NameCensus.

UK surname

Parnwell

In the 1881 census there were 77 people recorded with the Parnwell surname, ranking it #22,617 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 104, ranked #30,317, down from #22,617 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Christchurch, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Bulwell. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Peterborough, Newark and Sherwood and Huntingdonshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Parnwell is 116 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 35.1%.

1881 census count

77

Ranked #22,617

Modern count

104

2016, ranked #30,317

Peak year

1911

116 bearers

Map years

4

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Parnwell had 77 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,617 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 104 in 2016, ranked #30,317.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 116 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Small Town Suburbia.

Parnwell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Parnwell surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Parnwell 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 90 #18,317
1861 historical 67 #25,342
1881 historical 77 #22,617
1891 historical 88 #25,677
1901 historical 107 #21,955
1911 historical 116 #20,850
1997 modern 108 #25,788
1998 modern 109 #26,273
1999 modern 106 #26,885
2000 modern 108 #26,549
2001 modern 106 #26,468
2002 modern 100 #27,944
2003 modern 98 #28,046
2004 modern 98 #28,297
2005 modern 96 #28,671
2006 modern 93 #29,411
2007 modern 87 #30,666
2008 modern 90 #30,567
2009 modern 95 #30,393
2010 modern 93 #31,239
2011 modern 97 #30,552
2012 modern 98 #30,612
2013 modern 104 #30,076
2014 modern 105 #30,204
2015 modern 104 #30,269
2016 modern 104 #30,317

Geography

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Where Parnwells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Christchurch, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Bulwell, London parishes and St John Hackney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Peterborough, Newark and Sherwood, Huntingdonshire, West Dorset and Hounslow. 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 Christchurch London (South Districts)
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 Bulwell Nottinghamshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 St John Hackney London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Peterborough 006 Peterborough
2 Newark and Sherwood 002 Newark and Sherwood
3 Huntingdonshire 005 Huntingdonshire
4 West Dorset 009 West Dorset
5 Hounslow 017 Hounslow

Forenames

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First names often paired with Parnwell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Parnwell

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Small Town Suburbia

Nationally, the Parnwell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Small Town Suburbia, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Parnwell 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 predominantly comprised of married couples with no resident dependent children, living in areas characterised neither by under-occupancy nor overcrowding throughout the UK in or adjacent to small towns. White ethnic groups and affiliation with Christianity predominates. Housing tends to be predominantly semi-detached or detached and workers are employed principally in managerial and professional occupations, with semi-skilled occupations also in evidence. These areas of the Supergroup are of higher population density.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Parnwell is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Parnwell 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

Parnwell 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 Parnwell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

1881 census detail

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Parnwell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Parnwell 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. Cambridgeshire leads with 34 Parnwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 71.47x.

County Total Index
Cambridgeshire 34 71.47x
Essex 15 10.12x
Surrey 10 2.73x
Middlesex 8 1.07x
Nottinghamshire 8 7.90x
Northamptonshire 2 2.83x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Elsworth in Cambridgeshire leads with 29 Parnwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 17058.82x.

Place Total Index
Elsworth 29 17058.82x
West Ham 12 36.66x
Bulwell 8 363.64x
Southwark Christchurch 8 227.27x
Hackney London 7 16.62x
Braintree 3 225.56x
Orwell 2 952.38x
Peterborough 2 39.14x
St Andrewthe Less 2 36.76x
Camberwell 1 2.08x
Mitcham 1 43.29x
St Marylebone London 1 2.49x
Willingham 1 243.90x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 7
Alfred 3
Joshua 3
William 3
Albert 2
Arthur 2
Henry 2
James 2
Joseph 2
Thomas 2
Ernest 1
Frederick 1
George 1
Harry 1
Israel 1
Jesse 1
Percy 1
Saml. 1
Samuel 1
Sydney 1
Wilfred 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Parnwell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Parnwell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 77 people were recorded with the Parnwell surname. That placed it at #22,617 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Parnwell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 104 in 2016. That gives Parnwell a modern rank of #30,317.

What does the Parnwell map show?

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