UK surname
A diminutive of Randolf, meaning "shield-wolf," or a variant of Randall, an English place name meaning "rim of the valley."
In the 1881 census there were 151 people recorded with the Randel surname, ranking it #15,419 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 45, ranked #35,162, down from #15,419 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St George in the East, Yardley and Wingrave with Rowsham, Drayton Beauchamp, Buckland. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Randel is 194 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 70.2%.
1881 census count
151
Ranked #15,419
Modern count
45
2016, ranked #35,162
Peak year
1851
194 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Randel surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Randel surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 194 | #10,662 |
| 1861 | historical | 190 | #12,520 |
| 1881 | historical | 151 | #15,419 |
| 1891 | historical | 135 | #19,692 |
| 1901 | historical | 100 | #22,863 |
| 1911 | historical | 65 | #26,343 |
| 1997 | modern | 40 | #33,666 |
| 1998 | modern | 38 | #34,066 |
| 1999 | modern | 33 | #34,610 |
| 2000 | modern | 41 | #33,889 |
| 2001 | modern | 37 | #34,082 |
| 2002 | modern | 37 | #34,390 |
| 2003 | modern | 37 | #34,432 |
| 2004 | modern | 39 | #34,477 |
| 2005 | modern | 40 | #34,562 |
| 2006 | modern | 40 | #34,854 |
| 2007 | modern | 39 | #35,097 |
| 2008 | modern | 41 | #35,067 |
| 2009 | modern | 38 | #35,380 |
| 2010 | modern | 34 | #35,730 |
| 2011 | modern | 35 | #35,659 |
| 2012 | modern | 41 | #35,328 |
| 2013 | modern | 41 | #35,384 |
| 2014 | modern | 47 | #35,097 |
| 2015 | modern | 50 | #34,886 |
| 2016 | modern | 45 | #35,162 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St George in the East, Yardley, Wingrave with Rowsham, Drayton Beauchamp, Buckland, St Pancras and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St George in the East | London (East Districts) |
| 2 | Yardley | Warwickshire |
| 3 | Wingrave with Rowsham, Drayton Beauchamp, Buckland | Buckinghamshire |
| 4 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | St Mary Islington | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Randel surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Randel, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Randel surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Randel household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Randel is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Randel is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Randel, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Randel has its origins in the German language and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old German word "rant," meaning "edge" or "border," and was likely used to describe someone who lived near the edge of a town or village.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Randel appears in the Liber Censualis, a medieval census document from the 13th century, which lists a person named Johannes Randel living in the town of Köln (Cologne) in Germany.
In the 14th century, the name Randel was also found in various records in the region of Saxony, Germany. A notable example is the mention of a Henricus Randel in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a collection of historical documents from the region, dated to around 1370.
During the 15th century, the Randel name began to spread to other parts of Europe, particularly in areas with Germanic influences. In the Netherlands, for instance, there are records of a family named Randel living in the city of Utrecht in the late 1400s.
One of the earliest known bearers of the Randel name was Johann Randel, a German merchant and trader who lived in the city of Lübeck in the late 15th century (born around 1470, died circa 1535). He is mentioned in several historical documents related to the Hanseatic League, a powerful commercial and defensive confederation of merchant guilds and market towns in Northern Europe.
In the 16th century, the name Randel was also found in parts of Switzerland, where it is believed to have been derived from the Swiss-German word "Rand," meaning "edge" or "border." One notable example is Hans Randel, a Swiss Protestant reformer and theologian who lived from 1505 to 1571.
Another significant figure bearing the Randel name was Johann Randel, a German composer and organist who lived from 1643 to 1701. He is known for his contributions to the development of the North German organ school and his works for organ and church music.
As the Randel name spread throughout Europe, it also evolved into various spellings and variations, such as Randell, Randall, and Randolph. In England, for instance, the name Randall has been traced back to the 13th century and is believed to have originated from the Old English words "rand" (meaning "border") and "healh" (meaning "nook" or "corner").
One of the earliest recorded examples of the Randall spelling in England is found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which lists a person named Robert Randall as a landowner in the county of Oxfordshire.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Randel surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 24 Randels recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.64x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 24 | 1.64x |
| Worcestershire | 18 | 9.42x |
| Glamorgan | 13 | 5.10x |
| Warwickshire | 10 | 2.71x |
| Hampshire | 8 | 2.67x |
| Somerset | 8 | 3.40x |
| Lancashire | 7 | 0.40x |
| Norfolk | 7 | 3.11x |
| Wiltshire | 6 | 4.64x |
| Dorset | 5 | 5.21x |
| Gloucestershire | 5 | 1.74x |
| Yorkshire | 5 | 0.34x |
| Herefordshire | 4 | 6.67x |
| Sussex | 4 | 1.62x |
| Berkshire | 3 | 2.73x |
| Cheshire | 3 | 0.93x |
| Derbyshire | 3 | 1.31x |
| Leicestershire | 3 | 1.85x |
| Surrey | 3 | 0.42x |
| Angus | 1 | 0.74x |
| Cambridgeshire | 1 | 1.08x |
| Channel Islands | 1 | 2.31x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.35x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.20x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 0.43x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 0.51x |
| Northamptonshire | 1 | 0.73x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 0.51x |
| Oxfordshire | 1 | 1.11x |
| Suffolk | 1 | 0.56x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 8 Randels recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.51x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Randel surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 15 |
| Elizabeth | 9 |
| Sarah | 5 |
| Emma | 4 |
| Caroline | 3 |
| Alice | 2 |
| Charlotte | 2 |
| Harriet | 2 |
| Lucy | 2 |
| Maria | 2 |
| Rachel | 2 |
| Ada | 1 |
| Agnes | 1 |
| Angelia | 1 |
| Ann | 1 |
| Anne | 1 |
| Annie | 1 |
| Charlott | 1 |
| Clara | 1 |
| Cornelia | 1 |
| Dann | 1 |
| Edith | 1 |
| Ellen | 1 |
| Emily | 1 |
| Fanny | 1 |
| Florence | 1 |
| Hannah | 1 |
| Harriett | 1 |
| Lilly | 1 |
| Louisa | 1 |
| Margaret | 1 |
| Marian | 1 |
| Martha | 1 |
| Marthia | 1 |
| Prudence | 1 |
| Rebecca | 1 |
| Rosalie | 1 |
| Susan | 1 |
| William | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Randel surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Randel households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 13 |
| Servant | 5 |
| Annuitant | 4 |
| Coal Miner | 3 |
| Ag Lab | 2 |
| Agricultural Labourer | 2 |
| Cotton Operative | 2 |
| Farm Labourer | 2 |
| General Laborer | 2 |
| Jeweller | 2 |
| Washerwoman | 2 |
| Blacksmith | 1 |
| Brickmaker | 1 |
| Butcher | 1 |
| Butler | 1 |
| Butler (Dom) | 1 |
| Carpenter Master | 1 |
| Carpenters Son | 1 |
| Char Woman | 1 |
| Coachman | 1 |
| Coal Merchant | 1 |
| Coal Mine Lab | 1 |
| Cook Dom | 1 |
| Cook Domestic | 1 |
| Copperman | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Edge Tool Forger | 1 |
| Engineer (X/1) | 1 |
| Farm Servant | 1 |
| Farm Servant (Ag Lab) | 1 |
| Farm Servt | 1 |
| Farmers Son | 1 |
| Footman (Out Of Employ) | 1 |
| Foreman | 1 |
| Formerly Labrs Wife | 1 |
| Gamekeeper | 1 |
| Gen Laborer | 1 |
| Gen Labourer | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| General Serv | 1 |
| General Serv Dom | 1 |
| Governess Sch | 1 |
| Ground Keeper (Park) | 1 |
| House Decorator | 1 |
| House Maid | 1 |
| House Maid Serv | 1 |
| House Property | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Housemaid Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Iron Miner | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 151 people were recorded with the Randel surname. That placed it at #15,419 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 45 in 2016. That gives Randel a modern rank of #35,162.
A diminutive of Randolf, meaning "shield-wolf," or a variant of Randall, an English place name meaning "rim of the valley."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Randel bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.