NameCensus.

UK surname

Pell

An English occupational surname referring to a maker of saddles and harnesses or a furrier.

In the 1881 census there were 1,683 people recorded with the Pell surname, ranking it #2,553 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,390, ranked #2,748, down from #2,553 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Wilden and Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Kesteven, Wakefield and Bedford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pell is 2,530 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 42.0%.

1881 census count

1,683

Ranked #2,553

Modern count

2,390

2016, ranked #2,748

Peak year

2002

2,530 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pell had 1,683 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,553 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,390 in 2016, ranked #2,748.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,526 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Pell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pell 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 1,058 #2,648
1861 historical 1,083 #2,597
1881 historical 1,683 #2,553
1891 historical 1,915 #2,405
1901 historical 2,292 #2,370
1911 historical 2,526 #2,022
1997 modern 2,501 #2,514
1998 modern 2,510 #2,605
1999 modern 2,514 #2,622
2000 modern 2,526 #2,592
2001 modern 2,463 #2,596
2002 modern 2,530 #2,589
2003 modern 2,468 #2,594
2004 modern 2,482 #2,585
2005 modern 2,420 #2,614
2006 modern 2,402 #2,630
2007 modern 2,401 #2,656
2008 modern 2,401 #2,667
2009 modern 2,479 #2,667
2010 modern 2,521 #2,677
2011 modern 2,485 #2,685
2012 modern 2,445 #2,673
2013 modern 2,454 #2,709
2014 modern 2,460 #2,718
2015 modern 2,419 #2,731
2016 modern 2,390 #2,748

Geography

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Where Pells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Wilden, Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory, Penistone (Denby), Kirkburton (Cumberworth Half) and Kettering. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Kesteven, Wakefield, Bedford and South Kesteven. 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 3
2 Wilden Bedfordshire
3 Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory Northamptonshire
4 Penistone (Denby), Kirkburton (Cumberworth Half) Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Kettering Northamptonshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Kesteven 010 North Kesteven
2 Wakefield 016 Wakefield
3 Bedford 004 Bedford
4 South Kesteven 001 South Kesteven
5 South Kesteven 010 South Kesteven

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pell

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

Pell is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Pell falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Pell

The surname Pell originated in England, with roots tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "pyll," meaning a stream or creek, suggesting an association with someone who lived near a small body of water. Alternatively, it may have stemmed from the Old French word "pel," meaning a stake or a boundary marker, implying that the name was given to someone who resided near a boundary or landmark.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Pell can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lancashire from 1176, where a person named Richard del Pell is mentioned. This indicates that the name was already in use during the 12th century. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also reference a Johannes del Pel in Oxfordshire, showcasing the variations in spelling that existed during that era.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners and properties in England compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror, does not contain any direct references to the surname Pell. However, it does mention several place names that may have influenced the development of the surname, such as Pelham, Pelhampton, and Peltenden.

Notable individuals with the surname Pell throughout history include:

1. Sir Walter Raleigh Pell (1775-1852), a British naval officer and explorer who served in the Royal Navy and was involved in the exploration of the Arctic regions.

2. John Pell (1611-1685), an English mathematician and philosopher who made significant contributions to the development of calculus and number theory.

3. Albert Pell (1842-1901), an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire in the late 19th century.

4. Herbert Clarence Pell (1884-1961), an American diplomat and politician who served as the United States Ambassador to Portugal and Hungary.

5. John Pell (1643-1718), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Dean of Christ Church, Oxford, and was known for his work in theology and classical literature.

The surname Pell has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Pell Green in Hertfordshire, Pell Lane in Staffordshire, and Pell House in Surrey. These place names may have originated from the same linguistic roots as the surname and could have influenced its development and distribution across different regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pell 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. Lincolnshire leads with 283 Pells recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.79x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 283 10.79x
Northamptonshire 268 17.38x
Yorkshire 255 1.57x
Middlesex 154 0.94x
Surrey 69 0.86x
Cambridgeshire 67 6.45x
Bedfordshire 59 6.95x
Lancashire 58 0.30x
Leicestershire 51 2.81x
Nottinghamshire 46 2.08x
Warwickshire 39 0.94x
Huntingdonshire 38 11.67x
Kent 38 0.68x
Derbyshire 31 1.21x
Norfolk 22 0.87x
Sussex 22 0.80x
Cheshire 21 0.58x
Staffordshire 21 0.38x
Hampshire 19 0.57x
Buckinghamshire 18 1.82x
Worcestershire 12 0.56x
Hertfordshire 11 0.97x
Essex 10 0.31x
Monmouthshire 10 0.84x
Rutland 9 7.48x
Durham 8 0.16x
Suffolk 6 0.30x
Devon 5 0.15x
Oxfordshire 5 0.49x
Pembrokeshire 5 0.96x
Berkshire 4 0.33x
Lanarkshire 4 0.08x
Northumberland 3 0.12x
Westmorland 3 0.83x
Somerset 2 0.08x
Cardiganshire 1 0.25x
Glamorgan 1 0.04x
Merionethshire 1 0.33x
Royal Navy 1 0.51x
Wiltshire 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. Kettering in Northamptonshire leads with 39 Pells recorded in 1881 and an index of 62.52x.

Place Total Index
Kettering 39 62.52x
Wilden 34 1365.46x
Denby 32 364.88x
Nottingham St Mary 28 4.90x
Newington 25 4.13x
Pattishall 25 488.28x
Wellingborough 25 32.24x
Boston 23 28.91x
Heckington 21 210.63x
Islington London 21 1.32x
Little Steeping 21 1372.55x
Skelmanthorpe 21 119.73x
Great Staughton 19 301.11x
Bradford 17 4.32x
Cheadle 16 23.14x
Croydon Cum Clapton 16 597.01x
Northampton All Sts 16 30.57x
Paulerspury 16 250.00x
Witham On Hill 16 1467.89x
Helpringham 15 284.09x
Langtoft 15 457.32x
Streatham 15 12.33x
Bourn 14 66.10x
Cumberworth 14 169.29x
Louth 13 21.63x
Somersham 13 164.35x
Brighton 12 2.15x
Ecclesfield 12 10.07x
Milton 12 294.12x
Chesterfield 11 11.43x
Dudley 11 4.23x
Kingston 11 683.23x
Normanton 11 22.53x
Scarborough 11 7.45x
Birstall 10 364.96x
Clerkenwell London 10 2.58x
Donington 10 106.27x
Great Grimsby 10 6.01x
Greenwich 10 3.83x
Horton In Bradford 10 3.94x
Northampton St Giles 10 17.02x
Bowling 9 5.59x
Bromley London 9 2.49x
Heap 9 8.72x
Ilkley 9 33.89x
Nassington 9 223.88x
Paddington London 9 1.49x
Sculcoates 9 3.49x
South Normanton 9 49.92x
St Marylebone London 9 1.03x
St Woollos 9 6.80x
Totley 9 238.73x
Bethnal Green London 8 1.12x
Castor 8 121.95x
Coventry St Michael 8 6.02x
Droylsden 8 12.60x
Great Hale 8 201.51x
Great Yarmouth 8 3.83x
Hammersmith London 8 1.98x
Leeds 8 0.87x
Leicester St Mary 8 5.45x
Mile End Old Town 8 3.09x
Newport Pagnell 8 38.59x
Oldham 8 1.27x
Pickworth 8 629.92x
Poplar London 8 2.58x
Royston 8 83.07x
Southill 8 116.28x
Walsall Foreign 8 2.80x
Aldershot 7 6.22x
Aston 7 0.61x
Castle Bytham 7 190.74x
Chatteris 7 26.42x
Chesterton 7 21.86x
Gayhurst 7 1372.55x
Hackney London 7 0.76x
Plungar 7 492.96x
Shelton 7 833.33x
Smallthorne 7 34.08x
Whatton 7 440.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 109
Elizabeth 81
Sarah 76
Emma 31
Ann 30
Annie 28
Eliza 28
Emily 24
Jane 24
Ellen 21
Charlotte 19
Martha 19
Alice 18
Louisa 17
Harriet 12
Susan 12
Ada 11
Hannah 11
Margaret 11
Clara 10
Florence 9
Harriett 9
Amy 8
Edith 8
Isabella 8
Caroline 7
Kate 7
Lucy 7
Rose 7
Anne 6
Maria 6
Rebecca 6
Elizth. 5
Fanny 5
Gertrude 5
Agnes 4
Amelia 4
Ethel 4
Ruth 4
Adelaide 3
Eleanor 3
Elizebeth 3
Esther 3
Grace 3
Hetty 3
Jemima 3
Lizzie 3
Matilda 3
Nancy 3
Susana 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 104
William 97
George 86
Thomas 54
Joseph 43
Charles 38
James 35
Alfred 27
Henry 25
Richard 22
Arthur 20
Edward 20
Samuel 17
Robert 15
Frederick 14
Albert 13
Frank 12
Walter 11
Harry 10
Herbert 10
Ernest 8
Fred 6
Francis 5
Philip 5
Christopher 4
David 4
Wm. 4
Eli 3
Fredk. 3
Jno. 3
Mark 3
Aaron 2
Alexander 2
Aquila 2
Augustus 2
Bennett 2
Earnest 2
Fred. 2
G.Daizly 2
Geo. 2
Hopkins 2
Infant 2
Jonathan 2
Lewis 2
Louis 2
Percival 2
Stephen 2
Thos. 2
Timothy 2
Watkin 2

FAQ

Pell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,683 people were recorded with the Pell surname. That placed it at #2,553 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,390 in 2016. That gives Pell a modern rank of #2,748.

What does the Pell surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a maker of saddles and harnesses or a furrier.

What does the Pell map show?

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