NameCensus.

UK surname

Lavell

A habitational surname derived from a location name, possibly meaning "from the valley".

In the 1881 census there were 337 people recorded with the Lavell surname, ranking it #8,981 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 248, ranked #16,910, down from #8,981 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to New Monkland, London parishes and Toxteth Park. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Isle of Wight, Telford and Wrekin and Leeds.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lavell is 352 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 26.4%.

1881 census count

337

Ranked #8,981

Modern count

248

2016, ranked #16,910

Peak year

1901

352 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lavell had 337 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,981 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 248 in 2016, ranked #16,910.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 352 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Lavell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lavell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lavell 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 260 #8,512
1861 historical 305 #8,321
1881 historical 337 #8,981
1891 historical 347 #9,894
1901 historical 352 #10,394
1911 historical 309 #11,203
1997 modern 260 #14,880
1998 modern 254 #15,508
1999 modern 258 #15,467
2000 modern 239 #16,239
2001 modern 234 #16,205
2002 modern 231 #16,677
2003 modern 216 #17,229
2004 modern 216 #17,331
2005 modern 215 #17,334
2006 modern 217 #17,349
2007 modern 227 #17,041
2008 modern 230 #17,033
2009 modern 245 #16,646
2010 modern 254 #16,604
2011 modern 228 #17,673
2012 modern 240 #16,979
2013 modern 241 #17,202
2014 modern 241 #17,338
2015 modern 238 #17,378
2016 modern 248 #16,910

Geography

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Where Lavells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around New Monkland, London parishes, Toxteth Park, Edinburgh and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Isle of Wight, Telford and Wrekin, Leeds, Mid Sussex and Worcester. 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 New Monkland Lanark
2 London parishes London 3
3 Toxteth Park Lancashire
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Isle of Wight 011 Isle of Wight
2 Telford and Wrekin 013 Telford and Wrekin
3 Leeds 039 Leeds
4 Mid Sussex 007 Mid Sussex
5 Worcester 005 Worcester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lavell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lavell

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Lavell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Lavell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Lavell is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Lavell is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Lavell falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Lavell

The surname Lavell has its origins in France and is derived from the Old French word "la val," meaning "the valley." This suggests that the name was originally given to someone who lived in a valley or near a valley.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 12th century in the region of Normandy, France. It is believed that the name was brought to England after the Norman Conquest in 1066, as many Norman families settled in various parts of the country.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Robert de La Val, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1195. The Pipe Rolls were a series of financial records maintained by the English Exchequer, making this an important historical reference for the name.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various spellings, such as de la Vale, de la Vail, and de la Vall, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling common during that time. The different spellings were often associated with specific locations or estates where the family resided.

A notable figure with the surname Lavell was Sir Thomas de la Vale, who lived in the 14th century and served as a knight during the Hundred Years' War between England and France. He fought alongside King Edward III and was known for his bravery on the battlefield.

Another prominent individual was John Lavell, who was born in 1520 in Oxfordshire, England. He was a renowned scholar and theologian, and he served as the rector of Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare.

In the 17th century, the name was also found in Scotland, where it was sometimes spelled as Lavelle or Lavell. One example is Robert Lavell, who was born in 1634 in Edinburgh and became a successful merchant and trader.

During the 18th century, the name Lavell was associated with the city of Bristol in England. One notable bearer was William Lavell, who was born in 1712 and became a prominent businessman and philanthropist in the city.

Lastly, in the 19th century, the name Lavell gained recognition in the United States, where it was often spelled as Lavelle or Lavell. One example is Michael Lavell, who was born in 1845 in New York City and became a renowned architect, known for designing several iconic buildings in the city.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lavell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lavell 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. Lancashire leads with 93 Lavells recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.37x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 93 2.37x
Surrey 45 2.79x
Yorkshire 35 1.07x
Durham 32 3.25x
Staffordshire 15 1.34x
Middlesex 14 0.42x
Berkshire 13 5.24x
Buckinghamshire 12 6.00x
Midlothian 8 1.81x
Suffolk 7 1.74x
Kent 6 0.53x
Lanarkshire 6 0.56x
Northumberland 6 1.22x
Oxfordshire 6 2.94x
Renfrewshire 6 2.34x
Dunbartonshire 5 5.63x
Worcestershire 5 1.16x
Devon 4 0.58x
Sussex 4 0.72x
Ayrshire 3 1.21x
Cheshire 3 0.41x
Warwickshire 3 0.36x
Royal Navy 2 5.08x
Argyllshire 1 1.09x
Hampshire 1 0.15x
Inverness-shire 1 1.01x
Northamptonshire 1 0.32x
Shropshire 1 0.35x
Stirlingshire 1 0.82x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 24 Lavells recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.07x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 24 10.07x
Lambeth 16 5.55x
Blackburn 12 11.49x
Battersea 10 8.22x
Brandon Byshottles 10 81.17x
Newington 10 8.19x
Toxteth Park 10 7.53x
Manchester 9 5.10x
Wolverhampton 9 10.49x
Brightside Bierlow 7 10.89x
Cornsay 7 264.15x
Great Bradley 7 1707.32x
Shipley 7 41.18x
Wycombe 7 46.98x
Carlton In Wharfedale 6 6000.00x
Lower Booths 6 85.35x
Penshaw 6 202.70x
Shiplake 6 857.14x
York St George 6 232.56x
Byker 5 20.56x
Chadderton 5 26.07x
Chorley 5 22.71x
Little Marlow 5 454.55x
Mearns 5 111.36x
St Pancras London 5 1.88x
Bonhill 4 28.05x
Bradford 4 5.04x
East Hagbourn 4 677.97x
Islington London 4 1.25x
Kidderminster Borough 4 15.83x
New Monkland 4 12.65x
Otley 4 50.25x
Over Darwen 4 12.76x
Wednesbury 4 14.34x
Bray 3 41.15x
Camberwell 3 1.42x
Chester Le Street 3 39.74x
Dartmouth St Savior 3 365.85x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 3 1.68x
Edinburgh Tron Church 3 144.23x
Egham 3 30.33x
Lewisham 3 4.99x
Oldham 3 2.37x
Preston 3 2.86x
St Marylebone London 3 1.70x
Tanfield 3 25.64x
Aston 2 0.87x
Auckinleck 2 26.11x
Bootle Cum Linacre 2 6.42x
Gateshead 2 2.72x
Greenwich 2 3.80x
Herstmonceaux 2 119.05x
Ifield 2 86.21x
Marton 2 76.63x
Ormskirk 2 26.63x
Reading St Mary 2 10.06x
Royal Navy 2 5.94x
South Leith 2 4.01x
Southwark St George Martyr 2 3.01x
West Derby 2 1.74x
Abingdon St Helen 1 13.77x
Addington 1 133.33x
Bilston 1 4.62x
Birkenhead 1 1.72x
Birmingham 1 0.36x
Burghfield 1 68.03x
Chatham 1 3.22x
Cholsey 1 51.02x
Dudley 1 1.90x
Dunoon Kilmun 1 13.93x
Fulwood 1 23.58x
Govan 1 0.38x
Newcastle Under Lyme 1 5.06x
Newport 1 28.99x
Northampton All Sts 1 9.48x
Pemberton 1 6.39x
Scarisbrick 1 21.98x
Stoke Damerel 1 2.08x
Stratfieldsaye 1 153.85x
West Greenock 1 2.17x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 31
Bridget 12
Sarah 11
Catherine 10
Ellen 10
Margaret 8
Annie 7
Ann 3
Eliza 3
Elizabeth 3
Martha 3
Amy 2
Dinah 2
Jane 2
Matilda 2
Minnie 2
Winifred 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Babella 1
Betsy 1
Caroline 1
Cathrine 1
Charlotte 1
Emily 1
Flora 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Isabella 1
Jemima 1
July 1
Kate 1
Margt. 1
Phebe 1
Priscilla 1
Rose 1
Ruth 1
Sabina 1
Sophia 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 25
Patrick 16
William 14
James 13
Thomas 13
George 9
Henry 8
Charles 7
Michael 7
Alfred 4
Edward 3
Frank 3
Mark 3
Martin 3
Owen 3
Chas. 2
Cornelius 2
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Frederick 2
Peter 2
Amos 1
Anthony 1
Benjamin 1
Bernard 1
Dennis 1
Fred 1
H. 1
Jas. 1
Jas.E. 1
Jesse 1
Joseph 1
Laurance 1
Luke 1
Park 1
Partrick 1
Patsy 1
R. 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Sam 1
Sidney 1
Simeon 1
Thos. 1
Tom 1
Willie 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Lavell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lavell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 337 people were recorded with the Lavell surname. That placed it at #8,981 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lavell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 248 in 2016. That gives Lavell a modern rank of #16,910.

What does the Lavell surname mean?

A habitational surname derived from a location name, possibly meaning "from the valley".

What does the Lavell map show?

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