NameCensus.

UK surname

Metherell

In the 1881 census there were 244 people recorded with the Metherell surname, ranking it #11,258 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 489, ranked #10,141, up from #11,258 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Devonport Stonehouse, East, London parishes and Stratton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall and Torridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Metherell is 545 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 100.4%.

1881 census count

244

Ranked #11,258

Modern count

489

2016, ranked #10,141

Peak year

1998

545 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Metherell had 244 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,258 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 489 in 2016, ranked #10,141.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 518 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Metherell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Metherell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Metherell 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 218 #9,754
1861 historical 170 #13,763
1881 historical 244 #11,258
1891 historical 326 #10,405
1901 historical 414 #9,254
1911 historical 518 #7,624
1997 modern 525 #8,977
1998 modern 545 #8,987
1999 modern 528 #9,260
2000 modern 530 #9,211
2001 modern 512 #9,288
2002 modern 523 #9,344
2003 modern 496 #9,540
2004 modern 491 #9,630
2005 modern 477 #9,764
2006 modern 483 #9,722
2007 modern 468 #10,039
2008 modern 475 #10,029
2009 modern 489 #10,034
2010 modern 485 #10,277
2011 modern 492 #10,072
2012 modern 477 #10,205
2013 modern 489 #10,195
2014 modern 499 #10,090
2015 modern 491 #10,134
2016 modern 489 #10,141

Geography

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Where Metherells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Devonport Stonehouse, East, London parishes, Stratton, Portsmouth, Portsea and Tavistock. Whitechurch, St Peter Tavy. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall and Torridge. 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 Devonport Stonehouse, East Devon
2 London parishes London 3
3 Stratton Cornwall
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 Tavistock. Whitechurch, St Peter Tavy Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 002 Cornwall
2 Torridge 008 Torridge
3 Torridge 006 Torridge
4 Torridge 003 Torridge
5 Cornwall 005 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Metherell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Metherell

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Metherell, 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 Metherell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Metherell 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

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Metherell is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Metherell 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

Metherell falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

1881 census detail

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Metherell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Metherell 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. Devon leads with 155 Metherells recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.82x.

County Total Index
Devon 155 29.82x
Cornwall 34 12.03x
Middlesex 18 0.72x
Channel Islands 12 16.22x
Hampshire 10 1.95x
Essex 7 1.42x
Yorkshire 7 0.28x
Surrey 4 0.33x
Lincolnshire 2 0.50x
Sussex 2 0.48x
Cumberland 1 0.47x
Dorset 1 0.61x
Glamorgan 1 0.23x
Kent 1 0.12x
Warwickshire 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tavistock in Devon leads with 18 Metherells recorded in 1881 and an index of 304.05x.

Place Total Index
Tavistock 18 304.05x
East Stonehouse 15 146.48x
Plymouth St Andrew 15 37.46x
Stoke Damerel 10 27.49x
Exeter St Mary Major 9 287.54x
Modbury 9 676.69x
Alverstoke 8 43.17x
Davidstow 8 2285.71x
Kensington London 8 5.76x
St Helier 8 33.21x
Ashwater 7 945.95x
South Shoebury 7 353.54x
Bow 6 857.14x
Guisbrough 6 110.91x
North Tawton 6 375.00x
Okehampton 6 306.12x
Plymouth Charles The 6 26.20x
Welcombe 6 3333.33x
Buckland Brewer 5 793.65x
Chudleigh 5 303.03x
Paignton 5 126.26x
Tormoham 5 22.74x
Veryan 5 458.72x
Broadwoodwidger 4 677.97x
Islington London 4 1.65x
Tremaine 4 5714.29x
Bow London 3 9.44x
Callington 3 181.82x
Egloskerry 3 810.81x
Jacobstow 3 810.81x
Littleham 3 78.95x
St Owen 3 154.64x
Stoke 3 142.86x
Brighton 2 2.35x
Portsea 2 1.99x
Spalding 2 25.25x
St George In East 2 11.77x
St Mary Magdalene 2 96.15x
Whitstone 2 571.43x
Woking 2 27.29x
Aston 1 0.58x
Beaworthy 1 400.00x
Bootle 1 144.93x
Bridgerule East 1 714.29x
Clapham 1 3.20x
Croydon 1 1.48x
Deptford St Paul 1 1.52x
Devonport 1 16.75x
Exeter St George The 1 175.44x
Exeter St Sidwell 1 8.40x
Horton In Ribblesdale 1 222.22x
Lamerton 1 101.01x
Llangynwyd Higher 1 47.85x
Melcombe Regis 1 14.73x
Saltash 1 45.66x
Sandford 1 78.74x
South Brent 1 89.29x
St Blazey 1 40.32x
St Katherine By Tower 1 2000.00x
St Peter Port 1 7.30x
St Thomas Apostle 1 114.94x
Stonehouse East 1 37.88x
Tiverton 1 11.17x
Tresmeer 1 666.67x
West Teignmouth 1 25.13x
Wolborough 1 15.22x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 19
Elizabeth 13
Emma 7
Emily 6
Louisa 5
Susan 5
Ann 4
Annie 4
Jane 4
Agnes 3
Eliza 3
Maria 3
Sarah 3
Alice 2
Bessie 2
Catherine 2
Eliz. 2
Ellen 2
Phillippa 2
Amila 1
Anna 1
Arminal 1
Betsie 1
Celia 1
Charlotte 1
Dinah 1
Edith 1
Elizth. 1
Elni 1
Emmeline 1
Hannah 1
Harriatt 1
Harriett 1
Ida 1
Isabella 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Laphy 1
Laura 1
Leonora 1
Letitia 1
Lilley 1
Lydia 1
Malaura 1
Margaret 1
Maud 1
May 1
Minnie 1
Nancy 1
Thomasine 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 21
William 16
James 9
George 6
Robert 6
Thomas 6
Philip 5
Richard 5
Alfred 4
Frederick 4
Wm. 4
Emanuel 3
Henry 3
Joseph 3
Samuel 3
Arthur 2
Edmund 2
Harry 2
Josiah 2
A.M. 1
Abiathar 1
Abiather 1
Albert 1
Arscott 1
Charles 1
Dan 1
Edw. 1
Edwin 1
Frank 1
Fredk. 1
J. 1
Jas. 1
Kinnard 1
Oliver 1
Reginald 1
Sidney 1
Silas 1
Stephen 1
Sydney 1
Willm. 1
Wm.P. 1

FAQ

Metherell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Metherell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 244 people were recorded with the Metherell surname. That placed it at #11,258 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Metherell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 489 in 2016. That gives Metherell a modern rank of #10,141.

What does the Metherell map show?

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