NameCensus.

UK surname

Maskell

An English habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "low-lying area of boggy ground".

In the 1881 census there were 2,098 people recorded with the Maskell surname, ranking it #2,105 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,301, ranked #2,062, up from #2,105 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Brighton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Devon, Chelmsford and North Dorset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Maskell is 3,740 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 57.3%.

1881 census count

2,098

Ranked #2,105

Modern count

3,301

2016, ranked #2,062

Peak year

1999

3,740 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Maskell had 2,098 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,105 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,301 in 2016, ranked #2,062.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,244 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Maskell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Maskell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Maskell 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 1,131 #2,494
1861 historical 762 #3,591
1881 historical 2,098 #2,105
1891 historical 1,999 #2,306
1901 historical 2,839 #1,960
1911 historical 3,244 #1,604
1997 modern 3,499 #1,855
1998 modern 3,710 #1,816
1999 modern 3,740 #1,815
2000 modern 3,644 #1,860
2001 modern 3,553 #1,866
2002 modern 3,640 #1,862
2003 modern 3,471 #1,909
2004 modern 3,460 #1,912
2005 modern 3,400 #1,911
2006 modern 3,382 #1,924
2007 modern 3,406 #1,928
2008 modern 3,396 #1,956
2009 modern 3,448 #1,978
2010 modern 3,485 #2,002
2011 modern 3,417 #2,019
2012 modern 3,331 #2,024
2013 modern 3,390 #2,024
2014 modern 3,387 #2,040
2015 modern 3,334 #2,046
2016 modern 3,301 #2,062

Geography

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Where Maskells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Brighton and Cottenham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Devon, Chelmsford, North Dorset, Brighton and Hove and Epping Forest. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Brighton Sussex
5 Cottenham Cambridgeshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Devon 004 North Devon
2 Chelmsford 020 Chelmsford
3 North Dorset 003 North Dorset
4 Brighton and Hove 001 Brighton and Hove
5 Epping Forest 015 Epping Forest

Forenames

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First names often paired with Maskell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Maskell

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Maskell is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Maskell is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Maskell falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Maskell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Maskell

The surname Maskell originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old French word "mascule," meaning "masculine" or "male." This suggests that the name may have been initially used as a nickname or descriptive term for a particularly strong or manly individual.

The earliest recorded instances of the Maskell surname can be traced back to the 13th century. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Richard Mascal, who was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273. The Hundred Rolls were a census-like survey conducted in England during the reign of King Edward I.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various spellings, including Mascall, Maskill, and Maskyll. This variation in spelling was common during this period due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions. One notable early bearer of the name was John Maskall, a landowner in the village of Shoreham, Kent, who was mentioned in the Court Rolls of 1347.

The Maskell surname is also found in several place names throughout England, such as Maskell's Heath in Gloucestershire and Maskell's Gate in Oxfordshire. These place names may have originated from individuals with the surname Maskell who were prominent landowners or residents in those areas.

Prominent individuals with the Maskell surname throughout history include:

1. Thomas Maskell (c. 1528-1590), an English churchman and academic who served as the Chancellor of Norwich Cathedral. 2. William Maskell (1800-1868), an English antiquarian and liturgist, known for his extensive writings on the history and rituals of the Church of England. 3. Joseph Maskell (1809-1871), an English clergyman and topographer, best known for his work on the history and antiquities of Wiltshire. 4. Alfred Maskell (1842-1916), a British zoologist and paleontologist who made significant contributions to the study of New Zealand's fauna. 5. Jasper Maskell (1941-2022), an Australian actor and director, known for his roles in various television series and films.

While the Maskell surname is not among the most common in England, it has a rich history dating back to the medieval period. Its origins as a descriptive nickname and its presence in various historical records and place names across the country reflect its enduring legacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Maskell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Maskell 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. Middlesex leads with 470 Maskells recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.29x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 470 2.29x
Berkshire 225 14.59x
Essex 209 5.15x
Sussex 154 4.45x
Surrey 152 1.52x
Yorkshire 99 0.49x
Kent 85 1.21x
Cambridgeshire 81 6.22x
Lancashire 69 0.28x
Worcestershire 62 2.31x
Hampshire 50 1.19x
Hertfordshire 49 3.46x
Bedfordshire 47 4.42x
Suffolk 40 1.60x
Buckinghamshire 38 3.06x
Oxfordshire 35 2.76x
Dorset 31 2.30x
Staffordshire 27 0.39x
Gloucestershire 17 0.42x
Wiltshire 17 0.94x
Cheshire 14 0.31x
Lincolnshire 14 0.43x
Durham 12 0.20x
Warwickshire 12 0.23x
Brecknockshire 9 2.19x
Devon 8 0.19x
Cumberland 7 0.40x
Herefordshire 7 0.83x
Nottinghamshire 7 0.25x
Radnorshire 7 4.22x
Royal Navy 7 2.86x
Derbyshire 6 0.19x
Monmouthshire 6 0.40x
Leicestershire 4 0.18x
Northumberland 4 0.13x
Somerset 4 0.12x
Cornwall 3 0.13x
Lanarkshire 3 0.05x
Midlothian 3 0.11x
Norfolk 3 0.10x
Northamptonshire 3 0.16x
Glamorgan 2 0.06x
Shropshire 2 0.11x
Channel Islands 1 0.16x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brighton in Sussex leads with 48 Maskells recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.87x.

Place Total Index
Brighton 48 6.87x
Shoreditch London 44 4.94x
Cottenham 43 248.70x
St Pancras London 40 2.42x
Islington London 38 1.91x
Reading St Mary 35 28.34x
Bromsgrove 33 36.55x
Reading St Giles 29 19.17x
Chelsea London 28 4.52x
Hammersmith London 28 5.53x
St Marylebone London 28 2.55x
Langford 27 308.92x
Poplar London 27 6.96x
Mile End Old Town 25 7.71x
Compton 21 472.97x
West Ilsley 20 754.72x
Brightlingsea 19 82.00x
Camberwell 19 1.45x
Gorton 19 8.29x
Kensington London 18 1.58x
Maidstone 18 8.62x
Barking 17 14.33x
Clerkenwell London 17 3.51x
Ockham 17 440.41x
Hackney London 16 1.39x
Kingston On Thames 16 6.65x
Portsea 16 1.94x
Heathfield 15 106.84x
Patcham 15 241.55x
Shaftesbury St Peter 15 238.47x
Southwark St George Martyr 15 3.63x
West Drayton 15 211.27x
Castleford 14 18.89x
Frating 14 790.96x
Hawkhurst 14 64.25x
Sawbridgeworth 14 65.30x
Cobham 13 79.12x
Cookham 13 27.04x
Lambeth 13 0.73x
Leeds 13 1.13x
Oldbury 13 9.85x
Paddington London 13 1.72x
West Ham 13 1.45x
Westminster St 13 17.16x
Burwash 12 74.67x
Burwell 12 76.97x
Hadleigh 12 49.42x
Kingswinford 12 4.77x
Mayfield 12 58.59x
Shaw Cum Donnington 12 242.92x
St Osyth 12 121.70x
Woolwich 12 4.63x
Dudley 11 3.37x
Dunstable 11 33.65x
Ramsgate 11 9.61x
Broughton In Salford 10 4.49x
Eastbourne 10 6.27x
Limehouse London 10 4.43x
Newbury 10 20.25x
Rotherfield Greys 10 74.46x
Tendring 10 167.79x
Tilehurst 10 32.10x
Warrington 10 3.46x
Winkfield 10 39.08x
Wycombe 10 10.80x
Chieveley 9 109.89x
Cliffe Pypard 9 165.14x
Etchingham 9 140.41x
Great Clacton 9 65.22x
Great Munden 9 291.26x
Iron Acton 9 110.57x
Stock 9 208.33x
Stockport 9 3.86x
Aston 8 0.56x
Caversham 8 31.52x
Farnham Royal 8 108.70x
Harmondsworth 8 62.70x
Ipswich St Mathew 8 11.41x
South Milford 8 107.67x
Southampton St Mary 8 3.02x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 112
Elizabeth 72
Sarah 60
Emma 41
Eliza 39
Ellen 38
Annie 37
Ann 36
Emily 35
Alice 34
Jane 26
Martha 22
Harriet 20
Louisa 18
Charlotte 16
Florence 16
Susan 15
Hannah 14
Caroline 13
Clara 13
Lucy 13
Margaret 12
Maria 12
Kate 11
Agnes 10
Edith 10
Ada 9
Catherine 9
Fanny 8
Isabella 8
Rose 8
Amelia 7
Ruth 7
Anne 6
Bertha 6
Maud 6
Minnie 6
Esther 5
Ethel 5
Harriett 5
Julia 5
Lizzie 5
Matilda 5
Maude 5
Rebecca 5
Selina 5
E. 4
Eleanor 4
Frances 4
Gertrude 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 136
George 94
John 92
James 74
Thomas 60
Henry 52
Charles 43
Alfred 31
Joseph 31
Albert 25
Arthur 25
Frederick 19
Richard 19
Walter 19
Edward 17
Samuel 17
Harry 16
Frank 11
Benjamin 9
David 9
Robert 9
Peter 8
Ernest 7
Herbert 7
Wm. 7
Abraham 6
Daniel 6
Fredk. 6
Mark 6
Edwin 5
Francis 5
Jacob 5
Isaac 4
Chas. 3
Christopher 3
Elijah 3
Fred 3
Horace 3
Jabez 3
Jeremiah 3
Job 3
Leonard 3
Mathew 3
Matthew 3
Nathaniel 3
Patrick 3
Sidney 3
Thos. 3
Daniell 2
Lewis 2

FAQ

Maskell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Maskell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,098 people were recorded with the Maskell surname. That placed it at #2,105 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Maskell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,301 in 2016. That gives Maskell a modern rank of #2,062.

What does the Maskell surname mean?

An English habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "low-lying area of boggy ground".

What does the Maskell map show?

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