NameCensus.

UK surname

Mortell

A variant of the English locational surname referring to someone from a manor owned by an individual named "Moor" or "More".

In the 1881 census there were 8 people recorded with the Mortell surname, ranking it #32,581 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 131, ranked #26,004, up from #32,581 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rutland, Stevenage and Redcar and Cleveland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mortell is 141 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1537.5%.

1881 census count

8

Ranked #32,581

Modern count

131

2016, ranked #26,004

Peak year

1999

141 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mortell had 8 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,581 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 131 in 2016, ranked #26,004.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 39 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Mortell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mortell surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mortell 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 12 #31,134
1861 historical 13 #32,208
1881 historical 8 #32,581
1891 historical 12 #33,181
1901 historical 39 #29,799
1911 historical 32 #29,838
1997 modern 132 #22,821
1998 modern 138 #22,814
1999 modern 141 #22,702
2000 modern 136 #23,155
2001 modern 134 #23,037
2002 modern 140 #22,876
2003 modern 129 #23,783
2004 modern 126 #24,335
2005 modern 137 #23,110
2006 modern 132 #23,834
2007 modern 129 #24,503
2008 modern 124 #25,371
2009 modern 126 #25,686
2010 modern 127 #26,176
2011 modern 126 #26,060
2012 modern 120 #26,961
2013 modern 130 #26,074
2014 modern 130 #26,216
2015 modern 133 #25,729
2016 modern 131 #26,004

Geography

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Where Mortells 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 Rutland, Stevenage, Redcar and Cleveland, Peterborough and Charnwood. 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 Rutland 005 Rutland
2 Stevenage 008 Stevenage
3 Redcar and Cleveland 003 Redcar and Cleveland
4 Peterborough 017 Peterborough
5 Charnwood 003 Charnwood

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mortell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mortell

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Mortell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Mortell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mortell 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

Mortell is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mortell falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mortell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Mortell

The surname Mortell originated in the regions of Poitou and Saintonge in western France during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "morteil," which means "deadly" or "mortal." This name likely referred to someone who had a fierce or deadly temperament, or perhaps someone who worked in a profession related to death or warfare.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Mortell can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Mortel." This was a record of landowners and tenants in England compiled by order of William the Conqueror. The presence of the name in this document suggests that individuals bearing this surname may have accompanied the Norman invasion of England in 1066.

In the 12th century, the name was recorded as "Mortelle" in the Cartulary of the Abbey of Saint-Pierre-le-Vif in Sens, France. This was a collection of charters and records related to the abbey's properties and transactions.

During the 13th century, the name Mortell appeared in various forms, such as "Mortel" and "Mortelle," in records from the Duchy of Normandy and the County of Anjou in France.

One notable figure with the surname Mortell was Sir John Mortell, a English knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War between England and France in the 14th century. He was born around 1320 and served under Edward III in various campaigns in France.

Another historical figure was Jeanne Mortell, a French noblewoman born in the late 15th century. She was the wife of Jean de Montfort, a French nobleman and military leader during the Italian Wars of the early 16th century.

In the 16th century, the name Mortell was found in records from the region of Brittany in northwestern France. One example is Jacques Mortell, a merchant from the town of Nantes, who was born in 1542.

In the 17th century, the surname Mortell appeared in records from the region of Normandy, such as the baptismal record of Pierre Mortell in the parish of Saint-Ouen in Rouen in 1623.

During the 18th century, a notable figure with the surname Mortell was Louis Mortell, a French-born architect who worked in Sweden. He was born in 1721 in Paris and was involved in the construction of several notable buildings in Stockholm, including the Royal Palace.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mortell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mortell 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. Middlesex leads with 8 Mortells recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.26x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 8 10.26x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 4 Mortells recorded in 1881 and an index of 63.69x.

Place Total Index
St Pancras London 4 63.69x
Ealing 2 285.71x
Kensington London 2 46.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ann 1
Edith 1
Mary 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
David 1
Nicholas 1
Walter 1
Willia. 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 Mortell households.

FAQ

Mortell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mortell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 8 people were recorded with the Mortell surname. That placed it at #32,581 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mortell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 131 in 2016. That gives Mortell a modern rank of #26,004.

What does the Mortell surname mean?

A variant of the English locational surname referring to someone from a manor owned by an individual named "Moor" or "More".

What does the Mortell map show?

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