NameCensus.

UK surname

Herschell

A surname derived from the German place name Hirschfeld, meaning "deer field".

In the 1881 census there were 85 people recorded with the Herschell surname, ranking it #21,573 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 158, ranked #22,904, down from #21,573 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Speyside and the Cabrach, IZ16 and East Riding of Yorkshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Herschell is 172 in 2005. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 85.9%.

1881 census count

85

Ranked #21,573

Modern count

158

2016, ranked #22,904

Peak year

2005

172 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Herschell had 85 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #21,573 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 158 in 2016, ranked #22,904.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 93 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Routine Occupations or Retirement.

Herschell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Herschell surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Herschell 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 58 #22,928
1861 historical 56 #26,864
1881 historical 85 #21,573
1891 historical 84 #26,229
1901 historical 93 #23,689
1911 historical 56 #27,216
1997 modern 154 #20,780
1998 modern 164 #20,505
1999 modern 156 #21,290
2000 modern 165 #20,501
2001 modern 163 #20,372
2002 modern 162 #20,839
2003 modern 162 #20,624
2004 modern 167 #20,367
2005 modern 172 #19,908
2006 modern 165 #20,634
2007 modern 169 #20,562
2008 modern 166 #20,966
2009 modern 163 #21,715
2010 modern 160 #22,487
2011 modern 157 #22,574
2012 modern 152 #23,069
2013 modern 152 #23,438
2014 modern 158 #23,022
2015 modern 157 #22,997
2016 modern 158 #22,904

Geography

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Where Herschells 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 South Speyside and the Cabrach, IZ16, East Riding of Yorkshire, Wyre and Montrose South. 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 South Speyside and the Cabrach Moray
2 IZ16 East Lothian
3 East Riding of Yorkshire 027 East Riding of Yorkshire
4 Wyre 012 Wyre
5 Montrose South Angus

Forenames

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First names often paired with Herschell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Herschell

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Routine Occupations or Retirement

Nationally, the Herschell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Routine Occupations or Retirement, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Herschell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are characterised by high proportions of single, often never-married adults of normal retirement age or older, including many that are in the most advanced age groups. Most adults are UK born and live at high residential densities, and many of the children living with parents are in adulthood. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are uncommon, but above average proportions of households include individuals that identify with different ethnic groups. Long-term disability is relatively common, and the dominant accommodation type is flats. Unemployment rates are high, with most of those employed working in routine occupations. Few individuals have high level qualifications. Car ownership is not high.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Herschell 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

Herschell is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Herschell falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Herschell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Herschell

The surname HERSCHELL originates from German and Jewish roots, with its earliest known records dating back to the 17th century. It is believed to be a variant spelling of the German surname Hirsch, which means "deer" or "stag" in English. This name may have been initially adopted as a descriptive surname for someone who lived near a forest or exhibited deer-like characteristics.

One of the earliest known bearers of the HERSCHELL surname was Johann Herschell, a German-born astronomer who lived from 1792 to 1871. He made significant contributions to the field of astronomy, including the discovery of several celestial objects and the development of improved telescopes.

Another notable figure was Sir John Herschell, an English mathematician, astronomer, and chemist who lived from 1792 to 1871. He was the son of William Herschell, the famous astronomer who discovered the planet Uranus. Sir John Herschell made numerous scientific contributions, including pioneering work in photography and the study of celestial bodies.

In the 18th century, the HERSCHELL surname appeared in various records and manuscripts across Germany and parts of Central Europe. Some examples include the birth records of Johann Herschell in Hanover, Germany, in 1732, and the marriage record of Anna Herschell in Prague, Czech Republic, in 1765.

The name HERSCHELL has also been associated with several place names and older spellings. For instance, the town of Herschell in Saskatchewan, Canada, was named after Lord Herschell, a British lawyer and politician who lived from 1837 to 1899. Additionally, the older spelling "Herschel" was often used in historical records, referring to the same surname.

Other notable individuals with the HERSCHELL surname include:

1. William Herschell (1738-1822), a German-born British astronomer who discovered the planet Uranus and identified several moons of Saturn and Uranus. 2. Caroline Herschell (1750-1848), a German-born British astronomer and the sister of William Herschell, known for her contributions to cataloging celestial objects. 3. John Herschell (1837-1921), an English chemist and academic who made significant contributions to the field of analytical chemistry. 4. Ridley Herschell (1853-1936), a British lawyer and judge who served as Lord Chancellor of Great Britain from 1905 to 1915. 5. Clemens Herschell (1842-1930), an Austrian physicist and inventor who made contributions to the field of optics and developed early versions of the kaleidoscope.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Herschell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Herschell 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. Angus leads with 45 Herschells recorded in 1881 and an index of 58.59x.

County Total Index
Angus 45 58.59x
Middlesex 17 2.05x
Cheshire 11 6.01x
Yorkshire 10 1.22x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.89x
Sussex 1 0.72x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dundee in Angus leads with 16 Herschells recorded in 1881 and an index of 55.81x.

Place Total Index
Dundee 16 55.81x
Oxton 11 1057.69x
Abroath St Vigeans 8 2500.00x
Arbirlot 7 3043.48x
Lythe 7 2121.21x
Montrose 6 129.03x
Kensington London 5 10.85x
St Vigeans 5 120.48x
Hammersmith London 3 14.69x
Holy Trinity 3 15.18x
St George Hanover Square 3 20.53x
Westminster St James 3 35.21x
Paddington London 2 6.56x
Arbroath 1 39.22x
Barry 1 108.70x
Brechin 1 33.11x
Brighton 1 3.55x
Nottingham St Mary 1 3.46x
St Clement Danes London 1 58.14x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 3
Agnes 1
Anne 1
Bertha 1
Charlotte 1
Constance 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Emilia 1
Esther 1
Ghetal 1
Gisela 1
Isabella 1
Jane 1
Johanna 1
Laura 1
Margaret 1
Marjery 1
Theodosia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Alexander 2
George 2
Adolph 1
Albert 1
Arnold 1
Auguste 1
Ernest 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Louis 1
Moritz 1
Richard 1
Ridley 1
Thomas 1
Walker 1
William 1

FAQ

Herschell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Herschell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 85 people were recorded with the Herschell surname. That placed it at #21,573 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Herschell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 158 in 2016. That gives Herschell a modern rank of #22,904.

What does the Herschell surname mean?

A surname derived from the German place name Hirschfeld, meaning "deer field".

What does the Herschell map show?

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