NameCensus.

UK surname

Maskill

An Anglicized form of the French surname Mascouill, derived from an old word for miller or mill worker.

In the 1881 census there were 204 people recorded with the Maskill surname, ranking it #12,682 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 407, ranked #11,735, up from #12,682 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Barwick-in-Elmett, Whitkirk (Seacroft), Thorner (Shadwell) and Hatfield, Fishlake, Thorne, Crowle (Eastoft). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wakefield and Barnsley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Maskill is 420 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 99.5%.

1881 census count

204

Ranked #12,682

Modern count

407

2016, ranked #11,735

Peak year

2013

420 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Maskill had 204 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,682 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 407 in 2016, ranked #11,735.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 294 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Maskill surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Maskill surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Maskill 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 114 #15,716
1861 historical 194 #12,310
1881 historical 204 #12,682
1891 historical 225 #13,714
1901 historical 229 #13,894
1911 historical 294 #11,622
1997 modern 383 #11,359
1998 modern 382 #11,779
1999 modern 392 #11,624
2000 modern 379 #11,855
2001 modern 368 #11,952
2002 modern 370 #12,121
2003 modern 358 #12,208
2004 modern 369 #11,967
2005 modern 372 #11,813
2006 modern 372 #11,878
2007 modern 368 #12,125
2008 modern 371 #12,155
2009 modern 385 #12,070
2010 modern 400 #11,992
2011 modern 408 #11,681
2012 modern 418 #11,318
2013 modern 420 #11,489
2014 modern 411 #11,768
2015 modern 410 #11,686
2016 modern 407 #11,735

Geography

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Where Maskills are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Barwick-in-Elmett, Whitkirk (Seacroft), Thorner (Shadwell), Hatfield, Fishlake, Thorne, Crowle (Eastoft), Featherstone and Brotherton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wakefield and Barnsley. 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 Barwick-in-Elmett Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Whitkirk (Seacroft), Thorner (Shadwell) Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Hatfield, Fishlake, Thorne, Crowle (Eastoft) Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Featherstone Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Brotherton Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wakefield 004 Wakefield
2 Wakefield 024 Wakefield
3 Wakefield 002 Wakefield
4 Barnsley 002 Barnsley
5 Barnsley 001 Barnsley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Maskill

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Maskill

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Maskill, 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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Maskill surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Maskill household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Maskill is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Maskill is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Maskill falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Maskill 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 Maskill, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Maskill

The surname Maskill has its origins in England, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "masca," meaning a small mesh or knot, and "hyll," meaning a hill or mound. This suggests that the name may have referred to someone who lived on or near a small knoll or hillock.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Maskill can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, where it appears as "Mascylhyll." This document was a survey of landowners and their holdings, indicating that the Maskill family likely had roots in that region.

During the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "Maskeyll" and "Maskell," reflecting the variations in spelling that were common during that era. In the 1379 Poll Tax records for Yorkshire, the name is listed as "Maskell."

The Maskill surname is closely associated with the village of Maskill in Lancashire, which likely took its name from the same Old English roots. Maskill is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Maschelesfel," further cementing the connection between the name and the location.

Notable individuals bearing the Maskill surname include:

1. John Maskill (c. 1590 - 1665), an English clergyman and writer who served as the Rector of Purleigh in Essex. 2. William Maskill (1807 - 1884), a British architect and surveyor who was instrumental in the design and construction of several notable buildings in London. 3. Robert Maskill (1843 - 1917), a British engineer and inventor who patented several improvements to agricultural machinery. 4. Elizabeth Maskill (1864 - 1945), a renowned English landscape painter known for her pastoral scenes and depictions of rural life. 5. Thomas Maskill (1888 - 1962), a British soldier who served in the First World War and was awarded the Military Cross for his bravery during the Battle of the Somme.

While the Maskill surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including North America, Australia, and New Zealand, where descendants of the original Maskill families have established themselves over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Maskill families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Maskill 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. Yorkshire leads with 146 Maskills recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.37x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 146 7.37x
Berkshire 11 7.33x
Surrey 9 0.92x
Sussex 7 2.08x
Cambridgeshire 6 4.74x
Middlesex 6 0.30x
Lancashire 5 0.21x
Essex 3 0.76x
Derbyshire 2 0.64x
Kent 2 0.29x
Lincolnshire 2 0.63x
Staffordshire 2 0.30x
Bedfordshire 1 0.97x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.83x
Dorset 1 0.76x
Worcestershire 1 0.38x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Whitwood in Yorkshire leads with 15 Maskills recorded in 1881 and an index of 533.81x.

Place Total Index
Whitwood 15 533.81x
Goole 12 361.45x
Shipton In Great 12 4137.93x
Thorne 11 447.15x
Barwick In Elmet 10 657.89x
Brotherton 9 1139.24x
Earley 9 360.00x
Bramham Cum Oglethorpe 7 886.08x
Castleford 7 96.95x
Mayfield 7 351.76x
Seacroft 7 744.68x
Brightside Bierlow 6 15.44x
Hook 6 137.61x
Whittlesford 6 1034.48x
Huntington 5 1250.00x
Liverpool 5 3.47x
Micklefield 5 1041.67x
Wandsworth 5 25.97x
Bolton Percy 4 2352.94x
Calverley Cum Farsley 4 71.05x
Hunslet 4 12.95x
Huddersfield 3 10.39x
Leeds 3 2.68x
Wetherby 3 232.56x
Brandsby Cum Stearsby 2 952.38x
Clapham 2 8.00x
Great Grimsby 2 9.86x
St Osyth 2 208.33x
Stapenhill 2 42.92x
Swillington 2 357.14x
Wimbledon 2 18.28x
Acton 1 8.53x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 1 14.75x
Cawood 1 131.58x
Chalfont St Giles 1 114.94x
Chapel Allerton 1 33.67x
Chatham 1 5.33x
Chelsea London 1 1.66x
Colchester St Leonard 1 78.74x
Cranbrook 1 34.60x
Doncaster 1 6.91x
Fairburn 1 285.71x
Glass Houghton 1 138.89x
Hammersmith London 1 2.03x
Houghton Regis 1 60.61x
Keighley 1 4.73x
Kensington London 1 0.90x
North Duffield 1 384.62x
Poplar London 1 2.65x
Sedgley 1 3.99x
Shaftesbury Holy Trinity 1 147.06x
Shaw Cum Donnington 1 208.33x
St Marylebone London 1 0.94x
Stockton On Forest 1 322.58x
Stourbridge 1 14.88x
Thatcham 1 43.29x
Wolverhampton 1 1.93x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 15
George 11
Thomas 11
Henry 6
Joseph 5
William 5
Robert 4
Alfred 3
Charles 3
Tom 3
Albert 2
Edward 2
James 2
Walter 2
Barley 1
Benjamin 1
Bowman 1
Christopher 1
David 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Harry 1
Hedley 1
Herbert 1
Jo. 1
Jos. 1
Joshua 1
Lance 1
Mark 1
Martin 1
Rex 1
Sarah 1
Trayton 1
Wilford 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Maskill surname: questions and answers

How common was the Maskill surname in 1881?

In 1881, 204 people were recorded with the Maskill surname. That placed it at #12,682 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Maskill surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 407 in 2016. That gives Maskill a modern rank of #11,735.

What does the Maskill surname mean?

An Anglicized form of the French surname Mascouill, derived from an old word for miller or mill worker.

What does the Maskill map show?

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