UK surname
A topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a marshy area.
In the 1881 census there were 35 people recorded with the Marshel surname, ranking it #28,715 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 11, ranked #37,501, down from #28,715 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Columb Major, Culmstock and Stratton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Marshel is 129 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 68.6%.
1881 census count
35
Ranked #28,715
Modern count
11
2016, ranked #37,501
Peak year
1851
129 bearers
Map years
1
1851 to 1851
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Marshel surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Marshel surname density by area, 1851 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 | 129 | #14,406 |
| 1861 | historical | 28 | #30,405 |
| 1881 | historical | 35 | #28,715 |
| 1891 | historical | 9 | #33,451 |
| 1901 | historical | 7 | #33,435 |
| 1911 | historical | 12 | #32,302 |
| 1997 | modern | 1 | #38,839 |
| 1998 | modern | 3 | #38,304 |
| 1999 | modern | 5 | #37,872 |
| 2000 | modern | 5 | #37,823 |
| 2001 | modern | 6 | #37,456 |
| 2002 | modern | 3 | #38,152 |
| 2003 | modern | 3 | #38,198 |
| 2004 | modern | 2 | #38,464 |
| 2005 | modern | 3 | #38,312 |
| 2006 | modern | 3 | #38,334 |
| 2007 | modern | 4 | #38,169 |
| 2008 | modern | 5 | #38,027 |
| 2009 | modern | 6 | #37,953 |
| 2010 | modern | 9 | #37,654 |
| 2011 | modern | 8 | #37,737 |
| 2012 | modern | 4 | #38,335 |
| 2013 | modern | 6 | #38,049 |
| 2014 | modern | 7 | #37,929 |
| 2015 | modern | 9 | #37,684 |
| 2016 | modern | 11 | #37,501 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Columb Major, Culmstock, Stratton, Hunmanby and Brotherton. 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 Columb Major | Cornwall |
| 2 | Culmstock | Somerset |
| 3 | Stratton | Cornwall |
| 4 | Hunmanby | Yorkshire, East Riding |
| 5 | Brotherton | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Marshel 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 Marshel, 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 Marshel surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Marshel 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, Marshel 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 Marshel is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Marshel, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Marshel is believed to have originated in England during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English words "mersc" meaning "marsh" and "heal" meaning "shelter" or "hall." This suggests that the name was originally given to someone who lived in a house or hall near a marsh.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Marshel can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled "Merscheale." This was a survey of land ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror after the Norman conquest of England in 1066.
In the 13th century, the name appeared in various spellings such as "Marshale," "Marschall," and "Mershal" in various medieval records and manuscripts. These variations likely arose due to regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling of names during that time period.
The earliest known bearer of the name Marshel was Sir John Marshel, a knight who lived in the late 12th century. He was granted lands in Gloucestershire by King Richard I.
Another notable figure was William Marshel, born in 1512, who was a wealthy merchant and alderman in the city of London during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
In the 17th century, the name Marshel was associated with the village of Marshel in Dorset, which was likely named after an early bearer of the surname.
During the English Civil War in the 1640s, Colonel Thomas Marshel was a prominent Royalist commander who fought for King Charles I against the Parliamentarians.
In the 18th century, the name was sometimes anglicized to "Marshall" or "Marshell," but the original spelling of "Marshel" persisted in some branches of the family.
In the 19th century, Sir George Marshel (1789-1862) was a renowned British explorer and naturalist who made significant contributions to the study of flora and fauna in Africa and Asia.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Marshel 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. Lancashire leads with 17 Marshels recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.20x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 17 | 4.20x |
| Cornwall | 5 | 12.94x |
| Surrey | 4 | 2.41x |
| Kent | 3 | 2.58x |
| Yorkshire | 3 | 0.89x |
| Aberdeenshire | 1 | 3.16x |
| Cumberland | 1 | 3.40x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 1.83x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ashton Under Lyne in Lancashire leads with 8 Marshels recorded in 1881 and an index of 90.40x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Ashton Under Lyne | 8 | 90.40x |
| Poulton Barre | 5 | 1086.96x |
| St Columb Major | 5 | 1562.50x |
| Blatchinworth | 4 | 434.78x |
| Southwark St George Martyr | 4 | 58.22x |
| Harty | 2 | 10000.00x |
| Aspatria | 1 | 357.14x |
| Clee With Weelsby | 1 | 84.03x |
| Elmley | 1 | 5000.00x |
| Liversedge | 1 | 66.23x |
| Newington | 1 | 107.53x |
| Peterculter | 1 | 454.55x |
| York St John Micklegate | 1 | 1250.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Marshel 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 Marshel 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 Marshel households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 6 |
| Piecer (C M) | 3 |
| Labourer | 2 |
| Reeler | 2 |
| (F.S.) | 1 |
| Book Folder | 1 |
| Carter | 1 |
| Farm Labourer (Indoor) | 1 |
| Farmer 140 Acres 1 Man l Boy | 1 |
| General Laborer | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| Licensed Victualler | 1 |
| Minder (C M) | 1 |
| Shoe Maker | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 35 people were recorded with the Marshel surname. That placed it at #28,715 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 11 in 2016. That gives Marshel a modern rank of #37,501.
A topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a marshy area.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Marshel 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.