NameCensus.

UK surname

Machell

A dialectal variant of the surname Mitchell, derived from the given name Michael.

In the 1881 census there were 375 people recorded with the Machell surname, ranking it #8,345 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 486, ranked #10,189, down from #8,345 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Birstall and Orton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Leeds, Eden and Halton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Machell is 553 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 29.6%.

1881 census count

375

Ranked #8,345

Modern count

486

2016, ranked #10,189

Peak year

1911

553 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Machell had 375 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,345 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 486 in 2016, ranked #10,189.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 553 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Machell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Machell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Machell 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 235 #9,206
1861 historical 314 #8,088
1881 historical 375 #8,345
1891 historical 473 #7,758
1901 historical 483 #8,256
1911 historical 553 #7,252
1997 modern 482 #9,567
1998 modern 495 #9,678
1999 modern 497 #9,698
2000 modern 500 #9,632
2001 modern 491 #9,604
2002 modern 503 #9,591
2003 modern 475 #9,848
2004 modern 474 #9,889
2005 modern 469 #9,892
2006 modern 471 #9,907
2007 modern 470 #10,012
2008 modern 478 #9,977
2009 modern 483 #10,114
2010 modern 480 #10,353
2011 modern 478 #10,299
2012 modern 472 #10,295
2013 modern 485 #10,267
2014 modern 493 #10,191
2015 modern 488 #10,182
2016 modern 486 #10,189

Geography

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Where Machells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Birstall, Orton, Batley and Bradford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Leeds, Eden and Halton. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Birstall Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Orton Westmorland
4 Batley Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Leeds 010 Leeds
2 Leeds 014 Leeds
3 Leeds 011 Leeds
4 Eden 006 Eden
5 Halton 007 Halton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Machell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Machell

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Machell is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Machell 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

Machell falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Machell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Machell

The surname Machell is of English origin, derived from the Middle English word "machel" meaning "poor" or "impoverished." It likely originated as a nickname for someone perceived as destitute or of low economic status during the medieval period.

The earliest recorded instances of the Machell surname can be traced back to the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire in northern England, where it first appeared in the late 13th century. One of the earliest recorded bearers was John Machel, who was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1301.

In the 14th century, variations of the name such as Machall, Machel, and Matchell were found in various records and documents across Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Cheshire. The name was also associated with various place names, including Machell in Yorkshire and Machell Gate in Lancashire.

One notable figure bearing the Machell surname was Thomas Machell (1625-1698), a renowned English antiquarian and clergyman from Yorkshire. He wrote several works on the history and antiquities of the region, including "Antiquity and Honour of the Town of Halifax" and "Treatise on the Manner of Trent" (1638).

Another distinguished individual was John Machell (1698-1772), an English churchman and academic who served as the Regius Professor of Greek at the University of Cambridge from 1742 until his death. He was also a Fellow of King's College, Cambridge.

In the 18th century, the Machell family had established roots in the county of Westmorland (now part of Cumbria), where they were known as landowners and gentry. One prominent member was Thomas Machell (1705-1781), a prominent landowner and Justice of the Peace in Westmorland.

The surname Machell also appeared in various historical records and documents, such as the Hearth Tax Rolls of the late 17th century, where it was found in counties like Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Westmorland.

While the Machell surname may have originated as a descriptor of poverty or low economic status, it eventually became associated with prominent families and individuals, particularly in northern England, where it has a long and rich history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Machell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Machell 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. Yorkshire leads with 147 Machells recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.06x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 147 4.06x
Lancashire 62 1.43x
Middlesex 42 1.15x
Westmorland 41 51.00x
Surrey 24 1.35x
Cumberland 15 4.76x
Kent 14 1.12x
Durham 10 0.92x
Shropshire 6 1.90x
Cheshire 5 0.62x
Oxfordshire 4 1.77x
Devon 1 0.13x
Essex 1 0.14x
Midlothian 1 0.20x
Suffolk 1 0.22x
Warwickshire 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Soothill in Yorkshire leads with 39 Machells recorded in 1881 and an index of 297.94x.

Place Total Index
Soothill 39 297.94x
Batley 17 49.35x
Gomersal 16 94.56x
Leeds 13 6.35x
Dewsbury 12 32.28x
Toxteth Park 11 7.48x
Carshalton 10 146.63x
Horton In Bradford 9 15.90x
Westminster St John 9 20.20x
Fulham London 8 15.08x
Orton 8 333.33x
Southwark St George Martyr 8 10.87x
Caldewgate 7 40.56x
Grayrigg 7 2413.79x
Heston 7 57.61x
Killington 7 2258.06x
Preston 7 6.03x
Bramley In Bramley 6 43.23x
Rawdon 6 140.52x
Warcop 6 666.67x
Whinfell 6 2727.27x
Crayford 5 91.74x
Kirkby Ireleth 5 231.48x
Ludlow St Lawrence 5 79.49x
Penrith 5 42.99x
West Ardsley 5 114.68x
Whitwell Selside 5 1612.90x
Austwick 4 677.97x
Deptford St Paul 4 4.16x
East Broughton 4 322.58x
Edmonton 4 13.57x
Holy Trinity 4 4.59x
Lambeth 4 1.25x
Liverpool 4 1.52x
Manchester 4 2.05x
Nether Hallam 4 8.16x
Over Kellet 4 645.16x
Roos 4 597.01x
Sevenoaks 4 39.53x
St Marylebone London 4 2.05x
Stockton On Tees 4 7.62x
West Derby 4 3.15x
Broughton In Salford 3 7.56x
Crook Billy Row 3 21.52x
Egton Cum Newland 3 238.10x
Fishburn 3 750.00x
Habergham Eaves 3 7.56x
Neithrop 3 39.53x
Oxton 3 65.65x
Burton 2 235.29x
Congleton 2 14.34x
Guisbrough 2 25.25x
Islington London 2 0.56x
Saddleworth 2 7.15x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 1 7.60x
Ardwick 1 2.55x
Aston 1 0.39x
Bow London 1 2.15x
Christ Church Newgate 1 58.82x
Colton 1 44.25x
Dalton In Furness 1 5.97x
Ealing 1 3.06x
Exning 1 44.44x
Graystoke 1 178.57x
Hackney London 1 0.49x
Hornsey 1 2.16x
Kensington London 1 0.49x
Lancaster 1 3.87x
Lewisham 1 1.50x
Lowick 1 208.33x
Moss Side 1 4.38x
Onibury 1 175.44x
Pendleton In Salford 1 1.93x
Pickering 1 21.93x
Ratcliffe London 1 4.95x
Sheffield 1 0.87x
St Cuthbert W O 1 6.51x
St George Hanover 1 2.09x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 1 8.01x
Wimbledon 1 5.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 30
William 22
George 16
Thomas 15
James 13
Charles 6
Edward 6
Henry 6
Joseph 5
Samuel 5
Arthur 4
Robert 4
Alfred 3
Isaac 3
Richard 3
Smith 3
Benjamin 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Frederick 2
Fredk. 2
Herbert 2
Hugh 2
Louis 2
Wilson 2
Wm. 2
Albert 1
Chas. 1
Darius 1
Elizabeth 1
Enoch 1
Fred 1
Freddy 1
Harold 1
Hume 1
Joah 1
Joshua 1
Julian 1
Lancelot 1
Ralph 1
Richd. 1
Septimus 1
Tom 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Machell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Machell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 375 people were recorded with the Machell surname. That placed it at #8,345 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Machell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 486 in 2016. That gives Machell a modern rank of #10,189.

What does the Machell surname mean?

A dialectal variant of the surname Mitchell, derived from the given name Michael.

What does the Machell map show?

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