NameCensus.

UK surname

Nellist

A surname derived from a nickname for someone with dark features.

In the 1881 census there were 183 people recorded with the Nellist surname, ranking it #13,596 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 520, ranked #9,720, up from #13,596 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Whitby, Gateshead and Brotton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Riding of Yorkshire, Middlesbrough and South Lakeland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nellist is 541 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 184.2%.

1881 census count

183

Ranked #13,596

Modern count

520

2016, ranked #9,720

Peak year

2013

541 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Nellist had 183 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,596 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 520 in 2016, ranked #9,720.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 297 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Nellist surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Nellist surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Nellist 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 82 #19,317
1861 historical 108 #19,856
1881 historical 183 #13,596
1891 historical 193 #15,335
1901 historical 215 #14,478
1911 historical 297 #11,524
1997 modern 473 #9,706
1998 modern 510 #9,448
1999 modern 511 #9,500
2000 modern 496 #9,689
2001 modern 501 #9,448
2002 modern 523 #9,344
2003 modern 496 #9,540
2004 modern 497 #9,558
2005 modern 503 #9,405
2006 modern 495 #9,554
2007 modern 499 #9,574
2008 modern 502 #9,601
2009 modern 513 #9,654
2010 modern 537 #9,543
2011 modern 514 #9,754
2012 modern 519 #9,617
2013 modern 541 #9,459
2014 modern 541 #9,517
2015 modern 524 #9,678
2016 modern 520 #9,720

Geography

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Where Nellists are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Whitby, Gateshead, Brotton, Filey and Hartlepool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Riding of Yorkshire, Middlesbrough, South Lakeland, Rochdale and Staffordshire Moorlands. 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 Whitby Yorkshire, North Riding
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Brotton Yorkshire, North Riding
4 Filey Yorkshire, North Riding
5 Hartlepool Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Riding of Yorkshire 024 East Riding of Yorkshire
2 Middlesbrough 014 Middlesbrough
3 South Lakeland 010 South Lakeland
4 Rochdale 016 Rochdale
5 Staffordshire Moorlands 003 Staffordshire Moorlands

Forenames

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First names often paired with Nellist

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Nellist

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Nellist surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Nellist household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Nellist is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Nellist is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Nellist falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Nellist

The surname Nellist is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "nelle" meaning "valley" and "hyrst" meaning "wooded hill." It is believed to have originated in the 13th century as a locational name, referring to someone who lived near a valley or wooded hill.

The earliest recorded instance of the name dates back to the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275, where it is listed as "Richard de Nellist." This suggests that the name was established in the West Midlands region of England during this period.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms such as "Nelhurst" and "Nelehurst" in documents from Staffordshire and Warwickshire. These variations reflect the local dialects and spellings of the time.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname Nellist was William Nellist (1564-1634), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of Maldon, Essex. He published several religious works, including "An Exposition upon the Book of Revelation" in 1623.

Another individual of note was John Nellist (1725-1808), a British soldier and surveyor. He served in the British Army during the American Revolutionary War and later worked as a surveyor in Canada, contributing to the mapping of the country's territories.

In the 19th century, the name gained some prominence with the birth of James Nellist (1820-1899), a British engineer and inventor. He is credited with developing several improvements to steam engine designs and held patents for his innovations.

The surname Nellist also found its way into literature with the character of Reverend Septimus Nellist, featured in Anthony Trollope's novel "The Warden" published in 1855. This fictional character represented a clergyman of the Church of England.

Another notable figure was Sir John Nellist (1877-1958), a British businessman and philanthropist. He made his fortune in the textile industry and was awarded a knighthood for his charitable contributions and services to the community.

While the surname Nellist is not among the most common in England, it maintains a presence in various regions, particularly in the West Midlands, where it likely originated. The name's historical roots and notable bearers have contributed to its enduring legacy within the English cultural landscape.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Nellist families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Nellist 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 134 Nellists recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.58x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 134 7.58x
Durham 49 9.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hartlepool in Durham leads with 23 Nellists recorded in 1881 and an index of 304.64x.

Place Total Index
Hartlepool 23 304.64x
Guisbrough 18 465.12x
Fylingdales 15 1704.55x
Lebberston 14 14000.00x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 10 43.48x
Newington 10 205.34x
Stokesley 10 909.09x
Eskdaleside 9 1034.48x
Auckland St Helen 8 1428.57x
Sutton 8 396.04x
Eccleshill 7 162.79x
Horbury 6 194.17x
Stranton 6 33.56x
Thornton Dale 6 1276.60x
Muston 5 2083.33x
Egton 4 512.82x
Folkton Flixton 4 1904.76x
Goathland 3 967.74x
Liverton 3 731.71x
Barnard Castle 2 76.34x
Gristhorpe Newbiggin 2 1666.67x
Heaton 2 105.26x
Filey 1 69.93x
Keighley 1 5.31x
North Skirlaugh 1 588.24x
Pickering 1 44.84x
Rawdon 1 48.08x
Ruswarp 1 50.76x
Skelton In Guisbrough 1 20.92x
Sneaton 1 714.29x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 14
John 13
George 9
Robert 8
David 4
Thomas 4
Henry 3
Peter 3
Ralph 3
James 2
Richard 2
Walter 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Andrew 1
Clarence 1
Edmond 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Featherston 1
Hannibal 1
Isaac 1
Isacc 1
Joseph 1
Mark 1
Tom 1
Vincent 1

FAQ

Nellist surname: questions and answers

How common was the Nellist surname in 1881?

In 1881, 183 people were recorded with the Nellist surname. That placed it at #13,596 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Nellist surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 520 in 2016. That gives Nellist a modern rank of #9,720.

What does the Nellist surname mean?

A surname derived from a nickname for someone with dark features.

What does the Nellist map show?

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