NameCensus.

UK surname

Nell

Derived from a medieval given name, a shortened form of names such as Eleanor or Helen.

In the 1881 census there were 226 people recorded with the Nell surname, ranking it #11,889 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 251, ranked #16,744, down from #11,889 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Louth, London parishes and Molesey, East. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cannock Chase, Sunderland and Newham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nell is 291 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 11.1%.

1881 census count

226

Ranked #11,889

Modern count

251

2016, ranked #16,744

Peak year

2010

291 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Nell had 226 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,889 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 251 in 2016, ranked #16,744.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 254 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Nell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Nell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Nell 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 175 #11,542
1861 historical 250 #9,877
1881 historical 226 #11,889
1891 historical 222 #13,854
1901 historical 239 #13,489
1911 historical 254 #12,748
1997 modern 202 #17,514
1998 modern 221 #17,021
1999 modern 222 #17,080
2000 modern 202 #18,094
2001 modern 203 #17,787
2002 modern 220 #17,249
2003 modern 226 #16,766
2004 modern 250 #15,695
2005 modern 257 #15,365
2006 modern 249 #15,784
2007 modern 251 #15,861
2008 modern 253 #15,941
2009 modern 257 #16,099
2010 modern 291 #15,050
2011 modern 269 #15,800
2012 modern 250 #16,523
2013 modern 262 #16,273
2014 modern 254 #16,726
2015 modern 250 #16,803
2016 modern 251 #16,744

Geography

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Where Nells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Louth, London parishes, Molesey, East, Brighton and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cannock Chase, Sunderland, Newham and Wandsworth. 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 Louth Lincolnshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Molesey, East Surrey
4 Brighton Sussex
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cannock Chase 008 Cannock Chase
2 Sunderland 034 Sunderland
3 Newham 037 Newham
4 Wandsworth 035 Wandsworth
5 Sunderland 002 Sunderland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Nell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Nell

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Nell 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

Nell 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

Nell falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Nell 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 Nell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Nell

The surname NELL originates from England and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "nell" or "nellin," which meant "small" or "tiny." This suggests that the name was initially a nickname for someone who was short in stature or perhaps a descriptive term for a child.

In the medieval period, surnames were often derived from physical characteristics, occupations, or places of origin. The NELL surname likely began as a descriptive nickname that eventually became hereditary within families.

One of the earliest known references to the NELL surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which were records of landholders and their holdings in various English counties. The entry "Robertus Nell" is listed among the residents of Oxfordshire at that time.

Another early record of the name appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where a "Willelmus Nelle" is mentioned as a taxpayer. This spelling variation, "Nelle," was common in the early days of the surname's usage.

The NELL surname has also been connected to several place names in England, such as Nell Bridge in Yorkshire and Nell Tor in Derbyshire. These locations may have influenced the surname's development or vice versa.

Notable individuals with the NELL surname throughout history include:

1. Thomas Nell (c. 1673-1743), an English printer and publisher who was active in London during the early 18th century. 2. William Cornwallis Nell (1816-1874), an American abolitionist, author, and civil rights pioneer born in Boston, Massachusetts. 3. Walter Nell (1887-1955), a British painter and illustrator known for his landscapes and scenes of rural life. 4. Edwin Nell (1892-1957), a German actor and film director who appeared in several popular films during the Weimar Republic era. 5. James Nell (1923-2000), an Australian cricketer who played for New South Wales and represented Australia in Test matches during the 1950s.

While the NELL surname may have humble beginnings as a descriptive nickname, it has endured for centuries and been carried by individuals from various walks of life, contributing to the rich tapestry of human history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Nell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Nell 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. Yorkshire leads with 63 Nells recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.80x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 63 2.80x
Sussex 28 7.31x
Middlesex 26 1.14x
Glamorgan 20 5.05x
Lincolnshire 19 5.23x
Kent 15 1.93x
Durham 10 1.48x
Northumberland 9 2.66x
Surrey 9 0.81x
Channel Islands 8 11.88x
Northamptonshire 7 3.27x
Buckinghamshire 3 2.18x
Hampshire 3 0.64x
Aberdeenshire 2 0.95x
Essex 2 0.45x
Norfolk 2 0.57x
Staffordshire 2 0.26x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.69x
Cornwall 1 0.39x
Derbyshire 1 0.28x
Lancashire 1 0.04x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Nether Hallam in Yorkshire leads with 19 Nells recorded in 1881 and an index of 62.36x.

Place Total Index
Nether Hallam 19 62.36x
Louth 16 192.08x
Brighton 15 19.40x
Sheffield 15 20.92x
Ecclesfield 10 60.57x
Lewisham 10 24.18x
Penarth 10 258.40x
Wenvoe 10 3125.00x
Bishopwearmouth 7 12.06x
Heeley 7 102.34x
Northampton Priory St 7 54.56x
Chipping Barnet 6 1000.00x
East Molesey 6 233.46x
Grouville 6 319.15x
Kensington London 6 4.75x
New Shoreham 6 260.87x
Hackney London 5 3.92x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 5 112.36x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 4 19.80x
Southwick 4 197.04x
Chester Le Street 3 57.80x
Deptford St Paul 3 5.02x
Ecclesall Bierlow 3 6.55x
Horbury 3 76.14x
Islington London 3 1.36x
Wycombe 3 29.30x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 2 5.08x
Lewes St Ann 2 153.85x
Newington 2 2.38x
Pontefract 2 41.24x
Portsea 2 2.19x
St George In East London 2 9.35x
West Ham 2 2.02x
Wolverhampton 2 3.39x
Barnsley 1 4.30x
Blakeney 1 161.29x
Brightside Bierlow 1 2.26x
Camberwell 1 0.69x
Chelsea London 1 1.46x
Falmouth 1 10.98x
Faversham 1 13.53x
Great Grimsby 1 4.33x
Great Yarmouth 1 3.45x
Hasland 1 27.62x
Hove 1 5.95x
Ilkley 1 27.17x
Newton 1 178.57x
Ormesby 1 16.53x
Paddington London 1 1.20x
Pinner 1 50.25x
Sevenoaks 1 15.90x
Shanklin 1 71.94x
Snenton 1 8.31x
St Giles In Fields London 1 8.97x
St Martin 1 24.21x
St Saviour 1 26.88x
Sutton In Marsh 1 357.14x
Toxteth Park 1 1.10x
West Ravendale 1 2000.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 14
John 9
Thomas 9
George 7
Charles 6
Arthur 4
James 4
Harry 3
Henry 3
Herbert 3
Alfred 2
David 2
Fred 2
Frederick 2
Laurence 2
Peter 2
Richard 2
Samuel 2
Walter 2
Albert 1
Albt. 1
Archibald 1
Bienaime 1
Colin 1
Cyril 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Frederic 1
Geo. 1
Guy 1
Harold 1
Jean 1
Jos. 1
Joseph 1
Kinnard 1
Leonard 1
Malcolm 1
Newton 1
Percival 1
Percy 1
Philip 1
Robert 1
Tom 1
Tom. 1
Willm. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Nell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Nell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 226 people were recorded with the Nell surname. That placed it at #11,889 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Nell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 251 in 2016. That gives Nell a modern rank of #16,744.

What does the Nell surname mean?

Derived from a medieval given name, a shortened form of names such as Eleanor or Helen.

What does the Nell map show?

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