NameCensus.

UK surname

Mithcell

A variant spelling of the English surname Mitchell, derived from the Middle English form of the personal name Michael.

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Mithcell surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 27, ranked #36,189, down from #34,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Portsmouth, Portsea, Stranton and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Richmond upon Thames, East Hertfordshire and Largo.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mithcell is 188 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 2600.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

27

2016, ranked #36,189

Peak year

1891

188 bearers

Map years

2

1891 to 1998

Key insights

  • Mithcell had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 27 in 2016, ranked #36,189.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 188 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mithcell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mithcell surname density by area, 1998 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Mithcell 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 6 #32,278
1861 historical 86 #22,810
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1891 historical 188 #15,609
1911 historical 86 #24,243
1997 modern 172 #19,371
1998 modern 139 #22,720
1999 modern 94 #28,593
2000 modern 57 #32,417
2001 modern 46 #33,311
2002 modern 41 #34,032
2003 modern 32 #34,862
2004 modern 34 #34,868
2005 modern 36 #34,894
2006 modern 39 #34,932
2007 modern 39 #35,097
2008 modern 35 #35,441
2009 modern 37 #35,434
2010 modern 36 #35,620
2011 modern 37 #35,553
2012 modern 34 #35,711
2013 modern 32 #35,862
2014 modern 31 #35,953
2015 modern 30 #35,979
2016 modern 27 #36,189

Geography

Back to top

Where Mithcells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Portsmouth, Portsea, Stranton, Liverpool, St Giles Camberwell and Keighley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Richmond upon Thames, East Hertfordshire, Largo, Lambeth 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 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
2 Stranton Durham
3 Liverpool Lancashire
4 St Giles Camberwell London (South Districts)
5 Keighley Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Richmond upon Thames 003 Richmond upon Thames
2 East Hertfordshire 008 East Hertfordshire
3 Largo Fife
4 Lambeth 005 Lambeth
5 Barnsley 017 Barnsley

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Mithcell

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Mithcell

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

Established but Challenged

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mithcell is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mithcell is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mithcell 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 Mithcell 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 Mithcell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Mithcell

The surname Mithcell originated in England during the medieval period. It is a locational name derived from the Old English words "mycel" meaning "great" and "feld" meaning "field," referring to a large field or open space. The earliest known spelling of the name was "Mitchelle" in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of England ordered by William the Conqueror.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Roger Mitchelle, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire in 1194. The name was also found in various forms such as "Muchell," "Mychell," and "Mitchill" in different parts of England, particularly in the counties of Worcestershire, Shropshire, and Yorkshire.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire as "Miggel de Michelfelde," indicating a connection to a place named Mitchelfield or a similar variant. This association with place names was common for locational surnames during that period.

Notable individuals with the surname Mithcell include Sir Francis Mithcell (1528-1608), an English judge and politician who served as Lord Chief Justice of Ireland. Another prominent figure was Sir John Mithcell (1690-1768), a British diplomat and Member of Parliament.

In the literary world, John Mithcell (1711-1768) was an English playwright and poet known for his satirical works. Andrew Mithcell (1801-1871) was a Scottish horticulturist and botanist who made significant contributions to the study of plants and their cultivation.

One of the most famous bearers of the name was Sir Arthur Mithcell (1826-1909), an Irish-born explorer and naturalist who played a crucial role in the exploration of Australia. He is renowned for his expeditions across the Australian outback and his contributions to the study of the country's geography and natural history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Mithcell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mithcell 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. Durham leads with 1 Mithcells recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.84x.

County Total Index
Durham 1 34.84x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bishopwearmouth in Durham leads with 1 Mithcells recorded in 1881 and an index of 400.00x.

Place Total Index
Bishopwearmouth 1 400.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Emily 1

FAQ

Mithcell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mithcell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Mithcell surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mithcell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 27 in 2016. That gives Mithcell a modern rank of #36,189.

What does the Mithcell surname mean?

A variant spelling of the English surname Mitchell, derived from the Middle English form of the personal name Michael.

What does the Mithcell map show?

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