NameCensus.

UK surname

Marfell

A Scandinavian topographic surname representing someone who lived near a marl pit or depression.

In the 1881 census there were 233 people recorded with the Marfell surname, ranking it #11,648 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 238, ranked #17,361, down from #11,648 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Newland (Bream, Clearwell, Newland, Coleford), West Dean and Ross Foreign and Ross Borough. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Forest of Dean, Herefordshire and Monmouthshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Marfell is 253 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 2.1%.

1881 census count

233

Ranked #11,648

Modern count

238

2016, ranked #17,361

Peak year

1999

253 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Marfell had 233 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,648 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 238 in 2016, ranked #17,361.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 244 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Marfell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Marfell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Marfell 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 169 #11,832
1861 historical 132 #16,957
1881 historical 233 #11,648
1891 historical 227 #13,629
1901 historical 244 #13,329
1911 historical 171 #16,461
1997 modern 230 #16,109
1998 modern 241 #16,065
1999 modern 253 #15,667
2000 modern 251 #15,692
2001 modern 244 #15,753
2002 modern 246 #15,988
2003 modern 246 #15,769
2004 modern 246 #15,854
2005 modern 246 #15,802
2006 modern 240 #16,177
2007 modern 239 #16,449
2008 modern 237 #16,688
2009 modern 253 #16,283
2010 modern 249 #16,837
2011 modern 240 #17,093
2012 modern 238 #17,092
2013 modern 242 #17,158
2014 modern 245 #17,140
2015 modern 249 #16,858
2016 modern 238 #17,361

Geography

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Where Marfells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Newland (Bream, Clearwell, Newland, Coleford), West Dean, Ross Foreign and Ross Borough, East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H and Mitchell Dean. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Forest of Dean, Herefordshire and Monmouthshire. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Newland (Bream, Clearwell, Newland, Coleford), West Dean Monmouthshire
3 Ross Foreign and Ross Borough Herefordshire
4 East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H Gloucestershire
5 Mitchell Dean Gloucestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Forest of Dean 003 Forest of Dean
2 Forest of Dean 004 Forest of Dean
3 Herefordshire 023 Herefordshire, County of
4 Herefordshire 022 Herefordshire, County of
5 Monmouthshire 001 Monmouthshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Marfell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Marfell

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

Marfell is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Marfell falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Marfell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Marfell

The surname Marfell is believed to have originated in England, likely during the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name, derived from a place called Marefield or Marville in one of the English counties.

One theory suggests that the name is derived from the Old English words "mere" meaning a lake or pool, and "feld" meaning a field, possibly referring to a settlement near a body of water. Another possibility is that it comes from the Norman French "mer" meaning sea, and "ville" meaning a town or village.

While there are no definitive records of the name appearing in early historical documents like the Domesday Book, some of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in 16th and 17th century parish records and tax rolls from counties like Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was John Marfell, born around 1550 in Lincolnshire. Another notable figure was William Marfell, a landowner and magistrate in Yorkshire who lived from 1612 to 1687.

In the 18th century, a family of Marfells was prominent in the city of York, with several members serving as aldermen and mayors. One of them, Thomas Marfell (1725-1802), was a successful merchant and philanthropist who donated funds for the establishment of a school in the city.

As the name spread across England, variations in spelling emerged, such as Marfill, Marvell, and Marvill. Andrew Marvell (1621-1678), the renowned English metaphysical poet and politician, is likely the most famous bearer of this name variant.

Other notable individuals with the surname Marfell or its variants include John Marfell (1789-1857), an English architect who designed several churches and public buildings in London, and Sir Henry Marfell (1854-1932), a British army officer who served in the Boer War and World War I.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Marfell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Marfell 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. Gloucestershire leads with 109 Marfells recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.45x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 109 24.45x
Herefordshire 74 79.40x
Monmouthshire 19 11.56x
Warwickshire 6 1.05x
Middlesex 5 0.22x
Nottinghamshire 5 1.63x
Sussex 5 1.30x
Wiltshire 4 1.99x
Cheshire 1 0.20x
Hampshire 1 0.21x
Lancashire 1 0.04x
Oxfordshire 1 0.71x
Shropshire 1 0.51x
Yorkshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Westbury On Severn East in Gloucestershire leads with 86 Marfells recorded in 1881 and an index of 853.17x.

Place Total Index
Westbury On Severn East 86 853.17x
Hope Mansell 18 10588.24x
Weston Under Penyard 12 1846.15x
Newland 11 293.33x
Ross 10 269.54x
Linton In Newent 9 1250.00x
Much Birch 8 1951.22x
Clytha 7 3043.48x
Birmingham 5 2.62x
Bridstow 5 943.40x
Ewyas Harold 5 1190.48x
Rudgwick 5 574.71x
Worksop 5 55.01x
Trostrey 4 3636.36x
Christchurch 3 59.06x
Islington London 3 1.36x
Llangarren 3 357.14x
Mitcheldean 3 545.45x
Swindon 3 19.24x
Upton Bishop 3 545.45x
Abergavenny 2 32.52x
Llanbaddock 2 666.67x
Aston 1 0.63x
Cheltenham 1 2.91x
Dulas 1 1428.57x
English Bicknor 1 204.08x
Featherstone 1 39.53x
Fordingbridge 1 39.53x
Gloucester St Michael 1 98.04x
Hornsey 1 3.48x
Kemble 1 270.27x
Leckhampton 1 36.36x
Little Dean 1 156.25x
Lydney 1 43.48x
Newent 1 44.05x
Ruardean 1 99.01x
Stanton Lacy 1 58.82x
Tetbury 1 39.53x
Thame 1 39.22x
Tranmere 1 5.42x
Usk 1 73.53x
Walton On Hill 1 6.84x
Westminster St 1 11.93x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 13
John 11
George 10
Thomas 9
James 6
Timothy 4
Herbert 3
Peter 3
Benjamin 2
Cornelius 2
Ernest 2
Frederick 2
Henry 2
Miles 2
Robert 2
Thos. 2
Tom 2
Wallace 2
Aaron 1
Absolem 1
Albert 1
Allen 1
Andrew 1
Caleb 1
Charles 1
Clifford 1
Earnest 1
Edgar 1
Enock 1
Evan 1
Frank 1
Fredrick 1
Hubert 1
Jariat 1
Jeriah 1
Johnathan 1
Jonathan 1
Leon 1
Levi 1
Louis 1
Martin 1
Oliver 1
Percy 1
Raymon 1
Richard 1
Rueben 1
Samuel 1
Sidney 1
Walace 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Marfell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Marfell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 233 people were recorded with the Marfell surname. That placed it at #11,648 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Marfell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 238 in 2016. That gives Marfell a modern rank of #17,361.

What does the Marfell surname mean?

A Scandinavian topographic surname representing someone who lived near a marl pit or depression.

What does the Marfell map show?

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