NameCensus.

UK surname

Pinnell

A residential surname referring to someone who lived on a hilltop or peak.

In the 1881 census there were 443 people recorded with the Pinnell surname, ranking it #7,395 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 776, ranked #7,097, up from #7,395 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Swindon, Lyddington and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wiltshire, Stroud and Cardiff.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pinnell is 787 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 75.2%.

1881 census count

443

Ranked #7,395

Modern count

776

2016, ranked #7,097

Peak year

2002

787 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pinnell had 443 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,395 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 776 in 2016, ranked #7,097.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 655 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Pinnell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pinnell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pinnell 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 362 #6,537
1861 historical 295 #8,555
1881 historical 443 #7,395
1891 historical 403 #8,822
1901 historical 644 #6,684
1911 historical 655 #6,408
1997 modern 714 #7,142
1998 modern 753 #7,075
1999 modern 765 #7,031
2000 modern 756 #7,064
2001 modern 748 #7,001
2002 modern 787 #6,866
2003 modern 772 #6,848
2004 modern 769 #6,888
2005 modern 740 #7,035
2006 modern 727 #7,154
2007 modern 740 #7,134
2008 modern 734 #7,229
2009 modern 756 #7,208
2010 modern 768 #7,260
2011 modern 759 #7,232
2012 modern 762 #7,145
2013 modern 772 #7,178
2014 modern 777 #7,165
2015 modern 770 #7,157
2016 modern 776 #7,097

Geography

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Where Pinnells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Swindon, Lyddington, London parishes, North Nibley, Wotton-under-Edge and Thornbury, Rockhampton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wiltshire, Stroud and Cardiff. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Swindon, Lyddington Wiltshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 North Nibley, Wotton-under-Edge Gloucestershire
5 Thornbury, Rockhampton Gloucestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wiltshire 047 Wiltshire
2 Stroud 012 Stroud
3 Wiltshire 043 Wiltshire
4 Cardiff 017 Cardiff
5 Wiltshire 044 Wiltshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pinnell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pinnell

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Pinnell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Pinnell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Pinnell is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Pinnell 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

Pinnell 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 Pinnell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Pinnell

The surname Pinnell is believed to have originated in England, with records dating back to the late 12th century. It is thought to have derived from the Old English word "pynd," meaning an enclosure or pound for animals. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near or worked at an animal enclosure.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1190, where a Walter Pynell is mentioned. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also list a Robert Pynell from Oxfordshire. These early spellings, such as Pynell and Pynel, highlight the variations that existed before the surname became more standardized.

The Pinnell surname is also linked to various place names in England, such as Pinhills in Hertfordshire and Pinnell's Green in Essex. These locations may have been named after early bearers of the surname, or the surname may have been derived from the place names themselves.

Historically, the Pinnell name has been associated with several notable individuals. One example is Sir Robert Pinnell (c. 1565-1644), an English politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1627. Another is Samuel Pinnell (1671-1744), a British merchant and philanthropist who founded the first charity schools in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

In the literary world, John Pinnell (1784-1856) was a British poet and writer who published works such as "Poems, Descriptive and Miscellaneous" in 1814. Henry Pinnell (1836-1904) was a British author and journalist known for his novels and short stories, including "The Wanderer's Legacy" and "The Millionaire's Daughter."

Thomas Pinnell (1712-1793) was a notable English churchman who served as the Archdeacon of Rochester from 1772 until his death. He was also a prebendary of the Diocese of Canterbury.

While the Pinnell surname has roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through immigration and migration. However, this report focuses solely on the historical origins and significance of the surname itself, without delving into modern census data or its use as a first name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pinnell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pinnell 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. Gloucestershire leads with 133 Pinnells recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.73x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 133 15.73x
Wiltshire 104 27.27x
Middlesex 62 1.44x
Somerset 18 2.59x
Warwickshire 18 1.66x
Berkshire 16 4.94x
Sussex 15 2.06x
Surrey 11 0.52x
Glamorgan 10 1.33x
Oxfordshire 10 3.76x
Hampshire 9 1.02x
Lancashire 9 0.18x
Kent 6 0.41x
Monmouthshire 6 1.92x
Devon 4 0.45x
Bedfordshire 2 0.90x
Northamptonshire 2 0.49x
Yorkshire 2 0.05x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.38x
Cornwall 1 0.20x
Essex 1 0.12x
Herefordshire 1 0.57x
Staffordshire 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. Warminster in Wiltshire leads with 35 Pinnells recorded in 1881 and an index of 418.66x.

Place Total Index
Warminster 35 418.66x
Brinkworth 25 1461.99x
Wotton Under Edge 19 381.53x
Lyncombe Widcombe 15 82.55x
Islington London 14 3.35x
Shoreditch London 11 5.89x
Chippenham 10 125.00x
Thornbury 10 173.01x
Wantage 10 193.80x
Brighton 9 6.14x
Westwell 9 4500.00x
Heaton Norris 8 27.47x
Horfield 8 94.01x
Stapleton 8 49.88x
Aston 7 2.34x
Berkeley 7 148.62x
Birmingham 7 1.93x
Cirencester 7 61.14x
Hackney London 7 2.90x
Salisbury St Edmund 7 114.38x
Southwark St George Martyr 7 8.07x
Whitechapel London 7 16.47x
Hougham 6 68.57x
Limehouse London 6 12.68x
Long Sutton 6 1276.60x
Malmesbury St Paul 6 182.93x
Rockhampton 6 1875.00x
Rodmarton 6 1071.43x
Trotton 6 1000.00x
Calne 5 63.69x
Cheltenham 5 7.66x
Churchdown 5 297.62x
Hawkesbury 5 173.61x
Lea Cleverton 5 735.29x
Alveston 4 279.72x
Bethnal Green London 4 2.14x
Charlton 4 1081.08x
Heston 4 27.93x
Horsley 4 106.67x
Iron Acton 4 233.92x
Roath 4 11.73x
Sherston Magna 4 173.91x
Ystradyfodwg 4 6.07x
Aberystruth 3 10.92x
Acton 3 11.87x
Berkeley Alkington 3 468.75x
Bristol St George 3 7.67x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 3 3.77x
Lambeth 3 0.80x
Mangotsfield 3 35.59x
Plymouth St Andrew 3 4.34x
Semington 3 483.87x
Tytherington 3 454.55x
Winterbourne 3 64.24x
Acton Turville 2 465.12x
Alderley 2 1428.57x
Bristol St James St Paul 2 7.09x
Eglwysilan 2 15.35x
Great Badminton 2 277.78x
Henbury 2 48.43x
Leckhampton 2 38.39x
Mortimer West End 2 350.88x
Painswick 2 33.44x
Skipton 2 14.87x
St Woollos 2 5.75x
Weekley 2 540.54x
Wootton Bassett 2 60.24x
Bishops Cleeve 1 46.73x
Bloxham 1 38.31x
Cam 1 38.61x
Prittlewell 1 8.47x
St Pancras London 1 0.29x
Stoke Damerel 1 1.59x
Upton Cum Chalvey 1 9.62x
Walcot 1 2.71x
Wallingford St Mary Le 1 54.64x
West Ilsley 1 178.57x
Westbury On Trym 1 3.49x
Westminster St 1 6.29x
Wymington 1 136.99x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 34
Elizabeth 19
Sarah 19
Annie 8
Ellen 8
Alice 7
Ann 7
Eliza 7
Edith 6
Emma 6
Jane 6
Martha 6
Amy 5
Charlotte 5
Fanny 5
Florence 4
Margaret 4
Rebecca 4
Ada 3
Caroline 3
Catherine 3
Gertrude 3
Harriett 3
Kate 3
Maria 3
Elizth. 2
Emily 2
Eveline 2
Frances 2
Julia 2
Maud 2
Anne 1
Besse 1
Bessie 1
Blanche 1
Bridget 1
Catharine 1
Dinah 1
Elizh. 1
Elizh.C. 1
Ester 1
Harriet 1
Henrietta 1
Infant 1
Isabell 1
Keturah 1
Lettitia 1
Lilly 1
Louisa 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 23
John 19
George 15
Charles 14
Henry 11
James 11
Thomas 9
Joseph 8
Albert 6
Alfred 6
Edward 6
Arthur 5
Edwin 4
Samuel 4
Daniel 3
Frederick 3
Harry 3
Richard 3
Robert 3
Walter 3
Clement 2
Dudley 2
Edgar 2
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Moses 2
Stephen 2
Sydney 2
C. 1
David 1
E. 1
Earnest 1
Emanuel 1
Eustace 1
Evan 1
F. 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.W. 1
Henery 1
Herbert 1
J. 1
J.H. 1
Lot 1
Mark 1
Oliver 1
Ruebin 1
Sidney 1
Silas 1
Thos.R. 1
Wyatt 1

FAQ

Pinnell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pinnell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 443 people were recorded with the Pinnell surname. That placed it at #7,395 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pinnell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 776 in 2016. That gives Pinnell a modern rank of #7,097.

What does the Pinnell surname mean?

A residential surname referring to someone who lived on a hilltop or peak.

What does the Pinnell map show?

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