UK surname
An Anglo-French surname possibly derived from an occupational name for a marshal or stablehand.
In the 1881 census there were 318 people recorded with the Marshell surname, ranking it #9,342 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 38, ranked #35,537, down from #9,342 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Kirknewton, St Pancras and East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Marshell is 795 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 88.1%.
1881 census count
318
Ranked #9,342
Modern count
38
2016, ranked #35,537
Peak year
1861
795 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Marshell surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Marshell 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 | 511 | #4,895 |
| 1861 | historical | 795 | #3,460 |
| 1881 | historical | 318 | #9,342 |
| 1891 | historical | 510 | #7,307 |
| 1901 | historical | 260 | #12,817 |
| 1911 | historical | 91 | #23,684 |
| 1997 | modern | 20 | #35,809 |
| 1998 | modern | 18 | #36,135 |
| 1999 | modern | 19 | #36,041 |
| 2000 | modern | 12 | #36,749 |
| 2001 | modern | 11 | #36,727 |
| 2002 | modern | 18 | #36,067 |
| 2003 | modern | 16 | #36,304 |
| 2004 | modern | 22 | #35,878 |
| 2005 | modern | 24 | #35,827 |
| 2006 | modern | 22 | #36,105 |
| 2007 | modern | 24 | #36,072 |
| 2008 | modern | 23 | #36,211 |
| 2009 | modern | 21 | #36,470 |
| 2010 | modern | 36 | #35,620 |
| 2011 | modern | 27 | #36,136 |
| 2012 | modern | 35 | #35,645 |
| 2013 | modern | 36 | #35,643 |
| 2014 | modern | 38 | #35,547 |
| 2015 | modern | 38 | #35,526 |
| 2016 | modern | 38 | #35,537 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Kirknewton, St Pancras, East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H, Halsall and Glasgow. 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 | Kirknewton | Edinburgh |
| 2 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 3 | East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H | Gloucestershire |
| 4 | Halsall | Lancashire |
| 5 | Glasgow | Lanark |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Marshell 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 Marshell, 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 Marshell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Marshell 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, Marshell 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 Marshell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Marshell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Marshell is of Old English origin, derived from the words "mersc" meaning marsh and "fell" meaning hillside or slope. It is believed to have originated in the county of Yorkshire, England, during the Anglo-Saxon period, around the 5th to 11th centuries. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a marshy area on a hillside or slope.
The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appeared as "Merscfell" and "Merskefel." These entries suggest that the name was already in use during the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century.
In the 12th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "Merskefeld" and "Merskefeld de Craven," indicating a connection to the Craven district of Yorkshire. One notable bearer of the name during this period was Richard de Merscfeld, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1166.
By the 13th century, the name had evolved to its modern spelling of "Marshell." In 1273, a record shows a William Marshell residing in the village of Marshell in Yorkshire, suggesting that the surname may have derived from this place name.
One of the earliest prominent figures bearing the Marshell surname was Sir John Marshell (c. 1350-1417), a Member of Parliament and Lord of the Manor of Marshell in Yorkshire. He played a significant role in the Wars of the Roses, fighting for the House of Lancaster.
During the 16th century, the Marshell family expanded their influence, with members holding positions of importance in various parts of England. Notable individuals include Richard Marshell (c. 1510-1585), a wealthy merchant and alderman in the city of London, and Thomas Marshell (c. 1530-1602), a renowned scholar and translator of works from Greek and Latin.
In the 17th century, the Marshell surname gained prominence in the American colonies. One of the earliest recorded instances was that of Nathaniel Marshell (c. 1620-1688), who arrived in Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1635 and later became a prominent landowner and magistrate in Ipswich, Massachusetts.
Another noteworthy figure was Sir William Marshell (1647-1720), a British naval officer and Member of Parliament, who played a crucial role in the Battle of Beachy Head during the Nine Years' War against France in 1690.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Marshell 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 46 Marshells recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.25x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 46 | 1.25x |
| Yorkshire | 45 | 1.46x |
| Middlesex | 30 | 0.97x |
| Gloucestershire | 23 | 3.78x |
| Devon | 15 | 2.32x |
| Ayrshire | 13 | 5.60x |
| Surrey | 12 | 0.79x |
| Angus | 11 | 3.83x |
| Stirlingshire | 11 | 9.61x |
| Suffolk | 11 | 2.91x |
| Durham | 10 | 1.08x |
| Cheshire | 8 | 1.17x |
| Nottinghamshire | 8 | 1.91x |
| Cumberland | 7 | 2.62x |
| Essex | 7 | 1.14x |
| Fife | 7 | 3.81x |
| Hertfordshire | 6 | 2.81x |
| Kent | 6 | 0.57x |
| Isle of Man | 5 | 8.68x |
| Northumberland | 5 | 1.08x |
| Cambridgeshire | 4 | 2.04x |
| Lincolnshire | 4 | 0.81x |
| Hampshire | 3 | 0.47x |
| Lanarkshire | 3 | 0.30x |
| Somerset | 3 | 0.60x |
| Staffordshire | 3 | 0.29x |
| Warwickshire | 3 | 0.38x |
| Midlothian | 2 | 0.48x |
| Sussex | 2 | 0.38x |
| Wiltshire | 2 | 0.73x |
| Argyllshire | 1 | 1.16x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 0.19x |
| Norfolk | 1 | 0.21x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Todmorden Walsden in Lancashire leads with 35 Marshells recorded in 1881 and an index of 354.97x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Marshell surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 16 |
| Sarah | 10 |
| Elizabeth | 8 |
| Jane | 7 |
| Emily | 5 |
| Ann | 4 |
| Eliza | 4 |
| Grace | 4 |
| Margaret | 4 |
| Annie | 3 |
| Ellen | 3 |
| Emma | 3 |
| Harriet | 3 |
| Rachel | 3 |
| Anne | 2 |
| Beatrice | 2 |
| Betty | 2 |
| Clara | 2 |
| Edith | 2 |
| Esther | 2 |
| Florence | 2 |
| Frances | 2 |
| Hannah | 2 |
| Martha | 2 |
| Susan | 2 |
| Susannah | 2 |
| Allice | 1 |
| Anna | 1 |
| Bella | 1 |
| Bertha | 1 |
| Betsy | 1 |
| Caroline | 1 |
| Charolette | 1 |
| Elizebeth | 1 |
| Elizth.S. | 1 |
| Endora | 1 |
| Ethel | 1 |
| Fanny | 1 |
| Florance | 1 |
| Harriett | 1 |
| Jessie | 1 |
| Lizzie | 1 |
| Louisa | 1 |
| Lydia | 1 |
| Margerat | 1 |
| Margerete | 1 |
| Margret | 1 |
| Margt. | 1 |
| Maria | 1 |
| Susey | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Marshell surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| William | 18 |
| James | 15 |
| John | 15 |
| Thomas | 10 |
| Joseph | 9 |
| Samuel | 7 |
| Charles | 5 |
| Edward | 5 |
| George | 5 |
| Henry | 5 |
| Arthur | 4 |
| Frederick | 4 |
| Robert | 3 |
| Daniel | 2 |
| Fred | 2 |
| Herbert | 2 |
| Albert | 1 |
| Augutine | 1 |
| Bertram | 1 |
| Christopher | 1 |
| Edwary | 1 |
| Frederich | 1 |
| Geo. | 1 |
| Isaac | 1 |
| Jno. | 1 |
| Joshua | 1 |
| Leonard | 1 |
| Lewis | 1 |
| Oliver | 1 |
| Ormerod | 1 |
| Owen | 1 |
| Peter | 1 |
| Richard | 1 |
| Smith | 1 |
| Stanley | 1 |
| Thos. | 1 |
| Tom | 1 |
| Uttley | 1 |
| Walter | 1 |
| Wilfred | 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 Marshell households.
FAQ
In 1881, 318 people were recorded with the Marshell surname. That placed it at #9,342 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 38 in 2016. That gives Marshell a modern rank of #35,537.
An Anglo-French surname possibly derived from an occupational name for a marshal or stablehand.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Marshell 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.