NameCensus.

UK surname

Kell

A topographic surname for someone who lived near a spring or well, derived from Old English "keld".

In the 1881 census there were 1,214 people recorded with the Kell surname, ranking it #3,329 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,500, ranked #4,123, down from #3,329 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham and Harrogate.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kell is 1,620 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 23.6%.

1881 census count

1,214

Ranked #3,329

Modern count

1,500

2016, ranked #4,123

Peak year

1999

1,620 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kell had 1,214 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,329 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,500 in 2016, ranked #4,123.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,546 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Kell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kell 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 785 #3,397
1861 historical 827 #3,335
1881 historical 1,214 #3,329
1891 historical 1,278 #3,385
1901 historical 1,407 #3,588
1911 historical 1,546 #3,134
1997 modern 1,551 #3,803
1998 modern 1,613 #3,815
1999 modern 1,620 #3,824
2000 modern 1,608 #3,836
2001 modern 1,581 #3,818
2002 modern 1,562 #3,943
2003 modern 1,503 #3,992
2004 modern 1,448 #4,114
2005 modern 1,442 #4,090
2006 modern 1,434 #4,118
2007 modern 1,450 #4,112
2008 modern 1,458 #4,115
2009 modern 1,531 #4,041
2010 modern 1,538 #4,111
2011 modern 1,526 #4,093
2012 modern 1,507 #4,066
2013 modern 1,538 #4,059
2014 modern 1,549 #4,053
2015 modern 1,536 #4,041
2016 modern 1,500 #4,123

Geography

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Where Kells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes, Gateshead, Auckland St Andrew and Jarrow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 London parishes London 3
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Auckland St Andrew Durham
5 Jarrow Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 027 County Durham
2 County Durham 040 County Durham
3 County Durham 051 County Durham
4 County Durham 059 County Durham
5 Harrogate 019 Harrogate

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kell

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Kell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Kell 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 house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Kell 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

Kell 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

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

Meaning and origin of Kell

The surname Kell is thought to have originated in England and dates back to the late 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "col" or "col-le", meaning a charcoal-burner or someone who worked with charcoal or coal. The name may have also been derived from a Middle English word "kell", meaning a kiln or oven used for drying hops or malt in the process of brewing beer.

The earliest recorded examples of the surname Kell can be found in various county records and tax rolls from the 13th and 14th centuries. In 1273, a Robert Kell was listed in the Huntingdonshire Hundred Rolls, while a John Kelle was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Sir John Kell (c. 1315-1381), a nobleman and landowner from Northamptonshire. He served as a Member of Parliament for the county in 1349 and held several influential positions during the reign of Edward III.

In the 16th century, the surname Kell was also associated with various place names in England, such as Kellbrook in Derbyshire and Kelle's Green in Hertfordshire. These place names may have originated from individuals bearing the Kell surname who once lived or owned land in those areas.

Another notable figure was Richard Kell (1587-1639), an English clergyman and author who served as the Dean of Peterborough Cathedral. He published several works on religious subjects and was a prominent figure in the Church of England during the reign of Charles I.

During the 17th century, the Kell surname was found in various parts of England, with records showing individuals bearing the name in counties such as Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Wiltshire. One example is Thomas Kell (1628-1708), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Yorkshire, who served as the Mayor of Hull in 1678.

In the 18th century, the name Kell was also present in Scotland, with records showing individuals bearing the surname in areas such as Aberdeenshire and Inverness-shire. One notable figure from this period was John Kell (1740-1821), a Scottish physician and botanist who made significant contributions to the study of plant life in Scotland.

Throughout history, the surname Kell has been associated with various professions and backgrounds, from noblemen and landowners to clergymen, merchants, and academics. While the name may have originated from humble beginnings related to charcoal-burning or brewing, it has since become a part of the rich tapestry of English and Scottish genealogy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kell 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. Durham leads with 479 Kells recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.78x.

County Total Index
Durham 479 13.78x
Yorkshire 178 1.54x
Middlesex 111 0.95x
Northumberland 91 5.23x
Surrey 64 1.12x
Suffolk 34 2.39x
Lancashire 30 0.22x
Kent 28 0.70x
Lincolnshire 23 1.23x
Cheshire 17 0.66x
Lanarkshire 14 0.37x
Essex 11 0.48x
Nottinghamshire 10 0.63x
Buteshire 9 12.71x
Cardiganshire 9 3.16x
Norfolk 9 0.50x
Sussex 9 0.46x
Gloucestershire 7 0.31x
Leicestershire 7 0.54x
Somerset 7 0.37x
Aberdeenshire 5 0.46x
Herefordshire 5 1.04x
Renfrewshire 5 0.55x
Warwickshire 4 0.14x
Worcestershire 4 0.26x
Angus 3 0.28x
Cumberland 3 0.30x
Dunbartonshire 3 0.96x
Hampshire 3 0.13x
Selkirkshire 3 2.84x
Staffordshire 3 0.08x
Argyllshire 2 0.61x
Perthshire 2 0.38x
Wiltshire 2 0.19x
Bedfordshire 1 0.17x
Isle of Man 1 0.46x
Monmouthshire 1 0.12x
Royal Navy 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. Middlestone in Durham leads with 41 Kells recorded in 1881 and an index of 588.24x.

Place Total Index
Middlestone 41 588.24x
Chester Le Street 33 123.60x
Ferryhill 30 246.91x
Gateshead 30 11.52x
Westoe 30 15.22x
Byers Green 27 275.23x
Camberwell 19 2.55x
Sherburn 19 179.58x
Bishop Auckland 18 38.59x
Woolwich 18 12.22x
Chilton 17 156.68x
Bishopwearmouth 16 5.36x
Islington London 16 1.41x
Wingate 16 67.14x
Bermondsey 14 4.02x
St Pancras London 14 1.49x
Holme On Spalding Moor 13 171.28x
Woodbridge 13 71.43x
Tynemouth 12 12.89x
Chelsea London 11 3.12x
Framwellgate 11 53.40x
Leeds 11 1.68x
Birtley 10 70.47x
Cramlington 10 43.52x
Great Bolton 10 5.44x
Richmond 10 55.28x
St Marylebone London 10 1.60x
Twickenham 10 19.96x
Cockerton 9 80.72x
Healeyfield 9 620.69x
Kirkwhelpington 9 989.01x
Market Weighton Arras 9 119.68x
Rothesay 9 26.25x
Troedyraur 9 269.46x
Ufford 9 407.24x
Allendale 8 49.63x
Auckland St Andrew 8 87.15x
Barony 8 0.84x
Birkenhead 8 3.89x
Brompton On Swale 8 555.56x
Cornforth 8 78.13x
Cowpen 8 19.98x
Esh 8 31.62x
Hetton Le Hole 8 18.16x
Holmside 8 93.35x
Kingston On Thames 8 5.85x
Scarborough 8 7.60x
St Anne Soho London 8 11.99x
Winterton 8 124.61x
Darlington 7 5.21x
Elvet 7 27.89x
Hampstead London 7 3.85x
Haswell 7 28.09x
Heworth 7 10.22x
Leicester St Margaret 7 2.22x
Longbenton 7 9.50x
Sunderland 7 11.40x
Upleatham 7 357.14x
Westgate 7 6.50x
Bedminster 6 3.39x
Beverley St Martin 6 31.04x
Brandon Byshottles 6 13.77x
Crook Billy Row 6 13.48x
Danby Wiske 6 521.74x
Esholt 6 387.10x
Govan 6 0.64x
Ipswich St Peter 6 31.32x
Newcastle On Tyne St 6 6.66x
Newfield 6 130.15x
Newington 6 1.39x
Rawmarsh 6 14.67x
Redmarshall Carlton 6 495.87x
Southcoates 6 9.33x
St Luke London 6 3.20x
Stockton On Tees 6 3.58x
Sutton Stoneferry 6 18.11x
Tunstall 6 34.66x
Aberdeen Old Machar 5 2.21x
Moorsley 5 134.05x
Warburton 5 294.12x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 66
Elizabeth 63
Jane 44
Margaret 35
Ann 21
Alice 19
Sarah 19
Emma 17
Annie 14
Isabella 12
Eliza 11
Emily 11
Florence 11
Hannah 11
Ellen 9
Maria 8
Catherine 7
Edith 7
Frances 7
Susan 7
Eleanor 5
Harriett 5
Laura 5
Barbara 4
Charlotte 4
Dorothy 4
Esther 4
Honor 4
Jessie 4
Kate 4
Lavinia 4
Margt. 4
Martha 4
Anne 3
Augusta 3
Georgina 3
Lucy 3
Rachel 3
Rose 3
Susannah 3
Agnes 2
Agness 2
Betsy 2
Catharine 2
Clara 2
Elisabeth 2
Elizth. 2
Johanna 2
Lily 2
Marian 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 78
John 68
Robert 45
George 43
Thomas 42
James 27
Joseph 22
Matthew 17
Charles 13
Ralph 13
Samuel 12
Henry 11
Edward 9
Walter 8
Anthony 7
Frederick 7
Alfred 6
Isaac 6
Richard 6
Wm. 6
Alexander 5
Arthur 5
Chas. 5
Ernest 5
Albert 4
Benjamin 4
Herbert 4
Jasper 4
David 3
Francis 3
Frank 3
Geo. 3
Robt. 3
Alderman 2
Andrew 2
Christopher 2
Edwin 2
Fredk 2
Geo.Arthur 2
Hall 2
Harry 2
Lancelot 2
Mark 2
Michael 2
Miles 2
Septimus 2
Sidney 2
Tom 2
Fredk. 1
Joshua 1

FAQ

Kell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,214 people were recorded with the Kell surname. That placed it at #3,329 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,500 in 2016. That gives Kell a modern rank of #4,123.

What does the Kell surname mean?

A topographic surname for someone who lived near a spring or well, derived from Old English "keld".

What does the Kell map show?

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