NameCensus.

UK surname

Haskell

From a place name meaning "witch's nook" in Old English, likely referring to a remote valley.

In the 1881 census there were 760 people recorded with the Haskell surname, ranking it #4,865 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,001, ranked #5,799, down from #4,865 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Millbrook, London parishes and Portsmouth, Portsea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Dorset, Central Bedfordshire and Poole.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Haskell is 1,125 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 31.7%.

1881 census count

760

Ranked #4,865

Modern count

1,001

2016, ranked #5,799

Peak year

1998

1,125 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Haskell had 760 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,865 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,001 in 2016, ranked #5,799.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,097 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Haskell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Haskell surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Haskell 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 442 #5,570
1861 historical 413 #6,216
1881 historical 760 #4,865
1891 historical 746 #5,338
1901 historical 1,024 #4,662
1911 historical 1,097 #4,230
1997 modern 1,073 #5,183
1998 modern 1,125 #5,153
1999 modern 1,113 #5,247
2000 modern 1,115 #5,216
2001 modern 1,083 #5,241
2002 modern 1,096 #5,285
2003 modern 1,082 #5,254
2004 modern 1,089 #5,232
2005 modern 1,050 #5,335
2006 modern 1,015 #5,492
2007 modern 1,032 #5,468
2008 modern 1,025 #5,535
2009 modern 1,037 #5,608
2010 modern 1,058 #5,612
2011 modern 1,057 #5,554
2012 modern 1,029 #5,601
2013 modern 1,047 #5,623
2014 modern 1,058 #5,595
2015 modern 1,011 #5,764
2016 modern 1,001 #5,799

Geography

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Where Haskells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Millbrook, London parishes, Portsmouth, Portsea and Cranborne, Wimborne St Giles and Allhallows, Moore Critchell, Gussage St Michael, West Parley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Dorset, Central Bedfordshire, Poole, North Dorset and Purbeck. 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 Millbrook Hampshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
4 London parishes London 2
5 Cranborne, Wimborne St Giles and Allhallows, Moore Critchell, Gussage St Michael, West Parley Dorset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Dorset 001 East Dorset
2 Central Bedfordshire 014 Central Bedfordshire
3 Poole 016 Poole
4 North Dorset 007 North Dorset
5 Purbeck 004 Purbeck

Forenames

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First names often paired with Haskell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Haskell

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

Professional Periphery

Within London, Haskell is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Haskell is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Haskell

The surname Haskell has its origins in England, dating back to the late 12th century. It is believed to be a locational name derived from the place name Hassall, which is found in various parts of the country, including Cheshire, Staffordshire, and Derbyshire. The name itself is thought to come from the Old English words "hæsel" meaning "hazel" and "halh" meaning "nook" or "recess," suggesting that the original bearers of the name lived near a hazel grove or thicket.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire from 1199, which mention a person named William de Hassale. The name also appears in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1277, where it is spelled as Hasshull. Over time, various spellings emerged, including Hassall, Hassell, Hasell, and the modern form, Haskell.

In the 14th century, the surname Haskell is documented in the Poll Tax Returns for Yorkshire, where it is recorded as Hassell. During this period, the name seems to have been particularly prevalent in the northern counties of England, such as Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Cheshire.

One notable figure bearing the Haskell surname was Sir Thomas Haskell, who lived in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. He was a member of the English gentry and served as a Member of Parliament for Oxfordshire in 1515. Another prominent individual was Sir Edward Haskell, a 17th-century English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Lyme Regis in 1640.

In the 18th century, the name Haskell can be found in various parish records and census documents across England. One example is William Haskell, who was born in 1742 in Gloucestershire and became a renowned clockmaker and inventor.

During the 19th century, the Haskell surname gained further recognition with individuals like Sir Cedric Haskell (1834-1910), a British army officer who served in the Crimean War and later became a Member of Parliament. Another notable figure was Frederick Haskell (1856-1927), an American architect who designed several notable buildings in Chicago.

Throughout its history, the surname Haskell has been associated with various occupations and professions, including agriculture, skilled trades, and public service. While the name originated in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through migration and settlement patterns.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Haskell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Haskell 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. Hampshire leads with 182 Haskells recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.88x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 182 11.88x
Dorset 127 25.90x
Wiltshire 108 16.34x
Middlesex 76 1.02x
Surrey 53 1.46x
Somerset 45 3.74x
Lancashire 26 0.29x
Sussex 24 1.91x
Devon 22 1.41x
Berkshire 17 3.03x
Worcestershire 12 1.23x
Glamorgan 10 0.77x
Hertfordshire 10 1.94x
Kent 8 0.31x
Herefordshire 7 2.28x
Monmouthshire 7 1.30x
Gloucestershire 6 0.41x
Buckinghamshire 5 1.11x
Suffolk 5 0.55x
Cheshire 4 0.24x
Isle of Man 4 2.88x
Yorkshire 4 0.05x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.21x
Channel Islands 1 0.45x
Royal Navy 1 1.12x
Warwickshire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portsea in Hampshire leads with 56 Haskells recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.66x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 56 18.66x
Cranborne 43 725.13x
Christchurch 28 84.31x
Woodlands 27 2327.59x
Holdenhurst 25 62.24x
Wylye 22 1746.03x
Donhead St Andrew 20 985.22x
Lambeth 20 3.07x
Clerkenwell London 19 10.77x
Bathford 16 647.77x
Millbrook 13 33.71x
Fulham London 10 9.23x
St Pancras London 10 1.66x
Farnham 9 31.79x
Fordingbridge 9 108.04x
Roath 9 15.23x
Salisbury St Edmund 9 84.83x
Carisbrooke 8 37.63x
Horningsham 8 384.62x
Islington London 8 1.10x
Kinson 8 83.51x
Plymouth Charles The 8 11.68x
Poole St James 8 43.41x
Southampton St Mary 8 8.31x
Alderbury 7 225.81x
Battersea 7 2.55x
Blackburn 7 2.97x
Cornwood 7 235.69x
Grendon Bishop 7 1627.91x
Hammersmith London 7 3.80x
Lamberhurst 7 220.82x
Barford St Martin 6 500.00x
Corfe Castle 6 131.87x
Gussage All Sts 6 560.75x
Horton 6 508.47x
Plympton St Mary 6 66.74x
St Maurice Winchester 6 94.19x
Stourpaine 6 416.67x
Wadhurst 6 72.55x
Walcot 6 9.37x
West Harnham 6 800.00x
Aylesbury 5 24.98x
Bath St Michael 5 82.24x
Bethnal Green London 5 1.54x
Bromsgrove 5 15.23x
Bushey 5 40.78x
Compton Abbas 5 416.67x
Croydon 5 2.47x
Dudley 5 4.22x
Fugglestone St Peter 5 190.84x
Greenwich 5 4.20x
Henstridge 5 150.60x
Ipswich St Lawrence 5 406.50x
Newton In Makerfield 5 18.42x
South Stoneham 5 15.05x
Watford 5 12.52x
Batheaston 4 97.09x
Binfield 4 93.02x
Bristol St George 4 5.90x
Calverley Cum Farsley 4 19.03x
Everton 4 1.42x
Kensington London 4 0.96x
Nunney 4 153.85x
Odstock 4 1052.63x
Onchan 4 10.01x
Salisbury St Thomas 4 76.34x
St George Hanover Square 4 3.04x
Tranmere 4 6.60x
West Derby 4 1.54x
Aldermaston 3 217.39x
Clewer 3 13.05x
Cobham 3 50.25x
Dorchester St Peter 3 84.27x
Fontmell Magna 3 160.43x
Hastings St Mary 3 9.57x
Milton 3 78.74x
Reading St Mary 3 6.68x
St Woollos 3 4.98x
Twyford 3 81.97x
Wilton 3 64.24x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 36
Elizabeth 29
Sarah 22
Alice 20
Eliza 18
Ellen 16
Jane 16
Annie 15
Emily 14
Ann 13
Emma 10
Fanny 10
Caroline 7
Anne 6
Edith 6
Kate 6
Bessie 5
Lucy 5
Lydia 5
Martha 5
Susan 5
Charlotte 4
Louisa 4
Maria 4
Agnes 3
Amy 3
Clara 3
E. 3
Esther 3
Harriet 3
Jessie 3
Leah 3
Rose 3
A. 2
Ada 2
Amelia 2
Anna 2
Florence 2
Hannah 2
Jeanette 2
Laura 2
Margaret 2
Maryann 2
Matilda 2
Mona 2
Rebecca 2
Rosina 2
S. 2
Emmily 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 50
John 32
George 30
Charles 27
James 25
Thomas 21
Henry 19
Edward 15
Harry 10
Joseph 10
Albert 8
Alfred 8
Frederick 8
Samuel 7
Robert 6
Frank 5
Walter 5
Ernest 4
Francis 4
Herbert 4
Job 4
Sydney 4
Arthur 3
Chas. 3
Edwin 3
Sidney 3
Bertie 2
Fred 2
Fredk. 2
Michael 2
Tom 2
Vincent 2
W. 2
Wm. 2
Bartholomew 1
C. 1
Charley 1
Chas.Thos. 1
Ezekiel 1
F. 1
Fk. 1
Florence 1
Fredk.Alfred 1
Infant 1
Isaac 1
J. 1
J.H. 1
Jas. 1
Jesse 1
Jonathan 1

FAQ

Haskell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Haskell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 760 people were recorded with the Haskell surname. That placed it at #4,865 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Haskell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,001 in 2016. That gives Haskell a modern rank of #5,799.

What does the Haskell surname mean?

From a place name meaning "witch's nook" in Old English, likely referring to a remote valley.

What does the Haskell map show?

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