NameCensus.

UK surname

Fussell

An English occupational surname for a maker of saddle trees or saddle bows.

In the 1881 census there were 559 people recorded with the Fussell surname, ranking it #6,192 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 762, ranked #7,197, down from #6,192 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and St Philip and Jacob. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Gloucestershire, Merthyr Tydfil and Pembrokeshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fussell is 866 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 36.3%.

1881 census count

559

Ranked #6,192

Modern count

762

2016, ranked #7,197

Peak year

1998

866 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fussell had 559 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,192 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 762 in 2016, ranked #7,197.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 774 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Fussell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fussell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fussell 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 412 #5,889
1861 historical 378 #6,761
1881 historical 559 #6,192
1891 historical 586 #6,517
1901 historical 718 #6,149
1911 historical 774 #5,608
1997 modern 854 #6,217
1998 modern 866 #6,341
1999 modern 854 #6,457
2000 modern 837 #6,537
2001 modern 804 #6,629
2002 modern 798 #6,786
2003 modern 804 #6,620
2004 modern 808 #6,617
2005 modern 780 #6,737
2006 modern 760 #6,908
2007 modern 753 #7,031
2008 modern 761 #7,031
2009 modern 776 #7,059
2010 modern 783 #7,153
2011 modern 800 #6,952
2012 modern 786 #6,945
2013 modern 792 #7,020
2014 modern 796 #7,029
2015 modern 781 #7,071
2016 modern 762 #7,197

Geography

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Where Fussells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, St Philip and Jacob, St Pancras and Siston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Gloucestershire, Merthyr Tydfil, Pembrokeshire and Mendip. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Philip and Jacob Gloucestershire
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Siston Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Gloucestershire 029 South Gloucestershire
2 South Gloucestershire 028 South Gloucestershire
3 Merthyr Tydfil 006 Merthyr Tydfil
4 Pembrokeshire 004 Pembrokeshire
5 Mendip 001 Mendip

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fussell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fussell

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

Fussell 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

Fussell 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 Fussell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Fussell

The surname Fussell is of English origin, deriving from the Old English words "fyrs" meaning furze or gorse, and "hyll" meaning hill or slope. It was initially used as a topographic surname for someone who lived near a furze-covered hill or slope.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Fyrshill". This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 11th century in parts of England.

During the Middle Ages, the surname was often spelled in various ways, including Furshill, Furssell, and Fursell, reflecting the regional dialects and phonetic variations of the time.

In the 13th century, the Fussell family was well-established in the county of Gloucestershire, with records showing individuals such as William Fursell (born around 1230) and John Furshill (born around 1280) residing in the area.

One notable bearer of the name was Sir John Fussell (1525-1601), a wealthy merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Drapers in London. He served as Lord Mayor of London in 1592.

Another prominent figure was Philip Fussell (1648-1720), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for the constituency of Taunton in Somerset during the late 17th century.

In the literary world, the name is associated with Paul Fussell (1924-2012), an American cultural critic, historian, and professor of English literature. He is best known for his works on World War II and the study of social class.

The Fussell surname has also been carried by notable academics, such as Edwin Sarmiento Fussell (1921-2010), an American botanist and professor at the University of Pennsylvania, and Edwin Fussell (1811-1856), a British artist and engraver renowned for his landscape paintings.

While the surname is predominantly found in England, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration, with Fussell families settling in countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fussell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fussell 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. Gloucestershire leads with 176 Fussells recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.43x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 176 16.43x
Somerset 116 13.19x
Middlesex 64 1.17x
Surrey 38 1.43x
Wiltshire 29 6.00x
Warwickshire 21 1.52x
Glamorgan 17 1.79x
Kent 15 0.80x
Hampshire 14 1.25x
Buckinghamshire 11 3.33x
Monmouthshire 10 2.53x
Nottinghamshire 9 1.22x
Berkshire 5 1.22x
Devon 5 0.44x
Northamptonshire 3 0.58x
Pembrokeshire 3 1.73x
Sussex 3 0.33x
Worcestershire 3 0.42x
Yorkshire 3 0.06x
Cumberland 2 0.43x
Essex 2 0.19x
Hertfordshire 2 0.53x
Lancashire 2 0.03x
Leicestershire 2 0.33x
Dorset 1 0.28x
Herefordshire 1 0.45x
Lincolnshire 1 0.11x
Oxfordshire 1 0.30x
Royal Navy 1 1.54x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bristol St George in Gloucestershire leads with 71 Fussells recorded in 1881 and an index of 143.29x.

Place Total Index
Bristol St George 71 143.29x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 33 32.72x
Siston 27 1413.61x
Midsomer Norton 26 314.01x
Camberwell 19 5.45x
Bitton Oldland 15 136.99x
Birmingham 13 2.83x
Hackney London 13 4.24x
Upton Cum Chalvey 11 83.59x
Bedminster 10 12.10x
Dursley 10 226.76x
Lambeth 10 2.10x
St Marylebone London 10 3.43x
Aston 8 2.11x
Stoke Lane 8 634.92x
Beckington 7 404.62x
Cardiff St Mary 7 13.36x
Dunkerton 7 366.49x
Frome 7 33.29x
Milford 7 270.27x
Newport 7 37.16x
Shepton Mallet 7 70.92x
Stapleton 7 34.45x
Twerton 7 77.18x
Walcot 7 14.95x
Greenwich 6 6.90x
Shoreditch London 6 2.53x
St Giles In Fields London 6 22.39x
St Pancras London 6 1.36x
Warminster 6 56.66x
Weston 6 88.76x
Bexley 5 30.34x
Clifton 5 9.23x
Coedfrank 5 75.87x
Nottingham St Mary 5 2.63x
Plymouth St Andrew 5 5.71x
Portsea 5 2.28x
Road 5 467.29x
Islington London 4 0.76x
Potterne 4 184.33x
Radford 4 10.69x
Southampton St Mary 4 5.68x
Timsbury 4 150.38x
Whatley 4 493.83x
Amroth 3 218.98x
Bow London 3 4.31x
Bradford On Avon 3 19.39x
Foots Cray 3 84.03x
Greenford 3 297.03x
Holdenhurst 3 10.21x
Llanwonno 3 8.78x
Newington 3 1.49x
Oldbury 3 8.55x
Peterborough 3 8.06x
Radstock 3 51.90x
Reading St Mary 3 9.14x
Trowbridge 3 14.05x
Westbury 3 26.60x
Arlecdon 2 15.99x
Bath St Peter St Paul 2 51.41x
Bermondsey 2 1.23x
Brighton 2 1.08x
Ecclesall Bierlow 2 1.82x
Fovant 2 190.48x
Hampstead London 2 2.35x
Kingstanley 2 50.51x
Leicester St Mary 2 4.09x
Mells 2 109.89x
Nunney 2 105.26x
Paddington London 2 1.00x
Southwark Christchurch 2 7.81x
Teddington London 2 16.16x
Tottenham 2 2.30x
Bethnal Green London 1 0.42x
Bristol St James In 1 6.35x
Cheltenham 1 1.21x
Hutton 1 119.05x
Lytham 1 10.10x
Norton St Philip 1 104.17x
Skenfrith 1 85.47x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 21
Elizabeth 20
Sarah 20
Annie 17
Alice 13
Emily 13
Eliza 12
Florence 10
Emma 8
Jane 8
Ann 7
Louisa 6
Anne 5
Amelia 4
Clara 4
Edith 4
Ellen 4
Harriet 4
Kate 4
Mabel 4
Margaret 4
Maria 4
Susan 4
Amy 3
Fanny 3
Martha 3
Rosa 3
Ada 2
Agnes 2
Anna 2
Augusta 2
Betsy 2
Catherine 2
Charlotte 2
Constance 2
Emliy 2
Ethel 2
Harriett 2
Hester 2
Laura 2
Marie 2
Rhoda 2
Rose 2
Susannah 2
Beatrice 1
Elizth. 1
Janet 1
Jemima 1
Jessie 1
Tinal 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 31
James 23
John 22
Henry 21
George 19
Thomas 17
Joseph 12
Alfred 9
Charles 9
Albert 8
Edward 7
Herbert 6
Samuel 6
Frank 5
Arthur 4
Benjamin 4
Harry 4
Robert 4
Fred 3
Oliver 3
Sidney 3
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Frederick 2
Lewis 2
Percy 2
Theophilus 2
Walter 2
Adam 1
Alexander 1
B. 1
Ben 1
Bertie 1
Edw. 1
Enoch 1
Geo.Wm. 1
Horace 1
Hy. 1
Isaac 1
Jas.H. 1
Jas.Hy. 1
Jonathan 1
Jos.H. 1
N. 1
Philip 1
Richard 1
Richmond 1
S. 1
Saml.Wm. 1
Wm.Hy. 1

FAQ

Fussell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fussell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 559 people were recorded with the Fussell surname. That placed it at #6,192 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fussell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 762 in 2016. That gives Fussell a modern rank of #7,197.

What does the Fussell surname mean?

An English occupational surname for a maker of saddle trees or saddle bows.

What does the Fussell map show?

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