NameCensus.

UK surname

Harvell

An English topographic name for someone who lived by a spring or stream, from Middle English harvile, harewelle.

In the 1881 census there were 52 people recorded with the Harvell surname, ranking it #26,281 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 118, ranked #27,873, down from #26,281 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Poole, Weymouth and Portland and East Dorset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Harvell is 160 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 126.9%.

1881 census count

52

Ranked #26,281

Modern count

118

2016, ranked #27,873

Peak year

2011

160 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Harvell had 52 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #26,281 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 118 in 2016, ranked #27,873.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 87 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Harvell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Harvell surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Harvell 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 8 #31,867
1861 historical 64 #25,747
1881 historical 52 #26,281
1891 historical 69 #28,188
1901 historical 85 #24,636
1911 historical 87 #24,147
1997 modern 143 #21,761
1998 modern 141 #22,517
1999 modern 154 #21,455
2000 modern 155 #21,341
2001 modern 148 #21,664
2002 modern 154 #21,531
2003 modern 148 #21,866
2004 modern 146 #22,202
2005 modern 142 #22,577
2006 modern 137 #23,270
2007 modern 144 #22,804
2008 modern 143 #23,160
2009 modern 145 #23,473
2010 modern 155 #22,985
2011 modern 160 #22,282
2012 modern 148 #23,457
2013 modern 143 #24,434
2014 modern 137 #25,345
2015 modern 132 #25,859
2016 modern 118 #27,873

Geography

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Where Harvells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Poole, Weymouth and Portland, East Dorset and North Dorset. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Poole 010 Poole
2 Weymouth and Portland 009 Weymouth and Portland
3 East Dorset 001 East Dorset
4 North Dorset 005 North Dorset
5 East Dorset 008 East Dorset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Harvell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Harvell

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Harvell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Harvell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Harvell is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Harvell is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Harvell falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Harvell 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 Harvell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Harvell

The surname Harvell has its origins in England, tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "hær" meaning "rock" and "fell" meaning "hill" or "ridge." Consequently, the name likely originated as a topographic name, given to someone who lived near a rocky hill or ridge.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where a certain John Harvell is mentioned. This suggests the name was already in use by the 14th century in the West Midlands region of England.

In the 15th century, the name appears in the Feet of Fines for Essex, dated 1428, which refers to a Thomas Harvell of Brentwood. This indicates the name had spread to other parts of England by that time.

The Harvell surname is also linked to the village of Harvel in Kent, which was formerly known as "Harewell" or "Harvill" in ancient records. It is possible that some bearers of the name originated from this location or nearby areas.

Notable individuals with the surname Harvell include Sir John Harvell (1570-1642), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Reigate. Another prominent figure was Robert Harvell (1632-1704), a clergyman and author who wrote several theological works.

In the 18th century, the name appears in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Islington, London, with the baptism of Samuel Harvell in 1730. This suggests the family had established itself in the capital city by that time.

Other notable bearers of the Harvell surname include James Harvell (1792-1868), a British industrialist and philanthropist, and Henry Harvell (1845-1912), a renowned historian and author who wrote extensively on the history of the English countryside.

While the Harvell name has undergone some variations in spelling over the centuries, such as Harville, Harvill, and Harvil, the core roots of the name remain rooted in the Old English language and the geographical features of the English landscape.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Harvell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Harvell 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 37 Harvells recorded in 1881 and an index of 103.27x.

County Total Index
Dorset 37 103.27x
Hampshire 7 6.25x
Channel Islands 4 24.72x
Kent 3 1.61x
Cheshire 1 0.83x
Lancashire 1 0.15x
Norfolk 1 1.19x
Surrey 1 0.38x
Yorkshire 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Lulworth in Dorset leads with 21 Harvells recorded in 1881 and an index of 35000.00x.

Place Total Index
West Lulworth 21 35000.00x
Wareham Lady St Mary 11 3928.57x
Owslebury 4 2500.00x
St Michaelinthe Vale 4 689.66x
Weymouth 4 588.24x
Rochester St Margaret 3 153.06x
Southampton St Mary 3 42.61x
Great Yarmouth 1 14.39x
Leeds 1 3.27x
Liverpool 1 2.54x
Richmond 1 26.81x
Tranmere 1 22.57x
Wareham St Martin 1 714.29x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 4
Mary 3
Alice 2
Ann 2
Anna 1
Annie 1
Eliza 1
Gertrude 1
Henrietta 1
Infant 1
Jane 1
Maria 1
Minnie 1
Rachel 1
Sarah 1
Theresa 1
Wenefred 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Harvell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Harvell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 52 people were recorded with the Harvell surname. That placed it at #26,281 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Harvell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 118 in 2016. That gives Harvell a modern rank of #27,873.

What does the Harvell surname mean?

An English topographic name for someone who lived by a spring or stream, from Middle English harvile, harewelle.

What does the Harvell map show?

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