NameCensus.

UK surname

Orzel

A Polish surname referring to an eagle or someone associated with eagles.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hackney, Bury and Torfaen.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Orzel is 142 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

134

2016, ranked #25,636

Peak year

2014

142 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 134 in 2016, ranked #25,636.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Orzel surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Orzel surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Orzel 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
1997 modern 45 #33,168
1998 modern 61 #31,841
1999 modern 63 #31,798
2000 modern 70 #31,180
2001 modern 71 #30,907
2002 modern 69 #31,527
2003 modern 67 #31,796
2004 modern 64 #32,286
2005 modern 81 #30,740
2006 modern 95 #29,113
2007 modern 105 #27,868
2008 modern 108 #27,684
2009 modern 108 #28,311
2010 modern 111 #28,509
2011 modern 114 #27,784
2012 modern 135 #24,952
2013 modern 134 #25,525
2014 modern 142 #24,734
2015 modern 137 #25,226
2016 modern 134 #25,636

Geography

Back to top

Where Orzels are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hackney, Bury, Torfaen, Windsor and Maidenhead and Waverley. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hackney 003 Hackney
2 Bury 013 Bury
3 Torfaen 004 Torfaen
4 Windsor and Maidenhead 005 Windsor and Maidenhead
5 Waverley 013 Waverley

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Orzel

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Orzel

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Orzel surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Orzel 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Orzel 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

Orzel is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Orzel falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Orzel 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 - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Orzel, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Orzel

The surname Orzel is of Polish origin, derived from the Polish word "orzeł" meaning "eagle." The name likely originated in the Middle Ages, when it was common for surnames to be derived from animals, occupations, or physical characteristics.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Orzel can be found in historical documents and records from various regions of Poland, particularly in areas such as Krakow, Wielkopolska, and Silesia. These records date back to the 14th and 15th centuries, when surnames were becoming more prevalent among the general population.

One notable early reference to the name Orzel is found in the "Akta Grodzkie i Ziemskie" (Records of the Castles and Lands), a collection of legal documents from the 16th and 17th centuries. These records mention several individuals with the surname Orzel, suggesting that the name was well-established by that time.

The name Orzel has also been associated with various place names throughout Poland, such as the village of Orzełek in the Podlaskie Voivodeship, and the town of Orzelec in the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship. These place names may have influenced the development of the surname or vice versa.

Among the notable historical figures who bore the surname Orzel are:

1. Jan Orzel (c. 1510-1568), a Polish nobleman and military commander who fought in the Livonian War against Russia. 2. Stanisław Orzel (1593-1668), a Polish Catholic priest and theologian who served as the Rector of the Jagiellonian University in Krakow. 3. Wojciech Orzel (1677-1737), a Polish painter and engraver known for his religious works and portraits. 4. Michał Orzel (1788-1855), a Polish writer and translator who contributed to the development of the Polish language during the Enlightenment period. 5. Karolina Orzel (1846-1916), a Polish educator and activist who advocated for women's rights and education in the late 19th century.

The surname Orzel has a rich history and has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including nobility, clergy, artists, and intellectuals. Its connection to the symbolic eagle in Polish culture and history adds to its significance and enduring presence in the country's onomastic heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Orzel surname: questions and answers

How common is the Orzel surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 134 in 2016. That gives Orzel a modern rank of #25,636.

What does the Orzel surname mean?

A Polish surname referring to an eagle or someone associated with eagles.

What does the Orzel map show?

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