NameCensus.

UK surname

Mussell

An English surname denoting someone who lived near a bank of mussels.

In the 1881 census there were 407 people recorded with the Mussell surname, ranking it #7,868 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 534, ranked #9,515, down from #7,868 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Grimstead, West, Salisbury St Edmund and Southampton St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Herefordshire, Christchurch and North East Lincolnshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mussell is 584 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 31.2%.

1881 census count

407

Ranked #7,868

Modern count

534

2016, ranked #9,515

Peak year

1911

584 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mussell had 407 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,868 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 534 in 2016, ranked #9,515.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 584 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Mussell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mussell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mussell 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 354 #6,678
1861 historical 354 #7,224
1881 historical 407 #7,868
1891 historical 475 #7,734
1901 historical 460 #8,564
1911 historical 584 #6,977
1997 modern 545 #8,727
1998 modern 567 #8,715
1999 modern 568 #8,755
2000 modern 540 #9,084
2001 modern 539 #8,936
2002 modern 558 #8,876
2003 modern 552 #8,814
2004 modern 563 #8,717
2005 modern 556 #8,720
2006 modern 543 #8,903
2007 modern 528 #9,174
2008 modern 543 #9,060
2009 modern 554 #9,117
2010 modern 549 #9,380
2011 modern 530 #9,541
2012 modern 530 #9,445
2013 modern 560 #9,196
2014 modern 559 #9,268
2015 modern 548 #9,338
2016 modern 534 #9,515

Geography

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Where Mussells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Grimstead, West, Salisbury St Edmund, Southampton St Mary, Brighton and Portsmouth, Portsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Herefordshire, Christchurch and North East Lincolnshire. 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 Grimstead, West Wiltshire
2 Salisbury St Edmund Wiltshire
3 Southampton St Mary Hampshire
4 Brighton Sussex
5 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Herefordshire 021 Herefordshire, County of
2 Herefordshire 016 Herefordshire, County of
3 Christchurch 002 Christchurch
4 Christchurch 006 Christchurch
5 North East Lincolnshire 012 North East Lincolnshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mussell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mussell

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Mussell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Mussell 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Mussell 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

Mussell is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mussell falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mussell 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Mussell

The surname MUSSELL is of English origin and dates back to the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "mussel", which referred to the edible marine bivalve mollusk. The name was likely an occupational surname given to those who harvested or sold mussels.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname MUSSELL can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1199, where a certain Robert Mussel is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already established in Yorkshire by the late 12th century.

In the 13th century, the surname MUSSELL appeared in various forms, such as Muscel, Muscell, and Mussell, reflecting the variations in spelling common at the time. One notable early bearer of the name was John Muscel, who was recorded in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273.

The MUSSELL surname has also been linked to certain place names in England. For instance, the village of Mussell in Lincolnshire may have influenced the surname's spelling and distribution in that area.

Some notable individuals with the surname MUSSELL throughout history include:

1. William Mussell (c. 1470 - 1538), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Peterhouse, Cambridge. 2. John Mussell (c. 1600 - 1667), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons as the Member of Parliament for Warwick in 1659. 3. Thomas Mussell (1684 - 1762), an English mathematician and surveyor who worked on several notable engineering projects, including the construction of the Bridgewater Canal. 4. Mary Mussell (1776 - 1853), a British author and poet known for her works on nature and rural life. 5. James Mussell (1837 - 1904), a British architect who designed several prominent buildings in London during the Victorian era.

The MUSSELL surname has a rich history rooted in England's coastal regions and occupational traditions. Its origins can be traced back to the late 12th century, and it has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including academics, politicians, engineers, authors, and architects.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mussell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mussell 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. Wiltshire leads with 113 Mussells recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.11x.

County Total Index
Wiltshire 113 32.11x
Hampshire 104 12.75x
Sussex 31 4.62x
Surrey 24 1.24x
Dorset 23 8.81x
Middlesex 21 0.53x
Kent 20 1.47x
Yorkshire 16 0.41x
Essex 14 1.78x
Devon 10 1.21x
Gloucestershire 9 1.15x
Lancashire 9 0.19x
Leicestershire 4 0.91x
Berkshire 3 1.00x
Northumberland 3 0.51x
Lincolnshire 1 0.16x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.19x
Staffordshire 1 0.07x
Suffolk 1 0.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Downton in Wiltshire leads with 52 Mussells recorded in 1881 and an index of 1127.98x.

Place Total Index
Downton 52 1127.98x
Portsea 28 17.51x
Brighton 22 16.25x
West Grimstead 22 6875.00x
Southampton St Mary 15 29.24x
Middlesbrough 13 25.31x
Colne Engaine 12 1690.14x
Bramshaw 11 1067.96x
Clarendon Park 10 3333.33x
Farnborough 9 454.55x
Westminster St John 9 18.57x
Lambeth 8 2.31x
Alton 7 113.82x
Calbourne 7 804.60x
Clifton 7 17.74x
Britford 6 258.62x
Hinton Parva 6 4615.38x
Mottistone 6 3157.89x
Wareham St Martin 6 600.00x
Basingstoke 5 53.30x
Bermondsey 5 4.22x
Bromley 5 24.15x
East Stonehouse 5 30.64x
Preston 5 42.66x
Radipole 5 277.78x
Salisbury The Close 5 581.40x
Kingston On Thames 4 8.59x
Kirkdale 4 5.04x
Newton In Makerfield 4 27.66x
Orpington 4 96.15x
Plymouth Charles The 4 10.96x
Salisbury St Martin 4 109.29x
Southhampton St Mary Extra 4 449.44x
Staines 4 63.49x
Eastbourne 3 9.72x
Fawley 3 115.83x
Salisbury St Thomas 3 107.53x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 3.75x
St Michael Winchester 3 180.72x
Wallsend 3 15.97x
Whiteparish 3 200.00x
Wyke Regis 3 80.00x
Bristol St James St Paul 2 7.68x
Leicester St Margaret 2 1.86x
Melton Mowbray 2 25.22x
Millbrook 2 9.74x
Paddington London 2 1.37x
Penton Mewsey 2 512.82x
Plaitford 2 833.33x
Ryde 2 11.42x
Scarborough 2 5.58x
Southwark Christchurch 2 10.72x
Upway 2 202.02x
Acton 1 4.29x
Alderbury 1 60.61x
Chatham 1 2.68x
Clapham 1 2.01x
Clist Hydon 1 263.16x
Edwalton 1 666.67x
Fareham 1 10.20x
Hadleigh 1 21.28x
Heytesbury 1 78.13x
Holnest 1 714.29x
Kensington London 1 0.45x
Leyton Low 1 6.26x
Methley 1 18.02x
Northwood 1 8.61x
Odiham 1 27.93x
Old Windsor 1 28.90x
Reading St Giles 1 3.41x
Southampton St John 1 119.05x
Speldhurst 1 14.47x
St Clement Danes 1 15.53x
St Faith Winchester 1 26.32x
St George Bloomsbury 1 4.38x
St Helens 1 16.86x
St Luke London 1 1.57x
Wargrave 1 38.91x
West Bromwich 1 1.30x
Woodford 1 11.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 26
Elizabeth 18
Sarah 14
Alice 6
Fanny 6
Jane 6
Louisa 6
Eliza 5
Emma 5
Kate 5
Ann 4
Annie 4
Caroline 4
Clara 4
Edith 4
Ellen 4
Emily 4
Charlotte 3
Eva 3
Florence 3
Harriet 3
Julia 3
Lucy 3
Rose 3
Ada 2
Agnes 2
Bertha 2
Betsey 2
Hannah 2
Margaret 2
Rhoda 2
Susan 2
Susanna 2
Angelina 1
Carrie 1
Dinah 1
Dora 1
Effie 1
Eliz.Ann 1
Eliz.Mary 1
Elizth. 1
Elleanor 1
Frances 1
Harriett 1
Harryet 1
Henrietta 1
Huldah 1
Jemima 1
Joanna 1
Virtue 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 25
John 22
James 18
Thomas 13
William 13
Charles 10
Henry 9
Frank 4
Frederick 4
Alfred 3
Chas. 3
Edward 3
Fred 3
Harry 3
Walter 3
Albert 2
David 2
Herbert 2
Isaac 2
Percy 2
Richard 2
Robert 2
Samuel 2
Alexander 1
Arther 1
Arthur 1
Clement 1
Daniel 1
Edwin 1
Enos 1
Eustace 1
Francis 1
G. 1
Geo.W. 1
Harvey 1
Hedly 1
Henery 1
Jesse 1
Jno. 1
Job 1
Jos.P. 1
Joseph 1
Josia 1
Mark 1
Morris 1
Peter 1
Philip 1
Phillunoman 1
Reginald 1
Wm.J.Gale 1

FAQ

Mussell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mussell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 407 people were recorded with the Mussell surname. That placed it at #7,868 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mussell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 534 in 2016. That gives Mussell a modern rank of #9,515.

What does the Mussell surname mean?

An English surname denoting someone who lived near a bank of mussels.

What does the Mussell map show?

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