NameCensus.

UK surname

Nall

Derived from the Middle English word "atten all," meaning "at the hall," referring to someone who lived near a hall.

In the 1881 census there were 363 people recorded with the Nall surname, ranking it #8,545 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 287, ranked #15,212, down from #8,545 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Northamptonshire, Wirral and Newark and Sherwood.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nall is 501 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 20.9%.

1881 census count

363

Ranked #8,545

Modern count

287

2016, ranked #15,212

Peak year

1911

501 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Nall had 363 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,545 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 287 in 2016, ranked #15,212.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 501 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Small Town Suburbia.

Nall surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Nall surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Nall 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 329 #7,079
1861 historical 324 #7,860
1881 historical 363 #8,545
1891 historical 442 #8,179
1901 historical 411 #9,300
1911 historical 501 #7,820
1997 modern 318 #13,024
1998 modern 326 #13,146
1999 modern 325 #13,257
2000 modern 345 #12,693
2001 modern 324 #13,062
2002 modern 319 #13,448
2003 modern 312 #13,467
2004 modern 307 #13,685
2005 modern 305 #13,689
2006 modern 309 #13,633
2007 modern 317 #13,532
2008 modern 304 #14,000
2009 modern 311 #14,069
2010 modern 309 #14,420
2011 modern 300 #14,591
2012 modern 292 #14,770
2013 modern 295 #14,918
2014 modern 297 #14,943
2015 modern 291 #15,078
2016 modern 287 #15,212

Geography

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Where Nalls are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Manchester, Sheffield and Chapel-en-le-Frith. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Northamptonshire, Wirral, Newark and Sherwood and Melton. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Chapel-en-le-Frith Derbyshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Northamptonshire 002 East Northamptonshire
2 Wirral 027 Wirral
3 Newark and Sherwood 013 Newark and Sherwood
4 Wirral 022 Wirral
5 Melton 005 Melton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Nall

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Nall

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

Small Town Suburbia

Nationally, the Nall surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Small Town Suburbia, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Nall 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 is predominantly comprised of married couples with no resident dependent children, living in areas characterised neither by under-occupancy nor overcrowding throughout the UK in or adjacent to small towns. White ethnic groups and affiliation with Christianity predominates. Housing tends to be predominantly semi-detached or detached and workers are employed principally in managerial and professional occupations, with semi-skilled occupations also in evidence. These areas of the Supergroup are of higher population density.

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Nall 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

Nall is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Nall falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Nall 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Nall

The surname Nall has its origins in England and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "nale," which means "a nook or corner." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived in a remote or secluded area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Nall can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where a person named Adam Nalle is mentioned. The Hundred Rolls were a series of administrative records compiled during the reign of King Edward I.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various forms, including "Nalle," "Nailles," and "Naylles." These variations likely stemmed from regional dialects and phonetic spelling conventions of the time.

The Nall surname has also been linked to several place names in England, such as Nailsworth in Gloucestershire and Nailsea in Somerset. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

One notable figure bearing the Nall surname was Sir John Nall (c. 1625-1686), an English politician and member of the House of Commons. He represented the constituency of Gloucestershire during the reign of King Charles II.

Another prominent individual was Richard Nall (1677-1762), an English clergyman and author of several religious works. He served as the rector of Biddenden in Kent and published works such as "The Harmony of the Holy Gospels" in 1737.

In the 18th century, the name Nall appeared in various parish records across England, including those of Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, and Somerset. One example is the baptismal record of John Nall from Badsey, Worcestershire, in 1710.

The 19th century saw the name Nall spread to other parts of the world as a result of migration and colonization. One notable figure from this period was Edward Everett Nall (1855-1927), an American politician and lawyer who served as the Attorney General of Missouri from 1905 to 1909.

Another individual of note was John Nall (1872-1962), a British politician and member of the Labour Party. He served as a Member of Parliament for the constituency of Hull South West from 1923 to 1931.

While the surname Nall may have evolved from its Old English origins, it has maintained a presence throughout history, with individuals bearing this name making contributions in various fields, including politics, religion, and law.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Nall families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Nall 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. Lancashire leads with 119 Nalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.92x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 119 2.92x
Derbyshire 72 13.39x
Yorkshire 39 1.15x
Cheshire 31 4.09x
Staffordshire 18 1.55x
Durham 16 1.57x
Nottinghamshire 15 3.24x
Middlesex 10 0.29x
Warwickshire 10 1.15x
Leicestershire 6 1.58x
Cumberland 5 1.69x
Suffolk 4 0.96x
Surrey 3 0.18x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.31x
Dorset 1 0.44x
Royal Navy 1 2.44x
Worcestershire 1 0.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Castleton in Lancashire leads with 22 Nalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 54.07x.

Place Total Index
Castleton 22 54.07x
Hyde 16 71.56x
Buxton 15 329.67x
Pendleton In Salford 15 30.90x
Stoke Upon Trent 15 12.21x
Penistone 13 490.57x
Sheffield 13 12.00x
Chesterfield 11 54.59x
Chapel En Le Frith 9 183.30x
Levenshulme 9 214.80x
Rusholme 9 82.80x
Derby St Peter 8 46.73x
Helmington Row 8 168.07x
Moss Side 8 37.31x
Nether Hallam 8 17.38x
Aston 7 2.94x
Manchester 7 3.82x
Snenton 7 38.50x
Ashton Under Lyne 6 6.74x
Brownside 6 15000.00x
Castleton 6 789.47x
Alston 5 91.74x
Ardwick 5 13.61x
Chorlton On Medlock 5 7.73x
Ecclesall Bierlow 4 5.78x
Fernilee 4 320.00x
Gorleston 4 37.66x
Haughton 4 67.34x
Hulme 4 4.70x
Kirkdale 4 5.84x
Layton With Warbreck 4 26.76x
Melbourne 4 108.99x
Stockport 4 10.26x
Tunstall 4 78.59x
Yeardsley Cum Whaley 4 268.46x
Altrincham 3 22.66x
Birmingham 3 1.04x
Bromley London 3 3.97x
Broughton In Salford 3 8.05x
Leicester St Margaret 3 3.23x
Linby 3 789.47x
Mayfield 3 206.90x
Newington 3 2.37x
North Meols 3 7.52x
Salford 3 2.50x
Southwell 3 89.02x
Stretford 3 13.38x
West Derby 3 2.52x
Byers Green 2 69.44x
Clawson 2 227.27x
Eyam 2 133.33x
Glossop Dale 2 7.95x
Kyo 2 41.58x
Limehouse London 2 5.31x
Liscard 2 14.64x
Nottingham St Mary 2 1.67x
Stoke Newington London 2 7.48x
Wirksworth 2 40.90x
Belper 1 9.60x
Brightside Bierlow 1 1.50x
Daylesford 1 714.29x
Edensor 1 294.12x
Farnworth 1 4.10x
Hartington Upper 1 39.06x
Hose 1 192.31x
Kensington London 1 0.52x
Liverpool 1 0.40x
Macclesfield 1 2.97x
Melcombe Regis 1 10.71x
Newton In Ashton Under 1 13.37x
Royal Navy 1 2.86x
St Marylebone London 1 0.55x
Tyrie 1 25.06x
Westminster St James 1 2.83x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 22
William 20
George 14
James 12
Thomas 10
Robert 9
Joseph 8
Richard 7
Matthew 6
Henry 5
Samuel 5
Harry 3
Mark 3
Arthur 2
Edward 2
Fred 2
Herbert 2
Jabez 2
Simon 2
Walter 2
Wm. 2
Albert 1
Alfd. 1
Alfred 1
Allwood 1
Charles 1
Earnest 1
Edmund 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Fredric 1
Harold 1
Israel 1
Joe 1
Miles 1
Nathan 1
Nathaniel 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Reuben 1
Robt. 1
Robt.Henry 1
Sam 1
Spencer 1
Thos. 1
Vipond 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Nall surname: questions and answers

How common was the Nall surname in 1881?

In 1881, 363 people were recorded with the Nall surname. That placed it at #8,545 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Nall surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 287 in 2016. That gives Nall a modern rank of #15,212.

What does the Nall surname mean?

Derived from the Middle English word "atten all," meaning "at the hall," referring to someone who lived near a hall.

What does the Nall map show?

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