NameCensus.

UK surname

Hamel

A French habitational surname referring to someone living near a hamlet or small village.

In the 1881 census there were 122 people recorded with the Hamel surname, ranking it #17,602 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 140, ranked #24,865, down from #17,602 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to New Monkland, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside and Tamworth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Liverpool, Gateshead and Warrington.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hamel is 146 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 14.8%.

1881 census count

122

Ranked #17,602

Modern count

140

2016, ranked #24,865

Peak year

1861

146 bearers

Map years

6

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hamel had 122 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,602 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 140 in 2016, ranked #24,865.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 146 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Hamel surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hamel surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Hamel 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 73 #20,581
1861 historical 146 #15,628
1881 historical 122 #17,602
1891 historical 99 #24,200
1901 historical 103 #22,444
1911 historical 84 #24,442
1997 modern 115 #24,834
1998 modern 119 #24,918
1999 modern 125 #24,366
2000 modern 118 #25,197
2001 modern 111 #25,767
2002 modern 114 #25,886
2003 modern 121 #24,776
2004 modern 121 #24,939
2005 modern 120 #25,066
2006 modern 117 #25,695
2007 modern 115 #26,348
2008 modern 115 #26,635
2009 modern 125 #25,823
2010 modern 127 #26,176
2011 modern 133 #25,177
2012 modern 134 #25,059
2013 modern 141 #24,670
2014 modern 142 #24,734
2015 modern 136 #25,352
2016 modern 140 #24,865

Geography

Back to top

Where Hamels are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around New Monkland, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Tamworth, Brighton and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Liverpool, Gateshead, Warrington, East Devon and Blackpool. 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 New Monkland Lanark
2 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
3 Tamworth Staffordshire
4 Brighton Sussex
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Liverpool 017 Liverpool
2 Gateshead 016 Gateshead
3 Warrington 010 Warrington
4 East Devon 019 East Devon
5 Blackpool 017 Blackpool

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Hamel

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Hamel

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hamel, 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 Hamel surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Hamel 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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Hamel is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hamel 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

Hamel 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 Hamel 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
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Hamel

The surname HAMEL is of French origin and can be traced back to the 11th century in the northern regions of France. It is believed to be derived from the Old French word "hamel," which referred to a small village or hamlet. This name likely originated as a locational name for someone who lived in or came from a hamlet.

One of the earliest known recordings of the surname HAMEL can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and properties in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "de Hamele," indicating its French roots and locational significance.

In the 12th century, a nobleman named Robert de Hamel was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire, England, in 1165. This record provides evidence of the surname's early presence in England, potentially brought over by Norman settlers after the conquest in 1066.

During the 13th century, the name HAMEL appeared in various historical documents across France and England. For instance, Radulfus de Hamel was recorded in the Curia Regis Rolls of Bedfordshire, England, in 1212, while Jean de Hamel was mentioned in the Cartulaire de l'abbaye de Saint-Bertin in France in 1268.

One notable figure with the surname HAMEL was Johannes de Hamel, a French scholar and theologian born in the late 13th century. He was a professor at the University of Paris and wrote several works on theology and philosophy.

In the 16th century, the name HAMEL gained prominence in England with figures like Thomas Hamel, a prominent merchant and alderman in the City of London who was born around 1520. He was known for his philanthropic work and supported the establishment of Christ's Hospital, a renowned school for underprivileged children.

Another influential individual was Pierre Hamel, a French explorer and navigator born in 1615. He was part of several expeditions to the New World and contributed to the exploration and mapping of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the St. Lawrence River in present-day Canada.

As the surname spread across Europe, variations in spelling emerged, such as Hamill, Hammill, and Hamelle, reflecting regional differences in pronunciation and record-keeping practices.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Hamel families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hamel 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. Channel Islands leads with 26 Hamels recorded in 1881 and an index of 61.19x.

County Total Index
Channel Islands 26 61.19x
Lanarkshire 18 3.88x
Lancashire 17 1.00x
Northumberland 17 7.97x
Durham 15 3.52x
Middlesex 12 0.84x
Yorkshire 9 0.63x
Nottinghamshire 6 3.10x
Staffordshire 6 1.24x
Cornwall 5 3.08x
Sussex 5 2.07x
Glamorgan 3 1.20x
Leicestershire 3 1.89x
Cumberland 2 1.62x
Surrey 2 0.29x
Ayrshire 1 0.93x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Benfieldside in Durham leads with 11 Hamels recorded in 1881 and an index of 391.46x.

Place Total Index
Benfieldside 11 391.46x
Tynemouth 10 87.57x
St Peter Port 9 114.50x
Kensington London 8 10.04x
Bothwell 7 55.64x
Pendleton In Salford 7 34.53x
St Helier 7 50.61x
Linthorpe 6 70.75x
Nottingham Standard 6 1224.49x
Barony 5 4.26x
Falmouth 5 86.96x
Manchester 5 6.54x
Preston 5 118.48x
Liverpool 4 3.87x
Longbenton 4 44.25x
St Saviour 4 170.21x
Leicester St Margaret 3 7.74x
Rutherglen 3 44.12x
Tamworth 3 115.83x
Trinity 3 306.12x
Wigginton 3 731.71x
Aberavon 2 86.96x
Govan 2 1.74x
Haltwhistle 2 192.31x
Lambeth 2 1.60x
St Luke London 2 8.70x
St Owen 2 178.57x
Sunderland 2 26.56x
Wolsingham 2 51.41x
Ayr 1 19.76x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 3.70x
Eston 1 32.36x
Halifax 1 4.79x
Hamilton 1 7.73x
Hampstead London 1 4.48x
Paddington London 1 1.90x
St Martin 1 38.46x
Swansea Higher 1 38.46x
Wakefield 1 9.17x
Wallbottle 1 222.22x
Wigton 1 54.05x
Workington 1 14.14x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Alice 4
Annie 3
Jane 3
Sarah 3
Ada 2
Elizabeth 2
Ellen 2
Helen 2
Rose 2
Adele 1
Agnes 1
Amelia 1
Ann 1
Anne 1
Arabella 1
Bridget 1
Cacilia 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Celestin 1
Celestine 1
Charlotte 1
Desire 1
Desmoulina 1
Diones 1
Eleanor 1
Elise 1
Felisie 1
Florine 1
Frederica 1
Georgina 1
Kate 1
Louisa 1
Lucie 1
Margaret 1
Margret 1
Marie 1
Marion 1
Susan 1
Susannah 1
Teresa 1
Theresa 1
Virgenie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 9
James 4
Thomas 4
Alfred 3
Patrick 3
Peter 3
Bernard 2
Etienne 2
Felix 2
Francis 2
Owen 2
Paul 2
William 2
Adolphe 1
Andrew 1
Ansolem 1
Charles 1
Chorles 1
Cyril 1
Daniel 1
Earnest 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Frederic 1
Frederick 1
Germain 1
Henri 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
Joseph 1
Julius 1
Philip 1
Sigismund 1
Stansfield 1

FAQ

Hamel surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hamel surname in 1881?

In 1881, 122 people were recorded with the Hamel surname. That placed it at #17,602 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hamel surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 140 in 2016. That gives Hamel a modern rank of #24,865.

What does the Hamel surname mean?

A French habitational surname referring to someone living near a hamlet or small village.

What does the Hamel map show?

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