220 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Frankel surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Frankel surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Frankel 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 9 #31,675
1861 historical 21 #31,242
1881 historical 45 #27,314
1891 historical 93 #24,965
1901 historical 170 #16,762
1911 historical 220 #14,088
1997 modern 443 #10,189
1998 modern 450 #10,409
1999 modern 435 #10,754
2000 modern 455 #10,340
2001 modern 437 #10,482
2002 modern 452 #10,408
2003 modern 471 #9,902
2004 modern 472 #9,926
2005 modern 460 #10,042
2006 modern 444 #10,347
2007 modern 446 #10,409
2008 modern 425 #10,934
2009 modern 449 #10,690
2010 modern 471 #10,510
2011 modern 464 #10,524
2012 modern 441 #10,828
2013 modern 459 #10,682
2014 modern 464 #10,645
2015 modern 470 #10,480
2016 modern 463 #10,586

Geography

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Where Frankels are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St George in the East, St Mary Whitechapel, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and West Derby. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnet, Hackney and Bury. 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 St George in the East London (East Districts)
2 St Mary Whitechapel London (East Districts)
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 West Derby Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnet 037 Barnet
2 Hackney 001 Hackney
3 Bury 026 Bury
4 Hackney 029 Hackney
5 Barnet 035 Barnet

Forenames

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First names often paired with Frankel

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Frankel

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Frankel surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Frankel 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Frankel is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Frankel 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

Frankel 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 Frankel 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Frankel

The surname Frankel originates from Germany and is of Ashkenazic Jewish descent, deriving from the Yiddish personal name "Fraenkel," which means "little Frank" or "little Frenchman." The name's origins can be traced back to the Middle Ages when Jews adopted surnames based on their place of origin, occupation, or personal characteristics.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Frankel can be found in the 14th century, when it appeared in various Jewish records and documents across Germany. One notable figure bearing this surname was Rabbi Moshe ben Shmuel Frankel, a prominent Talmudic scholar who lived in the 16th century and authored several works on Jewish law and ethics.

During the Middle Ages, the Frankel surname was often associated with Jewish communities in cities such as Frankfurt, Cologne, and other areas of the Rhineland region. The name's spelling variations included Frankel, Frenkel, and Fränkel, reflecting the local dialects and phonetic adaptations.

In the 18th century, the Frankel surname gained prominence with the birth of David Frankel (1779-1865), a renowned Jewish scholar and leader who played a pivotal role in the Haskalah (Jewish Enlightenment) movement. He advocated for religious reforms and modernization within the Jewish community.

Another notable figure bearing the Frankel surname was Zecharias Frankel (1801-1875), a German Jewish scholar and theologian who was a leading figure in the emergence of Conservative Judaism. He founded the Jewish Theological Seminary in Breslau (now Wrocław, Poland), which became a prominent center for Jewish learning.

In the 20th century, the Frankel surname gained further recognition with individuals like Max Frankel (1930-2022), an American journalist and former executive editor of The New York Times, who played a significant role in shaping modern journalism.

Throughout history, the Frankel surname has been associated with various professions, including scholars, rabbis, writers, and artists. While its origins can be traced back to Germany, the name has since spread across various parts of the world due to migration and diaspora.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Frankel families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Frankel 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 27 Frankels recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.02x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 27 6.02x
Yorkshire 7 1.57x
Northumberland 3 4.49x
Oxfordshire 3 10.83x
Warwickshire 2 1.77x
Channel Islands 1 7.52x
Lanarkshire 1 0.69x
Leicestershire 1 2.01x
Surrey 1 0.46x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Whitechapel London in Middlesex leads with 7 Frankels recorded in 1881 and an index of 158.37x.

Place Total Index
Whitechapel London 7 158.37x
Hampstead London 6 85.84x
Manningham 6 109.49x
Mile End Old Town London 6 62.83x
Bethnal Green London 5 25.65x
Chipping Norton 3 468.75x
Westgate 3 72.64x
Edgbaston 2 56.98x
Spitalfields London 2 59.17x
Barony 1 2.72x
Bewholme Nunkeeling 1 2500.00x
Hinckley 1 84.75x
Lambeth 1 2.56x
St Peter 1 263.16x
Twickenham 1 52.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Emily 3
Rosa 2
Amelia 1
Anna 1
Beatrice 1
Bertha 1
Eliza 1
Elizabeth 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
Harriet 1
Henrietta 1
Isadore 1
Jane 1
Jenny 1
Maria 1
Matilda 1
Nelly 1
Rosalie 1
Sarah 1
Scheima 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Samuel 2
Abraham 1
Barnard 1
Charles 1
Ernest 1
Henry 1
Hern. 1
Leon 1
Lewis 1
Martin 1
Max 1
Mayer 1
Myer 1
Otto 1
Sigismond 1
Simon 1
Soloman 1
Solomon 1
William 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Frankel households.

FAQ

Frankel surname: questions and answers

How common was the Frankel surname in 1881?

In 1881, 45 people were recorded with the Frankel surname. That placed it at #27,314 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Frankel surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 463 in 2016. That gives Frankel a modern rank of #10,586.

What does the Frankel surname mean?

A surname of German origin, derived from the Middle High German word "vranc" meaning "frank" or "honest."

What does the Frankel map show?

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