NameCensus.

UK surname

Knell

An English surname derived from the Old English word "cnyll" meaning a loud ringing sound or bell.

In the 1881 census there were 456 people recorded with the Knell surname, ranking it #7,255 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 636, ranked #8,321, down from #7,255 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Mildred, Old Castle Precincts, London parishes and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Great Yarmouth, Eden and West Dorset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Knell is 743 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 39.5%.

1881 census count

456

Ranked #7,255

Modern count

636

2016, ranked #8,321

Peak year

1999

743 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Knell had 456 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,255 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 636 in 2016, ranked #8,321.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 628 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Knell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Knell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Knell 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 278 #8,089
1861 historical 291 #8,653
1881 historical 456 #7,255
1891 historical 466 #7,861
1901 historical 550 #7,533
1911 historical 628 #6,604
1997 modern 732 #6,993
1998 modern 732 #7,236
1999 modern 743 #7,198
2000 modern 729 #7,270
2001 modern 706 #7,324
2002 modern 713 #7,404
2003 modern 680 #7,568
2004 modern 700 #7,400
2005 modern 665 #7,652
2006 modern 666 #7,659
2007 modern 666 #7,727
2008 modern 670 #7,731
2009 modern 697 #7,662
2010 modern 709 #7,710
2011 modern 702 #7,684
2012 modern 682 #7,772
2013 modern 668 #8,031
2014 modern 660 #8,149
2015 modern 644 #8,260
2016 modern 636 #8,321

Geography

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Where Knells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Mildred, Old Castle Precincts, London parishes, Lambeth, Maidstone, Linton, Loddington and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Great Yarmouth, Eden, West Dorset and Basildon. 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 St Mildred, Old Castle Precincts Kent
2 London parishes London 3
3 Lambeth London (South Districts)
4 Maidstone, Linton, Loddington Kent
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Great Yarmouth 004 Great Yarmouth
2 Eden 006 Eden
3 Great Yarmouth 006 Great Yarmouth
4 West Dorset 007 West Dorset
5 Basildon 010 Basildon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Knell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Knell

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Knell is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Knell 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

Knell 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 Knell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Knell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Knell

The surname Knell is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the late medieval period. It is thought to have derived from the Old English word "cnyll," meaning a knell or a bell sound, often associated with the ringing of church bells.

This surname likely originated among families who lived near churches or monasteries, or perhaps even among bell-ringers themselves. The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in various historical documents from the 13th and 14th centuries, such as parish records and tax rolls.

One notable mention of the name Knell can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which lists a certain John Knell among the taxpayers. Similarly, the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1279 record a Simon Knell, indicating the presence of the name in different regions of England during that time.

The Knell surname has also been associated with various place names, particularly those containing the word "knoll," which could be a variation of the original Old English root. Examples include Knoll Hill in Warwickshire and Knoll Farm in Gloucestershire, both of which may have contributed to the development of the surname in their respective areas.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals bearing the Knell surname. One such figure was Richard Knell, a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol during the late 16th century (c. 1540-1610). Another was John Knell, an English clergyman and author who lived from 1658 to 1696 and published several religious works.

In the realm of literature, the name Knell is remembered through the works of the 18th-century English poet and satirist Samuel Knell (1698-1768), whose biting verse often targeted the social and political issues of his time. Another literary figure was William Knell (1801-1875), a British author and editor known for his works on English literature and history.

Finally, one cannot overlook the contribution of Sir John Knell (1856-1938), a distinguished British civil engineer who played a significant role in the construction of several major railways and infrastructure projects during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Knell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Knell 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. Kent leads with 221 Knells recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.56x.

County Total Index
Kent 221 14.56x
Middlesex 76 1.71x
Surrey 62 2.86x
Hampshire 20 2.19x
Dorset 15 5.14x
Devon 11 1.19x
Essex 11 1.25x
Sussex 8 1.07x
Gloucestershire 7 0.80x
Suffolk 5 0.92x
Cheshire 3 0.31x
Lancashire 3 0.06x
Yorkshire 3 0.07x
Hertfordshire 2 0.65x
Shropshire 2 0.52x
Herefordshire 1 0.55x
Leicestershire 1 0.20x
Northamptonshire 1 0.24x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.71x
Somerset 1 0.14x
Staffordshire 1 0.07x
Warwickshire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Maidstone in Kent leads with 31 Knells recorded in 1881 and an index of 68.57x.

Place Total Index
Maidstone 31 68.57x
Lambeth 21 5.41x
Camberwell 18 6.34x
Canterbury St Mildred 17 472.22x
Faversham 16 110.57x
Plumstead 16 31.63x
Broomfield 15 6250.00x
Bethnal Green London 14 7.25x
Beckenham 12 60.48x
Birling 12 888.89x
Barnstaple 11 75.71x
Islington London 11 2.55x
Capel 10 1176.47x
Preston Next Faversham 10 280.11x
St Pancras London 10 2.79x
Leeds 8 720.72x
St George Hanover Square 8 10.21x
Monkton 7 1228.07x
Penge 7 24.64x
Walthamstow 7 22.15x
Wateringbury 7 353.54x
Canterbury St Paul 6 220.59x
Newport 6 121.21x
Oare 6 779.22x
Paddington London 6 3.67x
Snodland 6 139.53x
Thornham 6 606.06x
Cattistock 5 617.28x
Newington 5 3.04x
South Mimms 5 81.97x
St Luke London 5 7.01x
Tottenham 5 7.06x
Bristol St James St Paul 4 13.75x
Farnborough 4 41.75x
Frindsbury 4 69.93x
Ringshall 4 800.00x
Rottingdean 4 156.25x
St George Martyr London 4 44.40x
West Ham 4 2.06x
Weymouth 4 72.33x
Barrow In Furness 3 4.18x
Brightside Bierlow 3 3.47x
Bristol St James In 3 23.38x
Christchurch 3 15.17x
Folkestone 3 10.19x
Fordington 3 47.69x
Guildford Holy Trinity 3 72.64x
Maresfield 3 94.94x
Portsea 3 1.68x
Ramsgate 3 12.11x
Rotherhithe 3 5.46x
Stayley 3 26.74x
Tonbridge 3 5.48x
Canterbury All Sts 2 363.64x
Cerne Abbas 2 141.84x
Chatham 2 4.79x
Hammersmith London 2 1.83x
Holdenhurst 2 8.36x
Luddenham 2 555.56x
Minster In Thanet 2 63.29x
Northfleet 2 14.96x
Shrewsbury St Julian 2 21.03x
Southwark St George Martyr 2 2.23x
St Anne Soho London 2 7.87x
Westminster St James 2 4.37x
Ashford 1 6.77x
Barming 1 96.15x
Brighton 1 0.66x
Christ Church Newgate 1 48.31x
Cliffe 1 29.24x
Croydon 1 0.83x
Great Hadham 1 50.51x
Kensington London 1 0.40x
Milton In Gravesend 1 4.39x
Northwood 1 7.70x
Walcot 1 2.62x
Waltham 1 129.87x
Warwick St Mary 1 10.27x
Weybridge 1 21.51x
Woking 1 7.66x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 20
Elizabeth 18
Alice 10
Emily 10
Eliza 9
Sarah 8
Annie 6
Ellen 6
Jane 6
Louisa 6
Susan 6
Ada 5
Agnes 5
Charlotte 5
Harriet 5
Ann 4
Caroline 4
Clara 4
Emma 4
Esther 4
Harriett 4
Kate 4
Laura 4
Rose 4
Amy 3
Florence 3
Maria 3
Amelia 2
Anne 2
Edith 2
Eleanor 2
Fanny 2
Lucy 2
Martha 2
Matilda 2
Adriana 1
Allice 1
Beatrice 1
Carrie 1
Eli. 1
Elizh. 1
Elizth. 1
Ella 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Hannh. 1
Janet 1
Jeannette 1
Julia 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 25
George 18
John 17
Henry 16
Edward 15
Charles 14
Alfred 13
Frederick 10
Albert 8
James 8
Thomas 8
Walter 7
Arthur 6
Edwin 4
Abraham 3
Harry 3
Jacob 3
Percy 3
Robert 3
Stephen 3
Adolphus 2
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Herbert 2
Laurence 2
Richard 2
Samuel 2
T. 2
Aaron 1
Amos 1
Earnest 1
Edgar 1
Edwd.G. 1
Enoch 1
Franklin 1
Frederck 1
Fredick 1
Fredk.W. 1
Fredrick 1
Harold 1
Heber 1
Hugh 1
J. 1
Joseph 1
Kennard 1
Kenward 1
Matthew 1
Uriah 1
W. 1
W.P. 1

FAQ

Knell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Knell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 456 people were recorded with the Knell surname. That placed it at #7,255 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Knell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 636 in 2016. That gives Knell a modern rank of #8,321.

What does the Knell surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Old English word "cnyll" meaning a loud ringing sound or bell.

What does the Knell map show?

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