NameCensus.

UK surname

Ketchell

A variant spelling of the surname Ketchell or Ketchill, likely denoting one who worked dyeing fabrics.

In the 1881 census there were 58 people recorded with the Ketchell surname, ranking it #25,428 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 124, ranked #26,975, down from #25,428 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Godalming, Binsted and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wakefield, South Lakeland and Craven.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ketchell is 157 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 113.8%.

1881 census count

58

Ranked #25,428

Modern count

124

2016, ranked #26,975

Peak year

1911

157 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ketchell had 58 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #25,428 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 124 in 2016, ranked #26,975.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 157 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Ketchell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ketchell surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ketchell 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 2 #33,133
1861 historical 26 #30,677
1881 historical 58 #25,428
1891 historical 97 #24,447
1901 historical 145 #18,426
1911 historical 157 #17,348
1997 modern 118 #24,423
1998 modern 118 #25,041
1999 modern 115 #25,620
2000 modern 114 #25,717
2001 modern 110 #25,900
2002 modern 117 #25,494
2003 modern 117 #25,282
2004 modern 119 #25,200
2005 modern 110 #26,430
2006 modern 109 #26,872
2007 modern 116 #26,209
2008 modern 118 #26,212
2009 modern 121 #26,373
2010 modern 113 #28,162
2011 modern 110 #28,478
2012 modern 112 #28,174
2013 modern 116 #27,992
2014 modern 115 #28,439
2015 modern 118 #27,833
2016 modern 124 #26,975

Geography

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Where Ketchells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Godalming, Binsted, London parishes, Isleworth and Lewes St John-under-the-Castle. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wakefield, South Lakeland, Craven and Shepway. 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 Godalming Surrey
2 Binsted Sussex
3 London parishes London 1
4 Isleworth Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
5 Lewes St John-under-the-Castle Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wakefield 015 Wakefield
2 South Lakeland 008 South Lakeland
3 Craven 003 Craven
4 Shepway 001 Shepway
5 Wakefield 023 Wakefield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ketchell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ketchell

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Ketchell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Ketchell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Ketchell is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Ketchell is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ketchell falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Ketchell

The surname Ketchell is of English origin, and it is believed to have originated in the county of Gloucestershire in the 14th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English word "cycc," which means "a small hill" or "a ridge," combined with the suffix "-hall," meaning a dwelling or a house.

The earliest recorded mention of the surname Ketchell can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Gloucestershire, dating back to 1327. These records list a John Kechell as a taxpayer in the village of Cheltenham. It is likely that the name was initially associated with a particular location or landmark in the area.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name appeared in various spellings, such as Kechell, Ketchill, and Ketchill, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and record-keeping practices of the time. One notable bearer of the name was William Ketchell, a merchant from Bristol who lived in the late 16th century.

In the 18th century, the Ketchell family had established a presence in the neighboring county of Somerset. Records from this period show several individuals with the surname, including Thomas Ketchell, a farmer born in 1712, and his son, John Ketchell, who was born in 1745.

One of the most notable figures associated with the Ketchell surname was Sir Henry Ketchell (1789-1871), a British diplomat and colonial administrator. He served as the Governor of British Guiana (now Guyana) from 1847 to 1853 and played a significant role in the development of the colony.

Another individual of note was Edward Ketchell (1810-1892), an English architect who designed several prominent buildings in Bristol, including the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery. His works were influential in shaping the architectural landscape of the city in the 19th century.

The Ketchell surname has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Ketchell Farm in Gloucestershire and Ketchell's Green in Buckinghamshire. These locations likely derived their names from former residents or landowners bearing the Ketchell surname.

Throughout its history, the Ketchell surname has maintained a strong presence in various regions of England, with notable bearers contributing to various fields, including commerce, diplomacy, and architecture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ketchell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ketchell 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. Surrey leads with 23 Ketchells recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.35x.

County Total Index
Surrey 23 8.35x
Sussex 19 19.92x
Lancashire 7 1.04x
Yorkshire 6 1.07x
Hampshire 3 2.59x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Godalming in Surrey leads with 19 Ketchells recorded in 1881 and an index of 1098.27x.

Place Total Index
Godalming 19 1098.27x
Binsted 7 23333.33x
Clayton Le Woods 7 11666.67x
Felpham 7 6363.64x
Ackworth 6 1395.35x
Chithurst 4 6666.67x
Bramshott 3 1034.48x
Croydon 3 19.61x
Camberwell 1 2.77x
Lewes St John Southover 1 156.25x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

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 Ketchell households.

FAQ

Ketchell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ketchell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 58 people were recorded with the Ketchell surname. That placed it at #25,428 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ketchell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 124 in 2016. That gives Ketchell a modern rank of #26,975.

What does the Ketchell surname mean?

A variant spelling of the surname Ketchell or Ketchill, likely denoting one who worked dyeing fabrics.

What does the Ketchell map show?

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