UK surname
A variant spelling of the English locational surname Maddall referring to someone from Madeley.
In the 1881 census there were 71 people recorded with the Madell surname, ranking it #23,517 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 83, ranked #32,815, down from #23,517 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Madell is 122 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 16.9%.
1881 census count
71
Ranked #23,517
Modern count
83
2016, ranked #32,815
Peak year
1891
122 bearers
Map years
3
1891 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Madell surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Madell surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 58 | #22,928 |
| 1861 | historical | 47 | #28,023 |
| 1881 | historical | 71 | #23,517 |
| 1891 | historical | 122 | #21,053 |
| 1901 | historical | 101 | #22,726 |
| 1911 | historical | 108 | #21,736 |
| 1997 | modern | 79 | #29,672 |
| 1998 | modern | 80 | #29,966 |
| 1999 | modern | 82 | #29,933 |
| 2000 | modern | 93 | #28,701 |
| 2001 | modern | 87 | #29,161 |
| 2002 | modern | 87 | #29,644 |
| 2003 | modern | 79 | #30,549 |
| 2004 | modern | 76 | #31,125 |
| 2005 | modern | 76 | #31,267 |
| 2006 | modern | 74 | #31,850 |
| 2007 | modern | 73 | #32,287 |
| 2008 | modern | 72 | #32,656 |
| 2009 | modern | 70 | #33,182 |
| 2010 | modern | 74 | #33,167 |
| 2011 | modern | 77 | #32,909 |
| 2012 | modern | 85 | #32,395 |
| 2013 | modern | 88 | #32,349 |
| 2014 | modern | 90 | #32,309 |
| 2015 | modern | 86 | #32,604 |
| 2016 | modern | 83 | #32,815 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes, St Pancras, St John Hackney and St Luke. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | St John Hackney | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | St Luke | London (Central Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Madell surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Madell, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Madell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Madell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Madell is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Madell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Madell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Madell has its origins in England, tracing back to the late 13th century. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from the place name "Madeley" in Shropshire or Staffordshire. The name is thought to be a combination of the Old English words "mæd" meaning meadow and "leah" meaning a clearing or woodland.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Hundred Rolls of Shropshire in 1273, where a William de Madeleye is mentioned. The spelling variations during this period included Madelay, Madeley, and Madelegh. The name is also found in the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire in 1327, referencing a John de Madeleye.
In the 14th century, the name Madell appears in various historical records. The Lay Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire from 1332 mention a Thomas de Madeleye, while the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379 include a Robert Madell.
During the 15th century, the name continued to appear in various records across England. The Feet of Fines for Staffordshire in 1428 mention a Richard Madell, and the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1493 list a John Madell.
One notable figure with this surname was William Madell, a merchant and alderman in the city of London in the late 16th century. He was born around 1530 and served as an alderman from 1581 until his death in 1592.
Another individual of note was Thomas Madell, a clergyman who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He was born in Shropshire around 1560 and served as the Rector of Madeley from 1593 until his death in 1620.
In the 18th century, the surname Madell is found in various parish records across England. For example, the baptismal records of St. Mary's Church in Islington, London, include an entry for Margaret Madell in 1715.
Another notable figure with this surname was John Madell, a botanist and naturalist who lived in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He was born in Staffordshire in 1765 and is known for his contributions to the study of British flora and fauna.
Throughout history, the surname Madell has maintained its connection to the areas of Shropshire and Staffordshire, where it originated as a locational name derived from the place name Madeley.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Madell surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 55 Madells recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.94x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 55 | 7.94x |
| Surrey | 6 | 1.78x |
| Sussex | 4 | 3.43x |
| Hertfordshire | 2 | 4.19x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 0.83x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.42x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.12x |
| Renfrewshire | 1 | 1.86x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 8 Madells recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.92x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Islington London | 8 | 11.92x |
| Hackney London | 7 | 18.03x |
| Poplar London | 6 | 45.91x |
| St Luke London | 5 | 45.00x |
| St Pancras London | 5 | 8.97x |
| Tottenham | 5 | 45.33x |
| Brighton | 4 | 16.99x |
| Edmonton | 4 | 71.68x |
| Newington | 4 | 15.64x |
| Hornsey | 3 | 34.25x |
| Bow London | 2 | 22.70x |
| Clerkenwell London | 2 | 12.24x |
| Isleworth | 2 | 64.94x |
| Shoreditch London | 2 | 6.66x |
| Bethnal Green London | 1 | 3.32x |
| Braughing | 1 | 416.67x |
| Camberwell | 1 | 2.26x |
| Cardiff St Mary | 1 | 15.06x |
| Ealing | 1 | 16.16x |
| East Barnet | 1 | 105.26x |
| Lewisham | 1 | 7.94x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 2.00x |
| Mile End Old Town | 1 | 9.15x |
| Richmond | 1 | 21.14x |
| West Greenock | 1 | 10.38x |
| Westminster St James | 1 | 14.04x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Madell surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Madell surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Madell households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 21 |
| Clerk | 2 |
| French Polisher | 2 |
| Artificial Florist | 1 |
| Bonnet Shape Maker (Dress) | 1 |
| Boot Maker | 1 |
| Butchers Clerk | 1 |
| Cabinet Maker | 1 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Carpenter & Joiner | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Dairy Keeper | 1 |
| Dock Clerk | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Drapers Asst | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Glass Beulier or Blower (Manuf) | 1 |
| Glass Worker | 1 |
| Greengrocer | 1 |
| Horsekeeper | 1 |
| Hotel Assistant Manager | 1 |
| House Keeper | 1 |
| Jeweller Manager | 1 |
| Manager Of The Farm Brothers | 1 |
| Master Carpenter | 1 |
| Pastrycook | 1 |
| Pianoforte Maker | 1 |
| Serv | 1 |
| Shoemaker | 1 |
| Street Hawker | 1 |
| Tailoress | 1 |
| Wife Of Clerk | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 71 people were recorded with the Madell surname. That placed it at #23,517 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 83 in 2016. That gives Madell a modern rank of #32,815.
A variant spelling of the English locational surname Maddall referring to someone from Madeley.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Madell bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.