NameCensus.

UK surname

Gravell

A locational surname derived from a place with gravelly soil or gravel pits.

In the 1881 census there were 282 people recorded with the Gravell surname, ranking it #10,148 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 504, ranked #9,938, up from #10,148 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Kidwelly. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Carmarthenshire and Blaenau Gwent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gravell is 560 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 78.7%.

1881 census count

282

Ranked #10,148

Modern count

504

2016, ranked #9,938

Peak year

1999

560 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gravell had 282 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,148 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 504 in 2016, ranked #9,938.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 431 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gravell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gravell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gravell 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 94 #17,837
1861 historical 117 #18,635
1881 historical 282 #10,148
1891 historical 304 #11,005
1901 historical 317 #11,213
1911 historical 431 #8,789
1997 modern 525 #8,977
1998 modern 546 #8,983
1999 modern 560 #8,855
2000 modern 543 #9,044
2001 modern 532 #9,028
2002 modern 538 #9,132
2003 modern 521 #9,217
2004 modern 513 #9,338
2005 modern 514 #9,262
2006 modern 503 #9,451
2007 modern 506 #9,482
2008 modern 500 #9,630
2009 modern 499 #9,879
2010 modern 497 #10,111
2011 modern 496 #10,012
2012 modern 489 #10,039
2013 modern 499 #10,034
2014 modern 506 #9,991
2015 modern 505 #9,933
2016 modern 504 #9,938

Geography

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Where Gravells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Kidwelly, London parishes and Merthyr Tydfil. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Carmarthenshire and Blaenau Gwent. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 Kidwelly Carmarthenshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Merthyr Tydfil Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Carmarthenshire 018 Carmarthenshire
2 Carmarthenshire 012 Carmarthenshire
3 Carmarthenshire 021 Carmarthenshire
4 Blaenau Gwent 005 Blaenau Gwent
5 Carmarthenshire 019 Carmarthenshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gravell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gravell

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

Gravell is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gravell falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gravell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Gravell

The surname Gravell originated in England, with records of the name dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be a topographic name, derived from the Old English word "grafel," meaning a small pit or quarry. This suggests that the earliest bearers of this surname may have lived near or worked in a gravel pit.

Gravell is thought to have first appeared in the counties of Gloucestershire and Worcestershire, where some of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found. In the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275, a Thomas de Gravele is mentioned, providing evidence of the name's early existence in the region.

The Gravell surname also appears in the Hundred Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1273, where it is spelled as "Gravele." This variation in spelling was common in those times due to inconsistent record-keeping practices and regional dialects.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Gravell name was John Gravell, born around 1510 in Gloucestershire. He was a prominent landowner and served as a member of the local parish council.

In the 16th century, the Gravell family expanded their presence to other parts of England, including Oxfordshire. William Gravell, born in 1588 in Oxfordshire, was a notable figure in the local community and served as a magistrate.

During the English Civil War in the 17th century, a man named Robert Gravell, born in 1620 in Worcestershire, fought for the Parliamentarian forces. He is recorded as having participated in several battles, including the Battle of Naseby in 1645.

Another notable individual was Sir Thomas Gravell, born in 1678 in Gloucestershire. He was a successful merchant and served as the Mayor of Bristol in 1721. His contributions to the city's economic development were significant, and he is remembered for his philanthropic efforts.

In the 19th century, the Gravell family continued to thrive, with several members achieving notable accomplishments. One such individual was John Gravell, born in 1812 in Oxfordshire, who became a respected scholar and author, publishing works on literature and philosophy.

While the Gravell surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including North America and Australia, as a result of migration and exploration. However, the earliest recorded instances of the name remain firmly rooted in the English countryside, where the name originated from the humble gravel pit.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gravell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gravell 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. Carmarthenshire leads with 138 Gravells recorded in 1881 and an index of 119.03x.

County Total Index
Carmarthenshire 138 119.03x
Glamorgan 28 5.85x
Middlesex 24 0.87x
Gloucestershire 19 3.52x
Yorkshire 15 0.55x
Nottinghamshire 11 2.97x
Surrey 11 0.82x
Sussex 8 1.73x
Derbyshire 7 1.63x
Kent 7 0.75x
Lincolnshire 7 1.59x
Warwickshire 5 0.72x
Lancashire 2 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kidwelly in Carmarthenshire leads with 77 Gravells recorded in 1881 and an index of 3248.95x.

Place Total Index
Kidwelly 77 3248.95x
Pembrey 34 637.90x
Llanelly 20 76.60x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 10 19.69x
Merthyr Tydfil 10 21.72x
Chiswick 8 53.23x
Clowne 7 409.36x
Bristol St Peter 6 310.88x
Goole 6 131.29x
Islington London 6 2.25x
Llanwonno 6 34.86x
St Pancras London 6 2.71x
Aston 5 2.62x
Clifton In York 5 87.72x
Llangendeirne 5 232.56x
Newark Upon Trent 5 37.51x
Southwell 5 185.19x
Ystradyfodwg 5 11.90x
Clapham 4 11.63x
Clerkenwell London 4 6.16x
Epworth 4 195.12x
Keymer 4 122.32x
Lambeth 4 1.67x
Lewisham 4 7.99x
Newcastle Higher 4 123.08x
Battersea 3 2.96x
Clee With Weelsby 3 31.15x
Bristol St George 2 8.02x
Cheriton 2 52.22x
Llanguick 2 23.31x
Newton 2 7.95x
Airmyn 1 212.77x
Ashford 1 10.94x
Brighton 1 1.07x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 5.56x
Carmarthen St Peter 1 10.09x
Fiskerton 1 370.37x
Holy Trinity 1 1.53x
Hove 1 4.91x
Lewes St John Southover 1 32.15x
Littlehampton 1 27.03x
Llannon 1 62.89x
Sowerby In Halifax 1 11.22x
Swansea Town 1 2.55x
Wakefield 1 4.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 33
Ann 12
Elizabeth 9
Margaret 8
Sarah 7
Eliza 6
Emma 6
Jane 6
Catherine 4
Annie 3
Florence 3
Hannah 3
Kate 3
Louisa 3
Lucy 3
Martha 3
Alice 2
Catharine 2
Ellen 2
Esther 2
Fanny 2
Phoebe 2
Phoeby 2
Amelia 1
Amy 1
Anne 1
Blodwen 1
Caroline 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth. 1
Elizth.A. 1
Emily 1
Georgiana 1
Gwendoline 1
Katherine 1
Margret 1
Maria 1
Rachel 1
Ruth 1
Susanna 1
William 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 27
John 23
David 18
Thomas 18
Evan 6
James 4
Benjamin 3
Edward 3
Richard 3
Edwin 2
George 2
Henry 2
Tom 2
Walter 2
Albert 1
Alexander 1
Alfred 1
Charles 1
Daniel 1
Edmund 1
Enoch 1
Ernest 1
Fred 1
Jaber 1
Jonah 1
Jonney 1
Joseph 1
Lewis 1
Phillip 1
Richd. 1
Samuel 1
Sydney 1
Wiliam 1
Wm. 1
Zachariah 1

FAQ

Gravell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gravell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 282 people were recorded with the Gravell surname. That placed it at #10,148 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gravell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 504 in 2016. That gives Gravell a modern rank of #9,938.

What does the Gravell surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place with gravelly soil or gravel pits.

What does the Gravell map show?

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