UK surname
A surname derived from the English word hazel, likely denoting someone who lived near hazel trees or woodland.
In the 1881 census there were 110 people recorded with the Hassel surname, ranking it #18,695 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 33, ranked #35,829, down from #18,695 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Newbury, Belgrave and St Leonard Shoreditch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hassel is 110 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 70.0%.
1881 census count
110
Ranked #18,695
Modern count
33
2016, ranked #35,829
Peak year
1881
110 bearers
Map years
1
1881 to 1881
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Hassel surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Hassel surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 58 | #22,928 |
| 1861 | historical | 41 | #28,839 |
| 1881 | historical | 110 | #18,695 |
| 1891 | historical | 90 | #25,399 |
| 1901 | historical | 67 | #26,703 |
| 1911 | historical | 46 | #28,224 |
| 1997 | modern | 38 | #33,872 |
| 1998 | modern | 40 | #33,856 |
| 1999 | modern | 35 | #34,418 |
| 2000 | modern | 39 | #34,066 |
| 2001 | modern | 37 | #34,082 |
| 2002 | modern | 41 | #34,032 |
| 2003 | modern | 41 | #34,113 |
| 2004 | modern | 43 | #34,149 |
| 2005 | modern | 36 | #34,894 |
| 2006 | modern | 37 | #35,074 |
| 2007 | modern | 37 | #35,215 |
| 2008 | modern | 40 | #35,137 |
| 2009 | modern | 37 | #35,434 |
| 2010 | modern | 38 | #35,514 |
| 2011 | modern | 36 | #35,613 |
| 2012 | modern | 35 | #35,645 |
| 2013 | modern | 38 | #35,534 |
| 2014 | modern | 39 | #35,493 |
| 2015 | modern | 36 | #35,654 |
| 2016 | modern | 33 | #35,829 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Newbury, Belgrave, St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newbury | Berkshire |
| 2 | Belgrave | Leicestershire |
| 3 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 4 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 5 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Hassel surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hassel, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Hassel surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Hassel household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Hassel is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hassel is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Hassel, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Hassel has its origins in Germany, where it first emerged in the 13th century. It is derived from the Old German word "hasel," meaning "hazelnut." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a hazelnut grove or who worked with hazelnuts in some capacity.
In its earliest recorded form, the name was spelled "Hasele" or "Haesele." Over time, it evolved into various spellings such as "Haesel," "Haessel," and eventually "Hassel." These variations reflect the regional dialects and linguistic changes that occurred throughout Germany over the centuries.
One of the earliest documented references to the name Hassel can be found in the Wormser Bürgerbuch (Worms Citizen Book) from the 14th century, where a certain "Conradus Haessel" is mentioned as a resident of the city of Worms.
During the medieval period, the name Hassel appeared in various records and manuscripts across German-speaking regions. For instance, in 1427, a "Hans Hassel" is listed as a landowner in the Weissenburger Lehenbuch (Weissenburg Feudal Book) from Bavaria.
Notable individuals with the surname Hassel include:
1. Paul Hassel (1564-1635), a German Lutheran theologian and professor at the University of Rostock. 2. Johann Georg Hassel (1678-1752), a German composer and organist from Nuremberg. 3. Georg Hassel (1770-1829), a German chemist and mineralogist, known for his work on crystallography. 4. Joachim Hassel (1889-1934), a German architect and urban planner, best known for his work in Berlin. 5. Pauline Hassel (1892-1975), a German writer and poet, recipient of the Georg Büchner Prize in 1961.
Some variations of the name include the place name "Hasselhausen," which can be found in various regions of Germany, such as Hesse and Lower Saxony. This further reinforces the connection between the surname and the hazelnut tree.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hassel surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 20 Hassels recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.86x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 20 | 1.86x |
| Worcestershire | 12 | 8.56x |
| Staffordshire | 11 | 3.04x |
| Kent | 8 | 2.19x |
| Warwickshire | 8 | 2.96x |
| Yorkshire | 8 | 0.75x |
| Berkshire | 7 | 8.69x |
| Lancashire | 7 | 0.55x |
| Cheshire | 6 | 2.53x |
| Leicestershire | 5 | 4.20x |
| Derbyshire | 3 | 1.79x |
| Glamorgan | 3 | 1.61x |
| Somerset | 3 | 1.74x |
| Northamptonshire | 2 | 1.98x |
| Shropshire | 2 | 2.16x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.45x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.48x |
| Monmouthshire | 1 | 1.29x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 0.69x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.19x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Redditch in Worcestershire leads with 12 Hassels recorded in 1881 and an index of 422.54x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Redditch | 12 | 422.54x |
| Shoreditch London | 9 | 19.35x |
| Newbury | 7 | 271.32x |
| Bethnal Green London | 5 | 10.73x |
| Ealing | 5 | 52.14x |
| Sedgley | 5 | 37.17x |
| Allesley | 4 | 1111.11x |
| Darenth | 4 | 714.29x |
| Deptford St Paul | 4 | 14.16x |
| Bedminster | 3 | 18.48x |
| Brailsford | 3 | 1250.00x |
| Merthyr Tydfil | 3 | 16.70x |
| Sale | 3 | 103.09x |
| Accrington | 2 | 17.27x |
| Ashton Under Lyne | 2 | 7.19x |
| Aston | 2 | 2.68x |
| Belgrave | 2 | 74.63x |
| Birmingham | 2 | 2.22x |
| Dallington | 2 | 338.98x |
| Leeds | 2 | 3.33x |
| Oswestry Town | 2 | 67.34x |
| Sculcoates | 2 | 11.86x |
| Stoke Upon Trent | 2 | 5.21x |
| Wolstanton | 2 | 18.18x |
| Allostock | 1 | 555.56x |
| Bedwellty | 1 | 7.30x |
| Bristol | 1 | 500.00x |
| Burslem | 1 | 9.63x |
| Camberwell | 1 | 1.46x |
| Devonport | 1 | 38.91x |
| Everton | 1 | 2.46x |
| Giggleswick | 1 | 277.78x |
| Greasbrough | 1 | 71.43x |
| Hale | 1 | 121.95x |
| Knutsford Nether | 1 | 69.93x |
| Leicester St Martin | 1 | 125.00x |
| Mirfield | 1 | 17.12x |
| Nottingham St Mary | 1 | 2.67x |
| Oakthorpe Donsthorpe | 1 | 312.50x |
| Ratcliffe Culey | 1 | 1250.00x |
| St George Martyr London | 1 | 46.08x |
| Stretford | 1 | 14.27x |
| Warrington | 1 | 6.63x |
| Whitby | 1 | 27.93x |
| Wolstanton Chesterton | 1 | 54.05x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Hassel surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Hassel surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 110 people were recorded with the Hassel surname. That placed it at #18,695 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 33 in 2016. That gives Hassel a modern rank of #35,829.
A surname derived from the English word hazel, likely denoting someone who lived near hazel trees or woodland.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hassel bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.