NameCensus.

UK surname

Matsell

In the 1881 census there were 108 people recorded with the Matsell surname, ranking it #18,888 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 117, ranked #28,033, down from #18,888 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Snettisham, Barsham, East and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Breckland, South Kesteven and King's Lynn and West Norfolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Matsell is 195 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 8.3%.

1881 census count

108

Ranked #18,888

Modern count

117

2016, ranked #28,033

Peak year

1911

195 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Matsell had 108 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,888 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 117 in 2016, ranked #28,033.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 195 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Matsell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Matsell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Matsell 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 45 #25,168
1861 historical 57 #26,718
1881 historical 108 #18,888
1891 historical 151 #18,242
1901 historical 163 #17,205
1911 historical 195 #15,197
1997 modern 117 #24,553
1998 modern 124 #24,316
1999 modern 119 #25,095
2000 modern 123 #24,585
2001 modern 122 #24,366
2002 modern 123 #24,735
2003 modern 121 #24,776
2004 modern 132 #23,625
2005 modern 123 #24,663
2006 modern 116 #25,813
2007 modern 115 #26,348
2008 modern 119 #26,067
2009 modern 126 #25,686
2010 modern 122 #26,876
2011 modern 114 #27,784
2012 modern 124 #26,432
2013 modern 127 #26,452
2014 modern 124 #27,049
2015 modern 117 #27,982
2016 modern 117 #28,033

Geography

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Where Matsells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Snettisham, Barsham, East, London parishes, Wath-on-Dearn and Wells. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Breckland, South Kesteven and King's Lynn and West Norfolk. 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 Snettisham Norfolk
2 Barsham, East Norfolk
3 London parishes London 1
4 Wath-on-Dearn Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Wells Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Breckland 003 Breckland
2 South Kesteven 003 South Kesteven
3 Breckland 005 Breckland
4 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 001 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
5 South Kesteven 004 South Kesteven

Forenames

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First names often paired with Matsell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Matsell

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Matsell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Matsell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Matsell 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

Matsell 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

Matsell falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

1881 census detail

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Matsell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Matsell 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. Norfolk leads with 85 Matsells recorded in 1881 and an index of 52.48x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 85 52.48x
Yorkshire 10 0.96x
Middlesex 7 0.66x
Northamptonshire 2 2.02x
Surrey 2 0.39x
Hampshire 1 0.46x
Lincolnshire 1 0.59x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ringstead in Norfolk leads with 17 Matsells recorded in 1881 and an index of 10000.00x.

Place Total Index
Ringstead 17 10000.00x
Helhoughton 15 12500.00x
East Barsham 13 18571.43x
Snettisham 11 2444.44x
Burnham Westgate 8 2285.71x
Linthorpe 5 80.26x
Little Walsingham 5 1351.35x
Southcoates 5 86.21x
St Pancras London 4 4.72x
Norwich St Andrew 3 1071.43x
St Clement Danes 3 175.44x
Tattersett 3 4285.71x
West Rainham 3 2500.00x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 2 41.15x
Peterborough 2 27.89x
Stibbard 2 1176.47x
Battersea 1 2.58x
Castle Acre 1 208.33x
Kingston On Thames 1 8.11x
Northwood 1 32.57x
Pinchbeck 1 92.59x
Swaffham 1 75.76x
Wells Next Sea 1 106.38x

Top female names

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

FAQ

Matsell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Matsell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 108 people were recorded with the Matsell surname. That placed it at #18,888 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Matsell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 117 in 2016. That gives Matsell a modern rank of #28,033.

What does the Matsell map show?

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