NameCensus.

UK surname

Okell

In the 1881 census there were 386 people recorded with the Okell surname, ranking it #8,165 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 278, ranked #15,579, down from #8,165 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stockport, North Meols and Eccles. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cheshire West and Chester, Halton and Cheshire East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Okell is 507 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 28.0%.

1881 census count

386

Ranked #8,165

Modern count

278

2016, ranked #15,579

Peak year

1911

507 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Okell had 386 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,165 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 278 in 2016, ranked #15,579.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 507 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Okell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Okell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Okell 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 315 #7,347
1861 historical 214 #11,365
1881 historical 386 #8,165
1891 historical 363 #9,556
1901 historical 451 #8,686
1911 historical 507 #7,760
1997 modern 312 #13,182
1998 modern 319 #13,330
1999 modern 328 #13,183
2000 modern 332 #13,023
2001 modern 318 #13,205
2002 modern 311 #13,666
2003 modern 290 #14,134
2004 modern 283 #14,418
2005 modern 299 #13,877
2006 modern 284 #14,396
2007 modern 283 #14,579
2008 modern 282 #14,748
2009 modern 292 #14,700
2010 modern 309 #14,420
2011 modern 299 #14,631
2012 modern 283 #15,115
2013 modern 290 #15,107
2014 modern 293 #15,095
2015 modern 289 #15,153
2016 modern 278 #15,579

Geography

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Where Okells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stockport, North Meols, Eccles, Manchester and Runcorn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cheshire West and Chester, Halton, Cheshire East and South Somerset. 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 Stockport Cheshire
2 North Meols Lancashire
3 Eccles Lancashire
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Runcorn Cheshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cheshire West and Chester 047 Cheshire West and Chester
2 Cheshire West and Chester 003 Cheshire West and Chester
3 Halton 012 Halton
4 Cheshire East 049 Cheshire East
5 South Somerset 023 South Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Okell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Okell

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Okell is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Okell is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

1881 census detail

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Okell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Okell 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. Lancashire leads with 122 Okells recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.86x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 122 3.86x
Cheshire 121 20.58x
Kent 7 0.77x
Worcestershire 5 1.44x
Renfrewshire 4 1.94x
Denbighshire 3 2.98x
Isle of Man 3 6.07x
Middlesex 3 0.11x
Warwickshire 2 0.30x
Flintshire 1 1.40x
Hampshire 1 0.18x
Lanarkshire 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Runcorn in Cheshire leads with 15 Okells recorded in 1881 and an index of 110.70x.

Place Total Index
Runcorn 15 110.70x
Farnworth 12 63.39x
Heaton Norris 12 66.74x
Salford 12 12.91x
Altrincham 11 107.11x
Ashton Under Lyne 11 15.93x
Barrow 8 1212.12x
Siddington 8 2162.16x
Sutton In Runcorn 8 2352.94x
Chester St John Baptist 7 66.23x
Deptford St Paul 7 9.99x
Kingsley 7 636.36x
Middleton In Oldham 7 73.92x
Oldham 7 6.86x
Over 7 117.25x
Formby 6 167.60x
Pendleton In Salford 6 15.94x
Tonge 6 90.50x
Chorlton On Medlock 5 9.96x
Newton By Frodsham 5 4545.45x
Tarporley 5 406.50x
Worcester Blockhouse 5 261.78x
Bowdon 4 171.67x
Cathcart 4 35.84x
Great Crosby 4 46.46x
Guilden Sutton 4 2222.22x
Hale 4 197.04x
Liverpool 4 2.08x
Stretford 4 23.02x
Westleigh 4 55.71x
Weston In Runcorn 4 261.44x
Broughton In Salford 3 10.38x
Chorlton Cum Hardy 3 142.86x
Newhall In Nantwich 3 461.54x
North Meols 3 9.70x
Onchan 3 21.07x
Timperley 3 147.06x
Weaverham Cum Milton 3 193.55x
Aston 2 1.08x
Hartford 2 150.38x
High Leigh 2 259.74x
Layton With Warbreck 2 17.24x
Sale 2 27.74x
St Katherine Coleman 2 800.00x
Toxteth Park 2 1.87x
West Derby 2 2.16x
Abergele 1 34.60x
Barony 1 0.46x
Dunham On The Hill 1 400.00x
Everton 1 0.99x
Fazakerley 1 204.08x
Frodsham 1 43.86x
Gawsworth 1 185.19x
Gresford 1 104.17x
Hawarden Pentrobin 1 87.72x
Hoole 1 45.05x
Hulme 1 1.52x
Islington London 1 0.39x
Little Lever 1 24.75x
Little Sutton 1 126.58x
Llandrillo Yn Rhos 1 67.11x
Manchester 1 0.70x
Over Alderley 1 277.78x
Pendlebury 1 14.99x
Portsea 1 0.93x
Stalmine With Staynall 1 217.39x
Stockport 1 3.31x
Whitby 1 73.53x
Worleston 1 322.58x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 18
Annie 8
Alice 7
Ann 7
Martha 7
Elizabeth 6
Jane 6
Margaret 5
Sarah 5
Ellen 4
Emily 4
Hannah 4
Anne 3
Caroline 3
Eliza 3
Emma 3
Florence 3
Kate 3
Clara 2
Ethel 2
Helen 2
Jessie 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Amy 1
Bartha 1
Betty 1
Charlotte 1
Constance 1
Edith 1
Eerman 1
Eleanor 1
Eliz. 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
Julia 1
Lenna 1
Letitia 1
Lillian 1
Lillie 1
Lousia 1
Maud 1
May 1
Melinda 1
Minnie 1
Nancy 1
Nanny 1
Rosanna 1
Rose 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Okell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Okell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 386 people were recorded with the Okell surname. That placed it at #8,165 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Okell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 278 in 2016. That gives Okell a modern rank of #15,579.

What does the Okell map show?

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