NameCensus.

UK surname

Horsell

In the 1881 census there were 193 people recorded with the Horsell surname, ranking it #13,144 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 149, ranked #23,844, down from #13,144 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Swindon, Lyddington, Hillmarton, Highway and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bridgend, Wiltshire and Swindon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Horsell is 244 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 22.8%.

1881 census count

193

Ranked #13,144

Modern count

149

2016, ranked #23,844

Peak year

1891

244 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Horsell had 193 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,144 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 149 in 2016, ranked #23,844.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 244 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Horsell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Horsell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Horsell 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 127 #14,547
1861 historical 193 #12,371
1881 historical 193 #13,144
1891 historical 244 #12,983
1901 historical 213 #14,563
1911 historical 216 #14,240
1997 modern 158 #20,422
1998 modern 163 #20,582
1999 modern 156 #21,290
2000 modern 152 #21,603
2001 modern 151 #21,375
2002 modern 151 #21,809
2003 modern 149 #21,766
2004 modern 151 #21,720
2005 modern 154 #21,396
2006 modern 151 #21,818
2007 modern 152 #22,022
2008 modern 148 #22,627
2009 modern 152 #22,716
2010 modern 163 #22,205
2011 modern 158 #22,473
2012 modern 160 #22,260
2013 modern 153 #23,314
2014 modern 160 #22,824
2015 modern 156 #23,106
2016 modern 149 #23,844

Geography

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Where Horsells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Swindon, Lyddington, Hillmarton, Highway, Lambeth, Box, Ditteridge and Bathwick. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bridgend, Wiltshire, Swindon and Harrogate. 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 Swindon, Lyddington Wiltshire
2 Hillmarton, Highway Wiltshire
3 Lambeth London (South Districts)
4 Box, Ditteridge Wiltshire
5 Bathwick Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bridgend 008 Bridgend
2 Wiltshire 019 Wiltshire
3 Swindon 001 Swindon
4 Harrogate 007 Harrogate
5 Bridgend 010 Bridgend

Forenames

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First names often paired with Horsell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Horsell

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Horsell is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Horsell is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Horsell falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

1881 census detail

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Horsell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Horsell 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. Wiltshire leads with 105 Horsells recorded in 1881 and an index of 63.07x.

County Total Index
Wiltshire 105 63.07x
Somerset 24 7.92x
Surrey 18 1.96x
Middlesex 15 0.80x
Lancashire 7 0.31x
Warwickshire 7 1.47x
Essex 6 1.61x
Kent 4 0.62x
Glamorgan 3 0.92x
Hampshire 2 0.52x
Gloucestershire 1 0.27x
Sussex 1 0.32x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hillmarton in Wiltshire leads with 23 Horsells recorded in 1881 and an index of 5609.76x.

Place Total Index
Hillmarton 23 5609.76x
Lambeth 13 7.92x
Bathwick 11 328.36x
Box 11 774.65x
Wootton Bassett 11 758.62x
Brinkworth 9 1200.00x
Westport St Mary 9 743.80x
Walcot 8 49.57x
Leamington Priors 7 59.93x
Liddiard Tregooze 6 1395.35x
Swindon 6 46.48x
West Ham 6 7.31x
Bishops Cannings 5 806.45x
East Kennet 5 10000.00x
Shrewton 5 1136.36x
Walton On Thames 5 118.76x
Durrington 4 1600.00x
Hulme 4 8.58x
Paddington London 4 5.78x
Swainswick 4 975.61x
Deptford St Paul 3 6.06x
Padiham 3 55.56x
Pyle 3 500.00x
Urchfont 3 441.18x
Bethnal Green London 2 2.45x
Kensington London 2 1.91x
Shoreditch London 2 2.45x
Stoke Newington London 2 13.64x
Warminster 2 54.79x
Cliffe Pypard 1 200.00x
Clifton 1 5.36x
Congresbury 1 129.87x
Corsley 1 151.52x
Downton 1 45.87x
Hackney London 1 0.95x
Hampstead London 1 3.41x
Islington London 1 0.55x
Maidstone 1 5.23x
Melksham 1 34.60x
Over Wallop 1 285.71x
Rotherfield 1 35.84x
Southampton All Sts 1 15.11x
Stratton St Margaret 1 39.22x
Trowbridge 1 13.59x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 13
Sarah 8
Elizabeth 7
Ann 6
Alice 5
Ellen 4
Caroline 3
Edith 3
Jane 3
Kate 3
Maria 3
Annie 2
Charlotte 2
Eliza 2
Emily 2
Martha 2
Ada 1
Amelia 1
Anne 1
Arabella 1
Bertha 1
Bessie 1
Catherine 1
Constance 1
Elizth.M. 1
Emma 1
Esther 1
Ethelinda 1
Florence 1
Gertrude 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Helena 1
Julia 1
Lavinia 1
Lillian 1
Lissette 1
Lucy 1
Mabel 1
Matilda 1
May 1
Parris 1
Paulia 1
Rose 1
Susan 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 12
George 9
Henry 7
John 7
Charles 5
Thomas 5
Frederick 4
James 4
Albert 3
Edward 3
Jacob 3
Joseph 3
Abraham 2
Arthur 2
Harry 2
Howard 2
Nathan 2
Richard 2
Berte 1
Eli 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Frederic 1
Fredk.J. 1
Halfred 1
Hilda 1
Isaac 1
M. 1
Nathaniel 1
Percy 1
Reuben 1
Ruben 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Horsell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Horsell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 193 people were recorded with the Horsell surname. That placed it at #13,144 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Horsell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 149 in 2016. That gives Horsell a modern rank of #23,844.

What does the Horsell map show?

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