NameCensus.

UK surname

Paull

A variant of Paul, derived from the Latin name Paulus, meaning "small" or "humble."

In the 1881 census there were 1,033 people recorded with the Paull surname, ranking it #3,805 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 893, ranked #6,336, down from #3,805 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Redruth, St Agnes and Illogan. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Somerset, North Dorset and North Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Paull is 1,255 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 13.6%.

1881 census count

1,033

Ranked #3,805

Modern count

893

2016, ranked #6,336

Peak year

1911

1,255 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Paull had 1,033 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,805 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 893 in 2016, ranked #6,336.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,255 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Paull surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Paull surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Paull 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 757 #3,514
1861 historical 889 #3,118
1881 historical 1,033 #3,805
1891 historical 1,059 #3,962
1901 historical 1,201 #4,101
1911 historical 1,255 #3,789
1997 modern 885 #6,039
1998 modern 934 #5,982
1999 modern 928 #6,059
2000 modern 939 #5,983
2001 modern 921 #5,972
2002 modern 917 #6,116
2003 modern 872 #6,223
2004 modern 868 #6,256
2005 modern 849 #6,315
2006 modern 829 #6,437
2007 modern 831 #6,491
2008 modern 854 #6,400
2009 modern 895 #6,297
2010 modern 904 #6,361
2011 modern 902 #6,315
2012 modern 893 #6,282
2013 modern 915 #6,267
2014 modern 930 #6,229
2015 modern 920 #6,228
2016 modern 893 #6,336

Geography

Back to top

Where Paulls are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Redruth, St Agnes, Illogan, London parishes and Crewkerne, Wayford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Somerset, North Dorset, North Devon, Blaenau Gwent and West Dorset. 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 Redruth Cornwall
2 St Agnes Cornwall
3 Illogan Cornwall
4 London parishes London 3
5 Crewkerne, Wayford Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Somerset 017 South Somerset
2 North Dorset 004 North Dorset
3 North Devon 013 North Devon
4 Blaenau Gwent 005 Blaenau Gwent
5 West Dorset 006 West Dorset

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Paull

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Paull

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Paull is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Paull is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Paull

The surname Paull originates from France, having derived from the Latin personal name Paulus. The earliest known record of the name dates back to the 12th century in Normandy, where it was spelled as Paul.

The name likely originated as a nickname or descriptive name for someone who was small or humble, as the Latin word "paulus" means "little" or "small." It was a common practice in medieval times to assign surnames based on personal characteristics or physical attributes.

During the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, many Norman families, including those with the surname Paul or Paull, settled in various parts of the country. The name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a record of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Paull can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1199, where it is listed as "Paulinus de Langeford." This suggests that the family may have originated from or been associated with the village of Longford in Yorkshire.

Over the centuries, the surname Paull has been recorded with various spellings, such as Paul, Paule, Paulle, and Pawle, reflecting regional dialects and variations in pronunciation and spelling practices.

Notable individuals with the surname Paull throughout history include:

1. John Paull (1691-1769), an English clergyman and astronomer who published works on celestial mechanics. 2. James Paull (1770-1808), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and was killed in action during the Battle of Basque Roads. 3. Robert Paull (1791-1863), a British architect known for designing several churches and public buildings in London and the surrounding areas. 4. William Paull (1855-1923), an American businessman and politician who served as the Mayor of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from 1910 to 1912. 5. James Paull (1876-1957), a Scottish artist and painter known for his landscapes and depictions of rural life in Scotland.

The surname Paull has been associated with various places throughout history, such as the village of Paulton in Somerset, England, which may have derived its name from the surname Paull or the personal name Paul.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Paull families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Paull 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. Cornwall leads with 352 Paulls recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.68x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 352 30.68x
Somerset 216 13.24x
Middlesex 76 0.75x
Surrey 75 1.52x
Dorset 67 10.07x
Devon 53 2.51x
Lancashire 29 0.24x
Hampshire 26 1.25x
Durham 11 0.36x
Aberdeenshire 10 1.07x
Cardiganshire 10 4.04x
Sussex 10 0.59x
Caernarfonshire 9 2.20x
Gloucestershire 8 0.40x
Yorkshire 8 0.08x
Channel Islands 7 2.33x
Cheshire 7 0.31x
Lincolnshire 7 0.43x
Radnorshire 6 7.34x
Kent 5 0.14x
Wiltshire 5 0.56x
Cumberland 4 0.46x
Kincardineshire 4 3.24x
Monmouthshire 4 0.55x
Northumberland 4 0.27x
Derbyshire 3 0.19x
Midlothian 3 0.22x
Berkshire 2 0.26x
Denbighshire 2 0.52x
Essex 2 0.10x
Hertfordshire 2 0.29x
Warwickshire 2 0.08x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.16x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.45x
Flintshire 1 0.37x
Glamorgan 1 0.06x
Lanarkshire 1 0.03x
Leicestershire 1 0.09x
Northamptonshire 1 0.10x
Staffordshire 1 0.03x
Stirlingshire 1 0.27x
Suffolk 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Illogan in Cornwall leads with 64 Paulls recorded in 1881 and an index of 210.66x.

Place Total Index
Illogan 64 210.66x
Crewkerne 47 271.21x
St Agnes 45 280.02x
Camborne 40 84.60x
Redruth 34 104.74x
Merriott 33 691.82x
Kenwyn 32 106.63x
Ilminster 18 157.89x
Kea 18 210.53x
Lambeth 18 2.04x
Feock 16 222.84x
St Ives 15 66.82x
Winsham 15 503.36x
Perranzabuloe 13 131.31x
Hackney London 11 1.94x
Southwark St Saviour 11 21.12x
Taunton St Mary 11 36.73x
Hunstonworth 10 574.71x
Newlyn 10 204.08x
Osmington 10 757.58x
Camberwell 9 1.39x
Curry Rivell 9 164.84x
Gwennap 9 41.59x
Heene 9 306.12x
Llanllyfni 9 46.54x
Plymouth Charles The 9 9.68x
Battersea 8 2.15x
Hinton St George 8 338.98x
Langford Budville 8 634.92x
Martock 8 75.40x
Phillack 8 54.02x
Portsea 8 1.96x
St Budeaux 8 121.77x
Bromley London 7 3.14x
Clerkenwell London 7 2.93x
Gainsborough 7 18.32x
Honiton 7 59.98x
Islington London 7 0.71x
Newington 7 1.87x
Tottenham 7 4.34x
Chillington 6 759.49x
Chorlton On Medlock 6 3.14x
Donyatt 6 451.13x
Gunwalloe 6 952.38x
Ladock 6 184.62x
Netherbury 6 109.09x
Poole St James 6 24.01x
Powerstock 6 210.53x
Silton 6 697.67x
St Austell 6 15.30x
St Harmon Cennarth 6 375.00x
St Helier 6 6.14x
St Marylebone London 6 1.11x
Thorne Falcon 6 923.08x
Aberdeen Old Machar 5 2.55x
Aberystwyth 5 127.23x
Alton Pancras 5 561.80x
Broadwinsor 5 114.68x
Crumpsall 5 17.64x
Cury 5 331.13x
East Stonehouse 5 12.03x
Habergham Eaves 5 4.55x
Halstock 5 324.68x
Ibsley 5 595.24x
Melindwr 5 145.35x
Southampton St Mary 5 3.83x
St George In East 5 7.25x
Toxteth Park 5 1.23x
Winterborne Steepleton 5 980.39x
Barrington 4 275.86x
Bedminster 4 2.61x
Bridgewater 4 9.03x
Clapham 4 3.16x
Germoe 4 196.08x
Hammersmith London 4 1.60x
Holy Trinity 4 90.29x
Paddington London 4 1.07x
Penge 4 6.18x
Romsey Extra 4 32.39x
Tullynessle Forbes 4 116.28x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 79
Elizabeth 40
Sarah 26
Jane 24
Ellen 19
Ann 17
Emma 17
Eliza 16
Annie 14
Emily 14
Bessie 10
Edith 10
Louisa 10
Susan 10
Maria 8
Alice 7
Kate 7
Agnes 6
Caroline 6
Charlotte 6
Elizth. 6
Fanny 6
Martha 6
Harriett 5
Anna 4
Catherine 4
Grace 4
Matilda 4
Rosa 4
Rose 4
Amelia 3
Florence 3
Frances 3
Harriet 3
Lucy 3
Nanny 3
Rebecca 3
Sophia 3
Thirza 3
Ada 2
Carrie 2
Clara 2
Deborah 2
Ethel 2
Evelyn 2
Jessie 2
Laura 2
Lydia 2
Nancy 2
Rhoda 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 67
John 61
Henry 38
Thomas 34
James 33
George 24
Charles 22
Richard 18
Joseph 17
Edward 13
Walter 10
Alfred 8
Samuel 8
Arthur 7
Wm. 7
Frederick 6
Herbert 6
Josiah 6
Robert 6
Albert 5
Edwin 5
Alexander 4
Chas. 4
Francis 4
Nicholas 4
Stephen 4
Benjamin 3
Frank 3
Fred 3
Fredk. 3
Adolphus 2
Daniel 2
Elisha 2
Ernest 2
Harry 2
Howard 2
Hugh 2
Alford 1
Benjn.James 1
Elias 1
Frdk.John 1
Fredrick 1
Isaac 1
Jas. 1
Jesse 1
Jim 1
Jno. 1
Jonathan 1
Lester 1
Zacchus 1

FAQ

Paull surname: questions and answers

How common was the Paull surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,033 people were recorded with the Paull surname. That placed it at #3,805 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Paull surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 893 in 2016. That gives Paull a modern rank of #6,336.

What does the Paull surname mean?

A variant of Paul, derived from the Latin name Paulus, meaning "small" or "humble."

What does the Paull map show?

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