NameCensus.

UK surname

Miskell

A misspelling or anglicized variation of the Irish surname "Myshall".

In the 1881 census there were 50 people recorded with the Miskell surname, ranking it #26,587 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 189, ranked #20,334, up from #26,587 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include St Albans, Bolton and Tameside.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Miskell is 195 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 278.0%.

1881 census count

50

Ranked #26,587

Modern count

189

2016, ranked #20,334

Peak year

2015

195 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Miskell had 50 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #26,587 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 189 in 2016, ranked #20,334.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 72 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Miskell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Miskell surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Miskell 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 21 #29,550
1861 historical 28 #30,405
1881 historical 50 #26,587
1891 historical 60 #29,204
1901 historical 54 #28,178
1911 historical 72 #25,642
1997 modern 164 #19,944
1998 modern 179 #19,372
1999 modern 183 #19,248
2000 modern 178 #19,570
2001 modern 186 #18,773
2002 modern 180 #19,533
2003 modern 184 #19,075
2004 modern 185 #19,114
2005 modern 180 #19,395
2006 modern 183 #19,326
2007 modern 187 #19,271
2008 modern 180 #19,946
2009 modern 179 #20,418
2010 modern 182 #20,662
2011 modern 191 #19,871
2012 modern 189 #19,949
2013 modern 188 #20,352
2014 modern 191 #20,302
2015 modern 195 #19,909
2016 modern 189 #20,334

Geography

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Where Miskells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to St Albans, Bolton, Tameside and South Kesteven. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 St Albans 008 St Albans
2 Bolton 024 Bolton
3 Tameside 011 Tameside
4 St Albans 016 St Albans
5 South Kesteven 016 South Kesteven

Forenames

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First names often paired with Miskell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Miskell

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Miskell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Miskell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Miskell is most associated with areas classed as Established Homeowners with Children, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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

These predominantly British-born residents are typically married/in civil partnerships and own the properties in which they are raising their children. Parents are typically over 45, and many other residents are beyond normal retirement age. Detached and semi-detached houses predominate and multiple car ownership is common.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Miskell is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Miskell 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 Miskell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Miskell

The surname Miskell originates from Ireland, and it is believed to have emerged during the 16th century. It is derived from the Gaelic name "Mac Isghaoil," which translates to "son of the bishop's servant" or "son of the deacon." The name is closely related to the Irish surname MacNiall, as both share a similar linguistic root.

In the early 17th century, the name Miskell appeared in various Irish records and manuscripts, particularly in the counties of Galway and Mayo, where the name was prevalent. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, which mentions a Miskell family residing in County Mayo in the year 1612.

The Miskell surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the most prominent figures was John Miskell (1572-1638), a renowned Irish scholar and theologian who served as the Archbishop of Armagh from 1624 until his death. Another significant figure was Patrick Miskell (1712-1783), an Irish politician and landowner who represented County Mayo in the Irish Parliament during the 18th century.

In the 19th century, the Miskell name gained prominence in the United States, particularly in the state of Pennsylvania. Thomas Miskell (1798-1872), an Irish immigrant, became a successful businessman and philanthropist in Philadelphia. He founded the Miskell School for Boys, which operated from 1850 to 1912.

The name Miskell has also been linked to various place names and older spellings. For instance, the townland of Miskellstown in County Meath, Ireland, is believed to have derived its name from a Miskell family that once resided in the area. Additionally, the name has been recorded with alternative spellings such as Miskel, Miskil, and Miskeill in historical documents.

Other notable individuals with the surname Miskell include:

1. Edward Miskell (1820-1891), an Irish-born Australian politician who served as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly. 2. Mary Miskell (1862-1943), an Irish-American philanthropist and activist who founded the Mary Miskell Home for Aged Women in New York City. 3. William Miskell (1873-1945), a British-born Canadian politician and businessman who served as the mayor of Winnipeg from 1935 to 1936. 4. James Miskell (1907-1983), an Australian rugby league player who represented New South Wales and Australia in the 1930s. 5. Seamus Miskell (1934-2016), an Irish novelist and short story writer known for his works exploring Irish culture and identity.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Miskell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Miskell 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. Glamorgan leads with 12 Miskells recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.13x.

County Total Index
Glamorgan 12 14.13x
Lancashire 12 2.07x
Derbyshire 8 10.48x
Angus 6 13.28x
Stirlingshire 5 27.81x
Yorkshire 5 1.03x
Cheshire 1 0.93x
Surrey 1 0.42x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Gelligaer in Glamorgan leads with 12 Miskells recorded in 1881 and an index of 618.56x.

Place Total Index
Gelligaer 12 618.56x
Eckington 8 432.43x
Liff Benvie 6 87.46x
Manchester 6 23.06x
Stirling 5 220.26x
Batley 4 87.15x
Gorton 3 55.15x
Bingley 1 32.47x
Clapham 1 16.39x
Crumpsall 1 73.53x
Heap 1 32.57x
Timperley 1 270.27x
Warrington 1 14.58x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 8
Catherine 2
Ellen 2
Bridget 1
Bridgett 1
Emma 1
Kate 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 4
Michael 3
Patrick 3
Thomas 3
Daniel 1
Edward 1
Joseph 1
Martin 1
Mike 1
Patsey 1
Robert 1
Samuell 1
William 1

Top occupations

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 Miskell households.

FAQ

Miskell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Miskell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 50 people were recorded with the Miskell surname. That placed it at #26,587 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Miskell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 189 in 2016. That gives Miskell a modern rank of #20,334.

What does the Miskell surname mean?

A misspelling or anglicized variation of the Irish surname "Myshall".

What does the Miskell map show?

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