NameCensus.

UK surname

Frizzell

Derived from a French place name meaning "curly-haired" or "frizzled," likely referring to a person with curly hair.

In the 1881 census there were 55 people recorded with the Frizzell surname, ranking it #25,862 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 365, ranked #12,721, up from #25,862 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Poole St James, Dalziel and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Calder, Wealden and Greenock East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Frizzell is 395 in 2009. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 563.6%.

1881 census count

55

Ranked #25,862

Modern count

365

2016, ranked #12,721

Peak year

2009

395 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Frizzell had 55 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #25,862 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 365 in 2016, ranked #12,721.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 135 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Frizzell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Frizzell surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Frizzell 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 12 #31,134
1861 historical 20 #31,364
1881 historical 55 #25,862
1891 historical 104 #23,388
1901 historical 133 #19,372
1911 historical 135 #19,058
1997 modern 354 #12,060
1998 modern 368 #12,096
1999 modern 351 #12,582
2000 modern 348 #12,614
2001 modern 351 #12,349
2002 modern 375 #12,018
2003 modern 355 #12,285
2004 modern 349 #12,473
2005 modern 345 #12,496
2006 modern 348 #12,498
2007 modern 368 #12,125
2008 modern 368 #12,238
2009 modern 395 #11,838
2010 modern 395 #12,105
2011 modern 378 #12,363
2012 modern 349 #12,993
2013 modern 361 #12,861
2014 modern 361 #12,979
2015 modern 356 #13,009
2016 modern 365 #12,721

Geography

Back to top

Where Frizzells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Poole St James, Dalziel, London parishes, Jarrow and Gateshead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Calder, Wealden, Greenock East and Newcastle upon Tyne. 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 Poole St James Dorset
2 Dalziel Lanark
3 London parishes London 3
4 Jarrow Durham
5 Gateshead Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Calder West Lothian
2 Wealden 013 Wealden
3 Greenock East Inverclyde
4 Newcastle upon Tyne 019 Newcastle upon Tyne
5 Newcastle upon Tyne 031 Newcastle upon Tyne

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Frizzell

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Frizzell

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Frizzell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Frizzell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Frizzell 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

Frizzell is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Frizzell

The surname Frizzell is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "fryse," which means "curly-haired" or "frizzled hair." This suggests that the name may have initially been given as a descriptive nickname to someone with curly or frizzy hair.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Frizzell can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire, dated 1199, where it appears as "Frisell." This document contains records of landowners and tax payments, indicating that the Frizzell family was likely of some social standing during that time.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "Frisil" and "Frisyll," reflecting the variations in spelling common in the Middle Ages. One notable early bearer of the name was John Frisyll, who was recorded as a landowner in the Hundred Rolls of Wiltshire in 1273.

The surname Frizzell has also been associated with certain place names in England. For instance, there is a hamlet called Frizzell in Derbyshire, which may have influenced the name's development. Additionally, the name Frizell has been linked to the village of Frizington in Cumbria, suggesting possible connections between the surname and geographical locations.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Frizzell surname. One of the earliest was Sir John Frizzell (c. 1400-1480), a prominent English landowner and knight who served in the Wars of the Roses. Another was Richard Frizzell (1619-1670), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works.

In the 18th century, William Frizzell (1706-1784) was a Scottish-born merchant and philanthropist who established the Frizzell Trust, which provided financial support for poor families in Edinburgh. During the American Revolutionary War, Captain James Frizzell (1738-1820) served in the Continental Army and was present at the Battles of Lexington and Concord.

One of the most renowned bearers of the Frizzell name was Sir Bedivere Frizzell (1844-1928), a British naval officer and explorer who played a significant role in the exploration of the Arctic regions. He was knighted for his contributions to geographical research and served as the President of the Royal Geographical Society from 1915 to 1917.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Frizzell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Frizzell 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. Dorset leads with 19 Frizzells recorded in 1881 and an index of 53.03x.

County Total Index
Dorset 19 53.03x
Lancashire 14 2.16x
Yorkshire 12 2.22x
Cumberland 2 4.25x
Berwickshire 1 15.13x
Devon 1 0.88x
Dunbartonshire 1 6.82x
Hampshire 1 0.89x
Middlesex 1 0.18x
Perthshire 1 4.08x
Royal Navy 1 15.36x
Sussex 1 1.09x
Wiltshire 1 2.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Milton Abbas in Dorset leads with 18 Frizzells recorded in 1881 and an index of 10000.00x.

Place Total Index
Milton Abbas 18 10000.00x
Batley 8 155.64x
Oldham 8 38.26x
Manchester 5 17.16x
Leeds 4 13.09x
Bere Regis 1 416.67x
Brighton 1 5.39x
Burgh By Sands 1 666.67x
Chirnside 1 357.14x
Croglin 1 2000.00x
Crumpsall 1 65.36x
Exminster 1 243.90x
Findo Gask 1 1428.57x
Holdenhurst 1 34.01x
Islington London 1 1.89x
Kirkintilloch 1 50.25x
Royal Navy 1 17.99x
Semley 1 769.23x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 9
Bessie 2
Elizabeth 2
Harriet 2
Kate 2
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Dinah 1
Elizth. 1
Elvina 1
Emily 1
Florence 1
Jane 1
Katie 1
Margaret 1
Maud 1
Rose 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 3
David 2
George 2
Patrick 2
Thomas 2
William 2
Charles 1
Fred 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Hodgson 1
James 1
Jas. 1
Martin 1
Thos. 1
Walter 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 Frizzell households.

FAQ

Frizzell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Frizzell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 55 people were recorded with the Frizzell surname. That placed it at #25,862 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Frizzell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 365 in 2016. That gives Frizzell a modern rank of #12,721.

What does the Frizzell surname mean?

Derived from a French place name meaning "curly-haired" or "frizzled," likely referring to a person with curly hair.

What does the Frizzell map show?

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