NameCensus.

UK surname

Pannell

A surname of English origin, referring to someone who lived near or worked at a panel or trellis.

In the 1881 census there were 894 people recorded with the Pannell surname, ranking it #4,259 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,277, ranked #4,685, down from #4,259 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Haverhill, Little Wratting and Petworth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Northamptonshire, Braintree and Pembrokeshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pannell is 1,562 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 42.8%.

1881 census count

894

Ranked #4,259

Modern count

1,277

2016, ranked #4,685

Peak year

1911

1,562 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pannell had 894 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,259 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,277 in 2016, ranked #4,685.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,562 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Pannell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pannell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pannell 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 644 #4,032
1861 historical 619 #4,312
1881 historical 894 #4,259
1891 historical 1,144 #3,723
1901 historical 1,360 #3,691
1911 historical 1,562 #3,104
1997 modern 1,344 #4,279
1998 modern 1,390 #4,302
1999 modern 1,397 #4,306
2000 modern 1,387 #4,323
2001 modern 1,324 #4,420
2002 modern 1,380 #4,342
2003 modern 1,336 #4,381
2004 modern 1,326 #4,414
2005 modern 1,286 #4,476
2006 modern 1,268 #4,546
2007 modern 1,276 #4,552
2008 modern 1,288 #4,549
2009 modern 1,326 #4,529
2010 modern 1,334 #4,589
2011 modern 1,324 #4,564
2012 modern 1,313 #4,530
2013 modern 1,325 #4,570
2014 modern 1,320 #4,614
2015 modern 1,287 #4,670
2016 modern 1,277 #4,685

Geography

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Where Pannells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Haverhill, Little Wratting, Petworth and Portsmouth, Portsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Northamptonshire, Braintree, Pembrokeshire, East Devon and St Edmundsbury. 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 London parishes London 3
3 Haverhill, Little Wratting Suffolk
4 Petworth Sussex
5 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Northamptonshire 005 South Northamptonshire
2 Braintree 003 Braintree
3 Pembrokeshire 015 Pembrokeshire
4 East Devon 018 East Devon
5 St Edmundsbury 014 St Edmundsbury

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pannell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pannell

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Pannell is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Pannell 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

Pannell falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Pannell

The Pannell surname is believed to have originated in England, with the earliest records dating back to the 13th century. It is thought to have derived from the Old English word "panne," which referred to a pan or a shallow vessel used for cooking or baking. This suggests that the name may have originated as an occupational surname for someone who worked with pans, such as a baker or a metalworker.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a record of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror, there are several entries for people with the surname Pannell or similar spellings like Pannel or Pannell. This indicates that the name was already established in parts of England by the late 11th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Pannell surname dates back to 1273 in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, where a William Pannell is mentioned. Another early record is from the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1296, which lists a John Pannell.

The name Pannell has also been linked to various place names in England, such as Pannell in Kent and Pannall in Yorkshire. These places may have influenced the spelling and spread of the surname in different regions.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Pannell surname. One of the earliest was Sir William Pannell (c. 1400 – c. 1470), a prominent English lawyer and judge who served as Chief Justice of the King's Bench during the War of the Roses.

Another notable figure was Thomas Pannell (c. 1530 – 1599), an English merchant and explorer who was one of the first Englishmen to visit Japan in the late 16th century. He played a significant role in establishing trade relations between England and Japan.

In the 17th century, Edward Pannell (1619 – 1668) was a renowned English engraver and illustrator known for his intricate and detailed works, including illustrations for books and maps.

During the 18th century, William Pannell (1738 – 1821) was a influential English architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Radcliffe Observatory in Oxford and the University of Cambridge's Senate House.

In the 19th century, Henry Pannell (1826 – 1901) was a prominent British horticulturist and nurseryman who introduced several new plant varieties and made significant contributions to the field of horticulture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pannell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pannell 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. Essex leads with 159 Pannells recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.23x.

County Total Index
Essex 159 9.23x
Surrey 141 3.31x
Sussex 135 9.17x
Hampshire 102 5.70x
Middlesex 98 1.12x
Lincolnshire 61 4.37x
Devon 55 3.03x
Suffolk 47 4.42x
Kent 23 0.77x
Yorkshire 14 0.16x
Gloucestershire 13 0.76x
Lancashire 10 0.10x
Glamorgan 6 0.39x
Leicestershire 5 0.52x
Wiltshire 5 0.65x
Derbyshire 4 0.29x
Hertfordshire 4 0.66x
Cambridgeshire 3 0.54x
Oxfordshire 2 0.37x
Warwickshire 2 0.09x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.19x
Norfolk 1 0.07x
Northamptonshire 1 0.12x
Northumberland 1 0.08x
Shropshire 1 0.13x
Somerset 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portsea in Hampshire leads with 33 Pannells recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.41x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 33 9.41x
Haverhill 27 285.71x
Lambeth 27 3.55x
Toppesfield 24 933.85x
Ridgwell 23 1173.47x
Brighton 22 7.41x
Petworth 19 216.15x
Lympston 18 553.85x
Spalding 15 54.15x
Sible Hedingham 14 243.06x
Stoke Newington London 14 20.59x
Godalming 13 48.54x
St Pancras London 13 1.85x
Titchfield 13 96.37x
Witley 13 434.78x
Islington London 12 1.42x
Camberwell 11 1.97x
Gestingthorpe 11 572.92x
Hatfield Peverel 11 295.70x
Thursley 11 360.66x
Tottenham 11 7.91x
Stambourne 10 769.23x
Stoke 10 49.83x
West Ham 10 2.63x
Buriton 9 260.87x
Chelmsford 9 30.44x
Horsham 9 31.48x
Boston 8 18.89x
Exeter Heavitree 8 59.04x
Fareham 8 37.19x
Harting 8 208.88x
Helion Bumpstead 8 344.83x
Littlehampton 8 68.09x
St Marylebone London 8 1.72x
Withycombe Rawleigh 8 84.48x
Brading 7 29.44x
Hammersmith London 7 3.25x
Hunslet 7 5.19x
Littleham 7 52.67x
Selsey 7 258.30x
Skirbeck 7 89.51x
Skirbeck Quarter 7 274.51x
St Martin Lincoln 7 54.05x
Steeple Bumpstead 7 221.52x
Battersea 6 1.87x
Berkeley 6 62.96x
Braintree 6 38.78x
Cardiff St Mary 6 7.17x
Clapham 6 5.50x
Clayton 6 108.11x
Clifton In York 6 33.15x
Dorking 6 21.01x
Finchingfield 6 111.11x
Fulham London 6 4.74x
Horfield 6 34.82x
Liss 6 164.84x
Lodsworth 6 294.12x
Selborne 6 164.84x
St James Isle Of Grain 6 714.29x
West Dean 6 273.97x
Cliffe Pypard 5 215.52x
Colne Engaine 5 320.51x
Colyton 5 71.63x
Cowden 5 256.41x
East Grinstead 5 23.99x
Exeter Alphington 5 150.15x
Haslemere 5 149.25x
Mountsorrel North End 5 268.82x
St Maryle Wigford 5 46.08x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 5 25.47x
Whixoe 5 1428.57x
Dunsfold 4 173.16x
Leyton 4 13.48x
Liverpool 4 0.64x
Newington 4 1.24x
North Hayling 4 500.00x
Oldham 4 1.20x
Plumstead 4 4.03x
Puttenham 4 305.34x
Stamford St George 4 63.80x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 66
George 41
Charles 32
John 32
Thomas 23
James 21
Henry 20
Joseph 16
Arthur 14
Frederick 11
Harry 11
Robert 10
Walter 10
Alfred 9
Albert 7
Edward 6
Frank 6
Ernest 5
Richard 5
Daniel 4
Herbert 4
Philip 4
Wm. 4
Andrew 3
Elijah 3
Stephen 3
Abraham 2
Benjamin 2
David 2
Edmund 2
Edwin 2
Isaac 2
Percy 2
Peter 2
Phillip 2
Samuel 2
Sydney 2
Thos. 2
Colonel 1
Elias 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Jonathan 1
Leonard 1
Lewis 1
Louis 1
Mark 1
Wm.Hy. 1

FAQ

Pannell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pannell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 894 people were recorded with the Pannell surname. That placed it at #4,259 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pannell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,277 in 2016. That gives Pannell a modern rank of #4,685.

What does the Pannell surname mean?

A surname of English origin, referring to someone who lived near or worked at a panel or trellis.

What does the Pannell map show?

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