NameCensus.

UK surname

Kettell

An English surname derived from the Old English "cytel" meaning kettle maker or kettle seller.

In the 1881 census there were 60 people recorded with the Kettell surname, ranking it #25,133 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 277, ranked #15,619, up from #25,133 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stonesby, Bescaby, London parishes and Sandbach. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Coventry, Isle of Wight and Melton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kettell is 299 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 361.7%.

1881 census count

60

Ranked #25,133

Modern count

277

2016, ranked #15,619

Peak year

1999

299 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kettell had 60 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #25,133 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 277 in 2016, ranked #15,619.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 229 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Kettell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kettell surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kettell 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 45 #25,168
1861 historical 36 #29,463
1881 historical 60 #25,133
1891 historical 109 #22,701
1901 historical 176 #16,401
1911 historical 229 #13,712
1997 modern 274 #14,374
1998 modern 288 #14,249
1999 modern 299 #14,000
2000 modern 291 #14,200
2001 modern 276 #14,507
2002 modern 279 #14,693
2003 modern 272 #14,746
2004 modern 279 #14,578
2005 modern 277 #14,542
2006 modern 262 #15,255
2007 modern 266 #15,261
2008 modern 274 #15,063
2009 modern 285 #14,944
2010 modern 295 #14,911
2011 modern 286 #15,091
2012 modern 281 #15,198
2013 modern 280 #15,530
2014 modern 280 #15,621
2015 modern 279 #15,527
2016 modern 277 #15,619

Geography

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Where Kettells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stonesby, Bescaby, London parishes, Sandbach, Gillmorton and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Coventry, Isle of Wight, Melton, North Norfolk and Harborough. 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 Stonesby, Bescaby Leicestershire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Sandbach Cheshire
4 Gillmorton Leicestershire
5 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Coventry 001 Coventry
2 Isle of Wight 018 Isle of Wight
3 Melton 004 Melton
4 North Norfolk 011 North Norfolk
5 Harborough 006 Harborough

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kettell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kettell

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Kettell 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

Kettell 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

Kettell falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Kettell

The surname Kettell originates from England, where it first appeared around the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "cytel" or "cydel," which meant "a small vessel or container." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who made or sold such items.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it is spelled "Ketel." This document contains records of landowners and their holdings in various counties of England.

In the 14th century, the surname appeared in various forms, such as "Ketyll," "Ketell," and "Kettle," reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation common during that time.

The Kettell name has been documented in several historical records, including the Subsidy Rolls of 1327, where a John Ketel is listed as a resident of Cambridgeshire. Additionally, the Poll Tax Returns of 1379 mention a Richard Ketyll from Yorkshire.

One notable individual with this surname was William Kettell, born in 1508 in Shropshire, England. He was a prominent merchant and landowner during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

In the 17th century, the Kettell family spread to various parts of England, with some members settling in the county of Hertfordshire. Records from this period include Thomas Kettell, born in 1612, who was a successful farmer and landowner.

Another significant figure was John Kettell, born in 1670 in Berkshire. He was a scholar and author who wrote several books on theology and philosophy.

Moving forward to the 18th century, we find Robert Kettell, born in 1712 in Northamptonshire. He was a prominent lawyer and served as a magistrate in his local community.

In the 19th century, the Kettell name gained recognition with the birth of Samuel Kettell in 1800 in Lincolnshire. He was a renowned architect and designed several notable buildings in London.

These are just a few examples of individuals who carried the Kettell surname throughout history, demonstrating its longevity and significance in various regions of England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kettell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kettell 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. Buckinghamshire leads with 15 Kettells recorded in 1881 and an index of 42.40x.

County Total Index
Buckinghamshire 15 42.40x
Cheshire 14 10.84x
Glamorgan 8 7.85x
Devon 6 4.93x
Yorkshire 6 1.03x
Lancashire 5 0.72x
Middlesex 2 0.34x
Surrey 2 0.70x
Berkshire 1 2.28x
Kent 1 0.50x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Langley Marish in Buckinghamshire leads with 9 Kettells recorded in 1881 and an index of 2093.02x.

Place Total Index
Langley Marish 9 2093.02x
Warmingham 8 13333.33x
Ystradyfodwg 8 89.49x
Rotherham 6 183.49x
Wooburn 6 1224.49x
Exeter St Thomas The 5 403.23x
Manchester 5 16.01x
Moston In Congleton 3 7500.00x
Church Coppenhall 2 344.83x
Lambeth 2 3.92x
Bray 1 77.52x
East Malling 1 208.33x
Exeter St Mary Major 1 136.99x
Sandbach 1 90.91x
St George Hanover Square 1 9.70x
Westminster St Margaret 1 35.46x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 5
Alice 2
Ann 2
Elizabeth 2
Jane 2
Ada 1
Annie 1
Dacus 1
Eliza 1
Elizebeth 1
Elizth. 1
Elizth.Alice 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
Gertrude 1
Lillia 1
Lillian 1
Mahalath 1
Margaret 1
Rose 1
Sarah 1
Selina 1
Sylvia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 4
Joseph 4
John 3
Arthur 2
Kester 2
Ralph 2
Samuel 2
Alfred 1
Arron 1
Edgar 1
Henry 1
Oswald 1
Thomas 1
Walter 1
William 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 Kettell households.

FAQ

Kettell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kettell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 60 people were recorded with the Kettell surname. That placed it at #25,133 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kettell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 277 in 2016. That gives Kettell a modern rank of #15,619.

What does the Kettell surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Old English "cytel" meaning kettle maker or kettle seller.

What does the Kettell map show?

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