NameCensus.

UK surname

Parcell

A topographic surname possibly derived from a small parcel or plot of land.

In the 1881 census there were 237 people recorded with the Parcell surname, ranking it #11,509 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 386, ranked #12,202, down from #11,509 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), St Mary and Ware (Ware). Hertford St John, Hertford All Saints. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Riding of Yorkshire, Redcar and Cleveland and Arbroath Harbour.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Parcell is 402 in 2008. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 62.9%.

1881 census count

237

Ranked #11,509

Modern count

386

2016, ranked #12,202

Peak year

2008

402 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Parcell had 237 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,509 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 386 in 2016, ranked #12,202.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 382 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Parcell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Parcell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Parcell 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 241 #9,037
1861 historical 332 #7,673
1881 historical 237 #11,509
1891 historical 369 #9,447
1901 historical 382 #9,775
1911 historical 374 #9,770
1997 modern 377 #11,508
1998 modern 370 #12,052
1999 modern 376 #11,979
2000 modern 380 #11,837
2001 modern 374 #11,805
2002 modern 378 #11,939
2003 modern 380 #11,689
2004 modern 387 #11,559
2005 modern 381 #11,619
2006 modern 382 #11,626
2007 modern 386 #11,676
2008 modern 402 #11,419
2009 modern 396 #11,815
2010 modern 398 #12,039
2011 modern 394 #11,997
2012 modern 385 #12,061
2013 modern 377 #12,449
2014 modern 392 #12,192
2015 modern 389 #12,165
2016 modern 386 #12,202

Geography

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Where Parcells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), St Mary, Ware (Ware). Hertford St John, Hertford All Saints, Swansea and Orwell. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Riding of Yorkshire, Redcar and Cleveland, Arbroath Harbour and Central Bedfordshire. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 St Mary Pembrokeshire
3 Ware (Ware). Hertford St John, Hertford All Saints Hertfordshire
4 Swansea Glamorganshire
5 Orwell Cambridgeshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Riding of Yorkshire 002 East Riding of Yorkshire
2 Redcar and Cleveland 022 Redcar and Cleveland
3 East Riding of Yorkshire 004 East Riding of Yorkshire
4 Arbroath Harbour Angus
5 Central Bedfordshire 010 Central Bedfordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Parcell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Parcell

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Parcell is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Parcell is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Parcell falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Parcell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Parcell

The surname Parcell is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name, derived from the town of Pargeter or Parkgate, both of which are located in the county of Shropshire. The name may also have connections to the Old English word 'pearroc', meaning a small enclosed area or park.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Parcell can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as 'Parcella'. This suggests that the name was already well-established in England by the 11th century. The Domesday Book entry refers to a landowner named Willelmus Parcella, who held lands in the county of Staffordshire.

By the 13th century, the name had begun to appear in various forms, such as 'Parkere', 'Parkar', and 'Parkar'. These variations likely arose from the different spellings and pronunciations used in different regions of England. One notable figure from this time was John le Parker, a prominent merchant from York who is mentioned in records from 1279.

During the 14th century, the spelling 'Parcell' became more common, as seen in the case of Robert Parcell, a landowner from Oxfordshire who is recorded in the Hundred Rolls of 1273. Another notable individual from this period was William Parcell, a member of the gentry class from Gloucestershire, who was born in 1349.

In the 15th century, the name continued to be associated with various places in England, such as Parcell's Green in Hertfordshire and Parcell's Wood in Buckinghamshire. One notable figure from this era was Thomas Parcell, a wealthy merchant from London who was born in 1412 and is mentioned in several historical records.

The 16th century saw the rise of several prominent individuals bearing the Parcell surname, including Sir John Parcell, a diplomat and politician who served under Queen Elizabeth I. He was born in 1535 and played a crucial role in negotiating peace treaties with Spain and France.

As the centuries passed, the Parcell surname spread across England and beyond, with many individuals achieving notable accomplishments in various fields. However, the name's origins can be traced back to the medieval period and its connections to specific locations and place names in England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Parcell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Parcell 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. Hertfordshire leads with 52 Parcells recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.63x.

County Total Index
Hertfordshire 52 32.63x
Pembrokeshire 51 69.42x
Cambridgeshire 48 32.78x
Glamorgan 25 6.21x
Essex 15 3.29x
Middlesex 13 0.56x
Lanarkshire 7 0.94x
Surrey 7 0.62x
Bedfordshire 6 5.01x
Durham 5 0.73x
Denbighshire 2 2.29x
Devon 2 0.42x
Carmarthenshire 1 1.03x
Hampshire 1 0.21x
Kent 1 0.13x
Monmouthshire 1 0.60x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Orwell in Cambridgeshire leads with 44 Parcells recorded in 1881 and an index of 6984.13x.

Place Total Index
Orwell 44 6984.13x
Tenby St Mary In 19 508.02x
Brickendon 12 1621.62x
Swansea Town 11 33.33x
St Issells 10 645.16x
Swansea Higher 9 214.80x
Walthamstow 9 54.81x
Bengeo 7 378.38x
Cosheston 7 1555.56x
Maryhill 7 47.81x
Broxbourne 6 189.87x
Great Amwell 6 375.00x
Harpenden 6 246.91x
Pembroke St Mary 6 63.42x
Hitchin 5 69.54x
Luton 5 24.13x
St Marylebone London 5 4.05x
Throston 5 378.79x
Croydon 4 6.40x
Hammersmith London 4 7.02x
St Andrewthe Less 4 23.91x
Watton 4 615.38x
West Ham 4 3.97x
Lamphey 3 1250.00x
Little Amwell 3 535.71x
Camberwell 2 1.35x
Hornsey 2 6.84x
Llanwonno 2 13.83x
Merthyr Tydfil 2 5.17x
Penally 2 408.16x
Ruthin 2 224.72x
Wiston 2 350.88x
Biggleswade 1 25.51x
Carmarthen St Peter 1 12.00x
East Ham 1 11.81x
Hackney London 1 0.77x
Hampstead London 1 2.78x
Hertford St John 1 42.19x
Jeffreston 1 256.41x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 2.70x
Priscerwyn 1 217.39x
Shephall 1 555.56x
Southwark St Olave 1 56.82x
St Faith Winchester 1 45.25x
St Woollos 1 5.36x
Tewin 1 238.10x
Tormoham 1 4.91x
Waltham Holy Cross 1 23.42x
Warren 1 833.33x
Woolwich 1 3.43x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 16
Mary 13
Sarah 10
Martha 7
Ellen 4
Emily 4
Hannah 4
Margaret 4
Annie 3
Catherine 3
Jane 3
Agnes 2
Ann 2
Charlotte 2
Emma 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Gertrude 2
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Anne 1
Celina 1
Clara 1
Constance 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Eliza 1
Emmeline 1
Ethel 1
Euphonia 1
Evus 1
Fanny 1
Grace 1
Infant 1
Johanna 1
Kate 1
Keziah 1
Lettice 1
Lillie 1
Lilly 1
Lizzie 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
Nelly 1
Rebecca 1
Ruth 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1
Zilla 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 16
George 13
John 13
James 9
Joseph 9
Henry 5
Alfred 4
Thomas 4
Charles 3
Richard 3
Albert 2
Arthur 2
Edward 2
Frederick 2
Isaac 2
Robert 2
Samuel 2
Sidney 2
Walter 2
Alexander 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Ellis 1
Enoch 1
Ernest 1
Geo. 1
Harry 1
J. 1
Jephthah 1
Jno.Hy. 1
Joel 1
Phillipp 1
Robt. 1

FAQ

Parcell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Parcell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 237 people were recorded with the Parcell surname. That placed it at #11,509 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Parcell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 386 in 2016. That gives Parcell a modern rank of #12,202.

What does the Parcell surname mean?

A topographic surname possibly derived from a small parcel or plot of land.

What does the Parcell map show?

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