UK surname
A surname derived from the French noble, meaning noble or distinguished.
In the 1881 census there were 16 people recorded with the Nobel surname, ranking it #31,301 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 35, ranked #35,703, down from #31,301 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Bees, Wick and Falkirk. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nobel is 106 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 118.8%.
1881 census count
16
Ranked #31,301
Modern count
35
2016, ranked #35,703
Peak year
1901
106 bearers
Map years
1
1901 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Nobel surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Nobel surname density by area, 1901 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 45 | #25,168 |
| 1861 | historical | 77 | #23,975 |
| 1881 | historical | 16 | #31,301 |
| 1891 | historical | 82 | #26,494 |
| 1901 | historical | 106 | #22,076 |
| 1911 | historical | 28 | #30,296 |
| 1997 | modern | 45 | #33,168 |
| 1998 | modern | 39 | #33,967 |
| 1999 | modern | 36 | #34,323 |
| 2000 | modern | 38 | #34,146 |
| 2001 | modern | 33 | #34,436 |
| 2002 | modern | 31 | #34,866 |
| 2003 | modern | 30 | #35,046 |
| 2004 | modern | 26 | #35,519 |
| 2005 | modern | 32 | #35,191 |
| 2006 | modern | 34 | #35,255 |
| 2007 | modern | 38 | #35,153 |
| 2008 | modern | 44 | #34,865 |
| 2009 | modern | 36 | #35,496 |
| 2010 | modern | 33 | #35,794 |
| 2011 | modern | 35 | #35,659 |
| 2012 | modern | 35 | #35,645 |
| 2013 | modern | 33 | #35,808 |
| 2014 | modern | 33 | #35,843 |
| 2015 | modern | 33 | #35,803 |
| 2016 | modern | 35 | #35,703 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Bees, Wick, Falkirk, Harrow-on-the-Hill and Wakefield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Bees | Cumberland |
| 2 | Wick | Caithness |
| 3 | Falkirk | Stirling |
| 4 | Harrow-on-the-Hill | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| 5 | Wakefield | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Nobel surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Nobel, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Nobel surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Nobel household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Nobel is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Nobel is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Nobel, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Nobel has its origins in Sweden, dating back to the late medieval period. It is derived from the Old Swedish word "nobel," which means "noble" or "distinguished." This name likely originated as a descriptive surname given to individuals of noble or high-ranking status within Swedish society.
The earliest recorded instances of the Nobel surname can be traced back to the 15th century in various Swedish historical documents and records. One notable example is the mention of a Petrus Nobel in a manuscript from the city of Lund, dated around 1470.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Nobel name appeared in several parish records and church registers across Sweden, particularly in the regions of Värmland and Småland. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Johan Nobel, born in Värmland in 1588.
In the 18th century, the Nobel family established itself as a prominent Swedish noble family. One of the most renowned members was Immanuel Nobel, born in 1801, who was a prominent engineer and inventor. He is credited with pioneering the use of modern construction techniques in Sweden.
Perhaps the most famous individual with the Nobel surname is Alfred Nobel, born in Stockholm in 1833. He was a renowned chemist, engineer, and inventor, best known for his invention of dynamite and the establishment of the Nobel Prizes through his will and fortune.
Other notable individuals with the Nobel surname include:
1. Emanuel Nobel, Alfred Nobel's father, born in 1801, who was a successful engineer and industrialist. 2. Ludvig Nobel, Alfred Nobel's brother, born in 1831, who was a prominent engineer and businessman involved in the family's oil industry ventures. 3. Robert Nobel, Alfred Nobel's nephew, born in 1859, who played a significant role in the development of the family's oil business in Russia. 4. Erich Nobel, a Swedish chemist and industrialist, born in 1879, who was involved in the Nobel family's various business ventures. 5. Carl Gustaf Nobel, a Swedish engineer and industrialist, born in 1892, who was instrumental in the development of the Nobel family's armaments manufacturing business.
The Nobel surname has a rich history and is deeply rooted in Sweden's cultural and industrial heritage, particularly through the accomplishments of Alfred Nobel and his family's contributions to various fields.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Nobel surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Northumberland leads with 6 Nobels recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.85x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Northumberland | 6 | 25.85x |
| Sussex | 4 | 15.21x |
| Cornwall | 3 | 16.99x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.54x |
| Norfolk | 1 | 4.17x |
| Shetland | 1 | 62.89x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Byker in Northumberland leads with 6 Nobels recorded in 1881 and an index of 521.74x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Byker | 6 | 521.74x |
| Tortington | 4 | 40000.00x |
| Redruth | 2 | 400.00x |
| Great Crosby | 1 | 200.00x |
| Gulval | 1 | 909.09x |
| Lerwick Gulberwick | 1 | 400.00x |
| Wymondham | 1 | 400.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Nobel surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Nobel surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Nobel households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 3 |
| (D S) | 1 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Block & Mast Maker | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Farm Labourer | 1 |
| Farm Labourer Wife | 1 |
| Fisherman | 1 |
| Laborer Iron Works | 1 |
| Laborer Unemployed | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 16 people were recorded with the Nobel surname. That placed it at #31,301 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 35 in 2016. That gives Nobel a modern rank of #35,703.
A surname derived from the French noble, meaning noble or distinguished.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Nobel bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.