NameCensus.

UK surname

Nankivell

A Cornish locational surname derived from the placename Nanquidno.

In the 1881 census there were 145 people recorded with the Nankivell surname, ranking it #15,838 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 267, ranked #16,054, down from #15,838 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ruan Lanyhorne, St Agnes and Mary Tavy. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall and Plymouth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nankivell is 279 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 84.1%.

1881 census count

145

Ranked #15,838

Modern count

267

2016, ranked #16,054

Peak year

1999

279 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Nankivell had 145 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,838 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 267 in 2016, ranked #16,054.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 208 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Nankivell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Nankivell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Nankivell 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 186 #11,024
1861 historical 124 #17,797
1881 historical 145 #15,838
1891 historical 133 #19,870
1901 historical 205 #14,884
1911 historical 208 #14,594
1997 modern 255 #15,077
1998 modern 264 #15,119
1999 modern 279 #14,670
2000 modern 276 #14,724
2001 modern 269 #14,776
2002 modern 272 #14,930
2003 modern 273 #14,715
2004 modern 257 #15,419
2005 modern 253 #15,514
2006 modern 256 #15,496
2007 modern 261 #15,444
2008 modern 261 #15,597
2009 modern 268 #15,620
2010 modern 273 #15,764
2011 modern 270 #15,754
2012 modern 268 #15,745
2013 modern 275 #15,719
2014 modern 268 #16,111
2015 modern 269 #15,955
2016 modern 267 #16,054

Geography

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Where Nankivells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ruan Lanyhorne, St Agnes, Mary Tavy, St Breock and Kenwyn, Tregavethan. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall and Plymouth. 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 Ruan Lanyhorne Cornwall
2 St Agnes Cornwall
3 Mary Tavy Devon
4 St Breock Cornwall
5 Kenwyn, Tregavethan Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 011 Cornwall
2 Plymouth 026 Plymouth
3 Cornwall 062 Cornwall
4 Plymouth 021 Plymouth
5 Plymouth 027 Plymouth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Nankivell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Nankivell

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Nankivell, 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 Nankivell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Nankivell 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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Nankivell 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

Nankivell is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Nankivell

The surname Nankivell is of Cornish origin, and it is believed to have originated in the region of Cornwall, England, during the medieval period. The name is derived from the Cornish words "nans" and "kevell," which translate to "valley" and "hazel," respectively. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to a person who lived in a hazel-filled valley or a valley surrounded by hazel trees.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Nankivell can be found in the Cornish Subsidy Rolls of 1327, where it appears as "Nankyvill." This indicates that the name had already been established in the region by the 14th century. The name has also been found in various spellings, such as "Nankevill," "Nankivill," and "Nankevell," throughout historical records.

In the late 16th century, the surname Nankivell appeared in the Cornish Parish Registers, further solidifying its presence in the region. One notable early bearer of the name was John Nankivell, who was born in Cornwall in 1630 and later became a prominent merchant and landowner.

Another significant individual with the surname Nankivell was Sir Henry Nankivell (1680-1744), a Cornish politician and Member of Parliament for the borough of Helston. He was actively involved in local politics and played a crucial role in shaping the affairs of Cornwall during his time.

In the 18th century, the Nankivell family established themselves as prominent landowners and gentry in Cornwall. One notable member was William Nankivell (1747-1820), a wealthy landowner and philanthropist who funded the construction of several churches and schools in the region.

The surname Nankivell has also been associated with various place names in Cornwall. For instance, the village of Nankivell's Cross, located near Helston, is believed to have been named after the Nankivell family, who had significant landholdings in the area.

Throughout history, the surname Nankivell has maintained a strong presence in Cornwall, and its roots can be traced back to the medieval period. While the name has undergone various spelling variations, its Cornish origins and association with the hazel-filled valleys of the region have remained intact.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Nankivell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Nankivell 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. Cornwall leads with 66 Nankivells recorded in 1881 and an index of 41.50x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 66 41.50x
Devon 47 16.08x
Kent 11 2.30x
Middlesex 5 0.36x
Hampshire 3 1.04x
Lancashire 3 0.18x
Surrey 3 0.44x
Gloucestershire 2 0.73x
Norfolk 1 0.46x
Royal Navy 1 5.97x
Worcestershire 1 0.55x
Yorkshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Breock in Cornwall leads with 19 Nankivells recorded in 1881 and an index of 2209.30x.

Place Total Index
St Breock 19 2209.30x
Perranzabuloe 14 1021.90x
Whitchurch 13 2549.02x
St Agnes 12 538.12x
Plymouth Charles The 10 77.64x
Bovey Tracey 9 882.35x
Teynham 7 813.95x
Calstock 6 192.31x
Chatham 4 30.35x
Crediton 4 144.40x
Kenwyn 4 96.15x
Madron Penzance 4 69.20x
Colne 3 60.36x
Holdenhurst 3 39.74x
Lambeth 3 2.45x
Plymouth St Andrew 3 13.32x
Tormoham 3 24.25x
Clifton 2 14.36x
Egloshayle 2 266.67x
Poplar London 2 7.54x
St Austell 2 36.76x
Westminster St 2 38.61x
Ashburton 1 71.43x
East Dereham 1 36.63x
Great Malvern 1 26.11x
Illogan 1 23.75x
Kea 1 84.03x
Plympton Maurice 1 181.82x
Royal Navy 1 6.99x
Stoke Damerel 1 4.89x
Stoke Newington London 1 9.14x
Stonehouse East 1 67.57x
Totnes 1 58.48x
Truro St Mary 1 74.63x
York Marygate St Olave 1 185.19x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Elizabeth 7
Emma 6
Ann 5
Bessie 5
Jane 5
Sarah 5
Annie 3
Emily 2
Ada 1
Alice 1
Alvina 1
Anne 1
Bessee 1
Betsy 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Edith 1
Eliz. 1
Eliza 1
Elizth. 1
Ellen 1
Eth. 1
Fanny 1
Hannah 1
Helen 1
Jancy 1
Levada 1
Lilly 1
Loretta 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Mahlah 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Melinda 1
Merwina 1
Nancy 1
Nelly 1
Phoebe 1
Sophia 1
Therastes 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 15
James 7
William 6
Richard 3
Samuel 3
Arthur 2
Charles 2
Edwin 2
Robert 2
Thomas 2
Alfred 1
Belvin 1
Chas.Atkinson 1
Chas.Benj. 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Felix 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
George 1
Henry 1
J.P. 1
Jeremiah 1
Joseph 1
Josiah 1
Luke 1
Simeon 1
Thos. 1

FAQ

Nankivell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Nankivell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 145 people were recorded with the Nankivell surname. That placed it at #15,838 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Nankivell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 267 in 2016. That gives Nankivell a modern rank of #16,054.

What does the Nankivell surname mean?

A Cornish locational surname derived from the placename Nanquidno.

What does the Nankivell map show?

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