UK surname
A locational surname referring to someone from Mansell, a place name of French origin.
In the 1881 census there were 203 people recorded with the Mansel surname, ranking it #12,717 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 95, ranked #31,782, down from #12,717 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Kimmeridge, Kidwelly and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mansel is 234 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 53.2%.
1881 census count
203
Ranked #12,717
Modern count
95
2016, ranked #31,782
Peak year
1851
234 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Mansel surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Mansel surname density by area, 1881 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 | 234 | #9,241 |
| 1861 | historical | 201 | #11,949 |
| 1881 | historical | 203 | #12,717 |
| 1891 | historical | 176 | #16,404 |
| 1901 | historical | 139 | #18,876 |
| 1911 | historical | 132 | #19,313 |
| 1997 | modern | 66 | #31,038 |
| 1998 | modern | 74 | #30,562 |
| 1999 | modern | 86 | #29,496 |
| 2000 | modern | 79 | #30,249 |
| 2001 | modern | 75 | #30,481 |
| 2002 | modern | 76 | #30,830 |
| 2003 | modern | 75 | #30,994 |
| 2004 | modern | 77 | #31,024 |
| 2005 | modern | 87 | #29,966 |
| 2006 | modern | 88 | #30,160 |
| 2007 | modern | 86 | #30,808 |
| 2008 | modern | 85 | #31,247 |
| 2009 | modern | 86 | #31,612 |
| 2010 | modern | 91 | #31,497 |
| 2011 | modern | 92 | #31,301 |
| 2012 | modern | 96 | #30,949 |
| 2013 | modern | 96 | #31,381 |
| 2014 | modern | 98 | #31,370 |
| 2015 | modern | 96 | #31,624 |
| 2016 | modern | 95 | #31,782 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Kimmeridge, Kidwelly, London parishes and Alverstoke, Gosport, Rowner. 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 | Kimmeridge | Dorset |
| 2 | Kidwelly | Carmarthenshire |
| 3 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 4 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 5 | Alverstoke, Gosport, Rowner | Hampshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Mansel 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 Mansel, 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 Mansel surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Mansel 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, Mansel 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 Mansel is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Mansel, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Mansel has its origins in France, specifically in the region of Normandy. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 11th or 12th century. The name is derived from the Old French word "mansel," which means "servant" or "retainer."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "Mansel" and is listed among the tenants and landholders in various counties.
In the 13th century, the name Mansel was prominent in Wales, where it was associated with the Marcher Lords, powerful Norman noblemen who held lands and authority along the border regions between England and Wales. One notable figure from this period was John Mansel (c. 1235-1292), a trusted adviser to King Henry III and a respected diplomat.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the Mansel family held land and estates in various parts of England and Wales. In the 14th century, Sir Thomas Mansel (c. 1310-1372) was a prominent knight and landowner in Oxfordshire. His descendants continued to play influential roles in the region for several generations.
In the 16th century, the Mansels were among the gentry families of Somerset. Sir Rice Mansel (c. 1490-1559) was a notable figure during the reign of King Henry VIII, serving as a member of the Privy Council and holding various positions of authority.
During the 17th century, Sir Robert Mansel (1573-1653) was a notable naval commander and merchant adventurer. He led several expeditions to the Mediterranean and was involved in trade with the Levant and the East Indies.
Other notable individuals with the surname Mansel include John Mansel (c. 1640-1726), a prominent English architect who designed several churches and country houses, and Henry Longueville Mansel (1820-1871), a philosopher and theologian who made significant contributions to the field of metaphysics.
The name Mansel has also been associated with various place names in England and Wales, such as Manselton in Monmouthshire and Mansell Lacy in Herefordshire, reflecting the historical presence and influence of the Mansel family in these regions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mansel 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. Dorset leads with 27 Mansels recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.09x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Dorset | 27 | 21.09x |
| Shropshire | 20 | 11.87x |
| Carmarthenshire | 17 | 20.68x |
| Hampshire | 13 | 3.25x |
| Staffordshire | 13 | 1.97x |
| Surrey | 12 | 1.26x |
| Glamorgan | 10 | 2.94x |
| Lancashire | 10 | 0.43x |
| Kent | 9 | 1.35x |
| Middlesex | 9 | 0.46x |
| Pembrokeshire | 9 | 14.52x |
| Warwickshire | 8 | 1.63x |
| Lanarkshire | 6 | 0.95x |
| Buckinghamshire | 5 | 4.24x |
| Herefordshire | 5 | 6.25x |
| Northamptonshire | 4 | 2.18x |
| Worcestershire | 4 | 1.57x |
| Berkshire | 2 | 1.37x |
| Cambridgeshire | 2 | 1.62x |
| Gloucestershire | 2 | 0.52x |
| Norfolk | 2 | 0.67x |
| Nottinghamshire | 2 | 0.76x |
| Somerset | 2 | 0.64x |
| Caernarfonshire | 1 | 1.27x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.17x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.26x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 0.38x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 0.34x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.30x |
| Wiltshire | 1 | 0.58x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kidwelly in Carmarthenshire leads with 15 Mansels recorded in 1881 and an index of 892.86x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Mansel surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 11 |
| Elizabeth | 9 |
| Emily | 7 |
| Emma | 6 |
| Sarah | 6 |
| Margaret | 5 |
| Jane | 4 |
| Catherine | 3 |
| Frances | 3 |
| Louisa | 3 |
| Susanah | 3 |
| Ann | 2 |
| Charlotte | 2 |
| Clare | 2 |
| Eleanor | 2 |
| Elizbath | 2 |
| Julia | 2 |
| Mable | 2 |
| Ada | 1 |
| Agnes | 1 |
| Alice | 1 |
| Amy | 1 |
| Annie | 1 |
| Augustine | 1 |
| Eliza | 1 |
| Elizth. | 1 |
| Emilia | 1 |
| Evelyn | 1 |
| Fanny | 1 |
| Gwendoline | 1 |
| Hannah | 1 |
| Hariett | 1 |
| Jemima | 1 |
| Kate | 1 |
| Katharine | 1 |
| Leah | 1 |
| Lucy | 1 |
| Maria | 1 |
| Martha | 1 |
| Nelly | 1 |
| Rebecca | 1 |
| Rhoda | 1 |
| Selina | 1 |
| Susan | 1 |
| Theresa | 1 |
| Winifred | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Mansel surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| John | 14 |
| Thomas | 8 |
| Charles | 7 |
| William | 7 |
| David | 5 |
| Edward | 4 |
| Arthur | 3 |
| George | 3 |
| Henry | 3 |
| Samuel | 3 |
| Walter | 3 |
| Herbert | 2 |
| James | 2 |
| Richard | 2 |
| Alfred | 1 |
| Algernon | 1 |
| Benjamin | 1 |
| Constantine | 1 |
| Cornelius | 1 |
| Courtenay | 1 |
| Edmund | 1 |
| Elizabeth | 1 |
| Eustace | 1 |
| Francis | 1 |
| Fred | 1 |
| Frederich | 1 |
| G. | 1 |
| H.J. | 1 |
| Harold | 1 |
| Hugh | 1 |
| Infant | 1 |
| J. | 1 |
| Luke | 1 |
| Moses | 1 |
| Owen | 1 |
| Robert | 1 |
| Samson | 1 |
| Thos. | 1 |
| Wm. | 1 |
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 Mansel households.
FAQ
In 1881, 203 people were recorded with the Mansel surname. That placed it at #12,717 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 95 in 2016. That gives Mansel a modern rank of #31,782.
A locational surname referring to someone from Mansell, a place name of French origin.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mansel 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.