NameCensus.

UK surname

Nowell

From the Old French Noël, referring to someone born on Christmas Day or living near a Christmas tree.

In the 1881 census there were 1,414 people recorded with the Nowell surname, ranking it #2,938 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,516, ranked #4,080, down from #2,938 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Halifax and Box, Ditteridge. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Barnsley and Craven.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nowell is 2,071 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 7.2%.

1881 census count

1,414

Ranked #2,938

Modern count

1,516

2016, ranked #4,080

Peak year

1911

2,071 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Nowell had 1,414 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,938 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,516 in 2016, ranked #4,080.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,071 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Nowell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Nowell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Nowell 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 1,098 #2,563
1861 historical 1,027 #2,728
1881 historical 1,414 #2,938
1891 historical 1,509 #2,922
1901 historical 1,906 #2,771
1911 historical 2,071 #2,413
1997 modern 1,590 #3,716
1998 modern 1,646 #3,739
1999 modern 1,652 #3,757
2000 modern 1,641 #3,758
2001 modern 1,596 #3,783
2002 modern 1,624 #3,794
2003 modern 1,552 #3,880
2004 modern 1,557 #3,870
2005 modern 1,523 #3,898
2006 modern 1,529 #3,894
2007 modern 1,519 #3,952
2008 modern 1,536 #3,928
2009 modern 1,561 #3,966
2010 modern 1,572 #4,022
2011 modern 1,547 #4,042
2012 modern 1,543 #3,979
2013 modern 1,566 #3,990
2014 modern 1,560 #4,025
2015 modern 1,528 #4,069
2016 modern 1,516 #4,080

Geography

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Where Nowells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Halifax, Box, Ditteridge and Bath St Michael. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Barnsley, Craven, Wigan and Ribble Valley. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
3 London parishes London 3
4 Box, Ditteridge Wiltshire
5 Bath St Michael Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 070 Cornwall
2 Barnsley 020 Barnsley
3 Craven 001 Craven
4 Wigan 017 Wigan
5 Ribble Valley 007 Ribble Valley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Nowell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Nowell

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Nowell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Nowell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Nowell 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

Nowell 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

Nowell falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Nowell

The surname NOWELL originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "noël" or "noel," meaning "Christmas." This name was initially given as a nickname to someone born around the Christmas holiday or who had a particular association with the festive season.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name NOWELL can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1273, which mentions a person named Simon Noel. Another early reference appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, listing a William Nowell.

The NOWELL surname is also linked to various place names in England, such as Nowell in Derbyshire and Nowell Green in Lancashire. These locations likely took their names from individuals bearing the NOWELL surname who resided there.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, several notable individuals carried the NOWELL surname. One of the most prominent was Alexander Nowell (1507-1602), an English theologian and clergyman who served as the Dean of St. Paul's Cathedral in London. He played a significant role in the Reformation and contributed to the development of the English Prayer Book.

Another distinguished NOWELL was Laurence Nowell (1516-1576), an antiquarian and historian who made significant contributions to the study of Anglo-Saxon literature and language. He was also the Dean of Lichfield Cathedral.

In the 17th century, Robert Nowell (1589-1675) was a prominent English landowner and Member of Parliament. He served as the High Sheriff of Lancashire and was known for his involvement in local politics.

Later, in the 18th century, Ralph Nowell (1730-1794) was a notable English landowner and Member of Parliament representing the borough of Wigan. He was also a Deputy Lieutenant of Lancashire.

Another individual of note was John Nowell (1768-1840), an English clergyman and author who wrote several works on theology and church history.

Throughout history, the NOWELL surname has been associated with various professions, including the clergy, academia, politics, and landed gentry. While its origins can be traced back to medieval England, the name has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Nowell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Nowell 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 378 Nowells recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.78x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 378 2.78x
Lancashire 305 1.87x
Middlesex 127 0.93x
Somerset 76 3.44x
Cheshire 58 1.92x
Gloucestershire 49 1.82x
Wiltshire 45 3.71x
Nottinghamshire 38 2.06x
Surrey 35 0.52x
Warwickshire 34 0.98x
Kent 33 0.71x
Devon 29 1.02x
Lincolnshire 25 1.14x
Westmorland 20 6.64x
Berkshire 19 1.85x
Derbyshire 19 0.88x
Staffordshire 17 0.37x
Worcestershire 15 0.84x
Essex 13 0.48x
Northamptonshire 11 0.85x
Durham 9 0.22x
Pembrokeshire 7 1.61x
Oxfordshire 6 0.71x
Northumberland 5 0.25x
Shropshire 5 0.42x
Cornwall 4 0.26x
Monmouthshire 4 0.40x
Hampshire 3 0.11x
Hertfordshire 3 0.32x
Carmarthenshire 2 0.35x
Channel Islands 2 0.49x
Glamorgan 2 0.08x
Sussex 2 0.09x
Angus 1 0.08x
Bedfordshire 1 0.14x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.12x
Dorset 1 0.11x
Norfolk 1 0.05x
Royal Navy 1 0.61x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wortley In Bramley in Yorkshire leads with 28 Nowells recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.01x.

Place Total Index
Wortley In Bramley 28 26.01x
Ramsgate 23 30.11x
Box 20 193.42x
Bath St Michael 19 170.40x
Kendal 19 34.43x
Birmingham 17 1.47x
Morley 17 24.06x
Barrowford Booth 16 88.84x
Beard 16 228.90x
Clifton 16 11.77x
Leeds 16 2.08x
Dewsbury 15 10.76x
Langfield 15 63.08x
Lockwood 15 30.67x
Northowram 15 15.74x
Sutton In Ashfield 15 37.39x
Bromsgrove 14 23.23x
Walcot 14 11.91x
Blackburn 13 3.00x
Brixham 13 39.30x
Lower Booths 13 44.58x
Mile End Old Town London 13 4.45x
Preston 13 2.99x
Shelley 13 163.52x
St Marylebone London 13 1.78x
Camberwell 12 1.37x
Chorley 12 13.14x
Heptonstall 12 62.93x
Newchurch 12 9.01x
Newington 12 32.06x
Adlington 11 72.18x
Batley 11 8.52x
Burnley 11 8.03x
Heaton Norris 11 11.88x
Almondbury 10 15.22x
Colne 10 20.63x
Dalton In Furness 10 15.92x
East Bedfont 10 146.84x
Halifax 10 5.01x
Ightenhill Park 10 1041.67x
Nether Hallam 10 5.44x
Paddington London 10 1.98x
Bentham 9 86.87x
Hackney London 9 1.17x
Lambeth 9 0.75x
Morton In Keighley 9 84.27x
Rotherham 9 11.75x
Settle 9 86.54x
Skipton 9 21.04x
Wick Abson 9 218.45x
Ardwick 8 5.45x
Barton St Mary 8 72.73x
Barton Upon Irwell 8 6.53x
Cuddington In Northwich 8 416.67x
Fugglestone St Peter 8 166.67x
Great Bolton 8 3.71x
Habergham Eaves 8 5.38x
Nottingham St Mary 8 1.67x
Oulton Cum Woodlesford 8 72.53x
Rishton 8 41.91x
Salford 8 1.67x
St Pancras London 8 0.72x
Westerleigh 8 132.67x
Chester St Oswald 7 12.77x
Clewer 7 16.60x
Clitheroe 7 14.61x
Exeter Alphington 7 133.84x
Fulham London 7 3.52x
Gorton 7 4.58x
Hammersmith London 7 2.07x
Isleworth 7 11.48x
Kensington London 7 0.92x
Lyncombe Widcombe 7 12.11x
Tenby St Mary In 7 31.55x
Tockholes 7 303.03x
Walton Le Dale 7 16.01x
West Ham 7 1.17x
Westminster St James 7 4.96x
Weston 7 41.23x
Wilsden 7 50.14x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 105
Elizabeth 59
Sarah 52
Alice 37
Jane 30
Ellen 22
Annie 21
Eliza 20
Ann 19
Hannah 17
Margaret 14
Martha 14
Charlotte 13
Florence 13
Emily 12
Edith 11
Harriet 11
Ada 10
Emma 10
Kate 10
Louisa 10
Frances 8
Isabella 8
Lucy 8
Susan 7
Betsy 4
Fanny 4
Harriett 4
Jessie 4
Nancy 4
Sophia 4
Susannah 4
Amelia 3
Anne 3
Bertha 3
Catherine 3
Dinah 3
Elizth. 3
Gertrude 3
Grace 3
Lizzie 3
Maria 3
Minnie 3
Rose 3
Ruth 3
Thirza 3
Caroline 2
Cathrine 2
Lily 2
Mabel 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 99
William 73
Thomas 48
James 42
George 33
Henry 29
Joseph 28
Charles 23
Richard 23
Arthur 15
Frederick 13
Samuel 13
Alfred 11
Robert 11
Benjamin 10
Walter 10
Fred 9
Herbert 9
Albert 8
Harry 8
Edward 7
Peter 6
Edwin 5
Francis 5
Frank 5
Jacob 5
Abraham 4
Ernest 4
Tom 4
Allen 3
Christopher 3
Isaac 3
Jesse 3
Nicholas 3
Wm. 3
Alexander 2
Barnes 2
Edmund 2
Jno. 2
Joshua 2
Leonard 2
Mark 2
Moses 2
Percy 2
Reuben 2
Richd. 2
Sidney 2
Stephen 2
Thos. 2
Willm. 2

FAQ

Nowell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Nowell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,414 people were recorded with the Nowell surname. That placed it at #2,938 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Nowell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,516 in 2016. That gives Nowell a modern rank of #4,080.

What does the Nowell surname mean?

From the Old French Noël, referring to someone born on Christmas Day or living near a Christmas tree.

What does the Nowell map show?

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