NameCensus.

UK surname

Kassell

An occupational surname deriving from the German word for 'cashier'.

In the 1881 census there were 43 people recorded with the Kassell surname, ranking it #27,575 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 84, ranked #32,726, down from #27,575 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Elmbridge and Rhins North.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kassell is 113 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 95.3%.

1881 census count

43

Ranked #27,575

Modern count

84

2016, ranked #32,726

Peak year

1999

113 bearers

Map years

1

1998 to 1998

Key insights

  • Kassell had 43 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #27,575 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 84 in 2016, ranked #32,726.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 77 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Kassell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kassell surname density by area, 1998 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kassell 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 48 #27,896
1881 historical 43 #27,575
1891 historical 35 #31,540
1901 historical 57 #27,846
1911 historical 77 #25,106
1997 modern 103 #26,498
1998 modern 111 #25,990
1999 modern 113 #25,913
2000 modern 105 #27,001
2001 modern 108 #26,184
2002 modern 106 #26,985
2003 modern 101 #27,561
2004 modern 97 #28,455
2005 modern 84 #30,359
2006 modern 93 #29,411
2007 modern 90 #30,228
2008 modern 93 #30,123
2009 modern 93 #30,682
2010 modern 89 #31,745
2011 modern 84 #32,237
2012 modern 81 #32,796
2013 modern 84 #32,745
2014 modern 81 #33,061
2015 modern 82 #32,911
2016 modern 84 #32,726

Geography

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Where Kassells 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 County Durham, Elmbridge, Rhins North, Barrow-in-Furness and Brent. 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 County Durham 024 County Durham
2 Elmbridge 012 Elmbridge
3 Rhins North Dumfries and Galloway
4 Barrow-in-Furness 003 Barrow-in-Furness
5 Brent 030 Brent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kassell

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kassell

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Kassell 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

Kassell is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Kassell

The surname Kassell traces its origins to Germany, specifically to the Hesse region where the city of Kassel is located. The name is believed to be an example of a toponymic surname, derived from the name of a place. Kassel, the city, has a rich history dating back to at least the 10th century when it was known as Chassalla.

The place name itself may come from the old Germanic word "kastel," which means "fortification" or "castle," indicating that the area may have been important for its defensive structure. As such, individuals who were from or had connections to this city might have adopted Kassell as a surname to denote their origin.

An early historical reference to the Kassell surname can be found in manuscripts from the medieval period. One of the earliest recorded instances is from the 14th century when an individual named Heinrich Kassell appeared in land records in Hesse. This confirms the name's geographic link to the region.

Another notable mention is that of Johann Kassell, a 16th-century figure involved in the religio-political movements in the Holy Roman Empire. Born in 1520 and passing away in 1585, Johann Kassell's name appears in various religious texts and correspondences of the time, indicating the spread and establishment of the surname across regions.

In England, the Kassell surname appears in records from the 17th century, suggesting migration or travel. A prominent example is Thomas Kassell, born in 1653, who worked in the trade industry in London. This shows the name was established well beyond its German origin by this time.

Moving to the realm of academia, Wilhelm Kassell, a notable scholar from the 18th century, greatly contributed to the fields of linguistics and etymology in Germany. His works, published from 1760 to 1795, remain referenced in historical studies of the German language.

There is also Karl Kassell, a renowned composer from the early 19th century, who played a significant role in the development of classical music in the region. Born in 1802 and deceased in 1868, his compositions are still performed today, showcasing the cultural impact of individuals bearing this surname.

The Kassell surname has thus been borne by various notable individuals over centuries, reflecting a rich and diverse history rooted in the Hesse region of Germany, extending its influence across Europe and into England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kassell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kassell 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. Yorkshire leads with 39 Kassells recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.39x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 39 9.39x
Durham 1 0.80x
Lancashire 1 0.20x
Middlesex 1 0.24x
Worcestershire 1 1.83x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Castleford in Yorkshire leads with 15 Kassells recorded in 1881 and an index of 993.38x.

Place Total Index
Castleford 15 993.38x
Hook 13 1428.57x
Sandal Magna 7 1147.54x
Holy Trinity 2 20.02x
Beverley St Martin 1 144.93x
Cawood 1 625.00x
Everton 1 6.31x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 1 18.52x
Westminster St James 1 23.20x
Yardley 1 71.43x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 5
Mary 2
Ada 1
Alice 1
Annie 1
Beatrice 1
Ella 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Ethell 1
Jane 1
Laura 1
Lena 1
Lilliam 1
Mabel 1
Mildred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 3
Henry 2
Samuel 2
Thos. 2
Tom 2
William 2
Albert 1
Benjamin 1
Fred 1
Havell 1
James 1
Joe 1
Lewin 1
Mark 1
Willie 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Kassell households.

FAQ

Kassell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kassell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 43 people were recorded with the Kassell surname. That placed it at #27,575 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kassell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 84 in 2016. That gives Kassell a modern rank of #32,726.

What does the Kassell surname mean?

An occupational surname deriving from the German word for 'cashier'.

What does the Kassell map show?

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