NameCensus.

UK surname

Revel

A surname derived from the Old French word "reveler", meaning to celebrate or have a good time.

In the 1881 census there were 286 people recorded with the Revel surname, ranking it #10,036 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 169, ranked #21,884, down from #10,036 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Amersham, Hawick and Wilton and Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Chiltern, Newark and Sherwood and Mansfield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Revel is 286 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 40.9%.

1881 census count

286

Ranked #10,036

Modern count

169

2016, ranked #21,884

Peak year

1881

286 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Revel had 286 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,036 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 169 in 2016, ranked #21,884.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 286 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Revel surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Revel surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Revel 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 261 #8,490
1861 historical 216 #11,273
1881 historical 286 #10,036
1891 historical 174 #16,520
1901 historical 171 #16,689
1911 historical 115 #20,951
1997 modern 158 #20,422
1998 modern 169 #20,104
1999 modern 173 #19,935
2000 modern 164 #20,584
2001 modern 163 #20,372
2002 modern 168 #20,396
2003 modern 165 #20,401
2004 modern 174 #19,871
2005 modern 165 #20,468
2006 modern 152 #21,721
2007 modern 156 #21,650
2008 modern 166 #20,966
2009 modern 170 #21,095
2010 modern 170 #21,560
2011 modern 175 #21,035
2012 modern 163 #21,989
2013 modern 161 #22,521
2014 modern 164 #22,445
2015 modern 164 #22,325
2016 modern 169 #21,884

Geography

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Where Revels are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Amersham, Hawick and Wilton, Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841), Gateshead and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Chiltern, Newark and Sherwood, Mansfield and IZ01. 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 Amersham Buckinghamshire
2 Hawick and Wilton Roxburgh
3 Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841) Devon
4 Gateshead Durham
5 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Chiltern 006 Chiltern
2 Newark and Sherwood 006 Newark and Sherwood
3 Mansfield 012 Mansfield
4 Mansfield 006 Mansfield
5 IZ01 West Dunbartonshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Revel

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Revel

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Revel surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Revel household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Revel 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

Revel is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Revel 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 Revel is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Revel

The surname Revel is believed to have originated in France during the Middle Ages. It is thought to be derived from the Old French word "reveler," which means "to frolic" or "to rejoice." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone with a lively or joyful personality.

In the 11th century, the name Revel was associated with the town of Revel in the Haute-Garonne region of southern France. This town was known for its lively festivals and celebrations, which may have contributed to the origins of the surname.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Revel can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a landowner named Revel who held lands in Wiltshire.

During the Middle Ages, the name Revel appeared in various spellings, such as Revel, Revell, and Revelle. These variations were likely due to regional dialects and the inconsistencies of spelling practices at the time.

In the 14th century, a notable figure named John Revel was born in England (c. 1330-1400). He was a prominent lawyer and served as a member of the English Parliament.

Another significant individual with the surname Revel was Sir Thomas Revel (1465-1536), an English courtier and military commander who served under King Henry VIII.

In the 17th century, a French artist named Gabriel Revel (1643-1712) gained recognition for his landscape paintings and etchings.

During the 18th century, a British naval officer named Sir Thomas Revel (1742-1818) achieved fame for his exploits in the Napoleonic Wars.

In the 19th century, a French writer named Toulouse Revel (1828-1905) was known for his works on the history and culture of the Languedoc region in southern France.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who bore the surname Revel throughout history. The name has its roots in France but has since spread to other parts of Europe and beyond, carrying with it a sense of joy and celebration.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Revel families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Revel 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. Dorset leads with 38 Revels recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.97x.

County Total Index
Dorset 38 20.97x
Yorkshire 33 1.21x
Kent 25 2.65x
Devon 19 3.31x
Durham 15 1.83x
Lincolnshire 14 3.17x
Buckinghamshire 10 5.99x
Lancashire 10 0.31x
Glamorgan 9 1.87x
Roxburghshire 9 18.00x
Lanarkshire 8 0.90x
Nottinghamshire 8 2.15x
Derbyshire 7 1.62x
Northumberland 7 1.70x
Suffolk 7 2.08x
Wiltshire 7 2.87x
Staffordshire 6 0.64x
Angus 5 1.96x
Essex 5 0.92x
Leicestershire 5 1.63x
Middlesex 5 0.18x
Surrey 5 0.37x
Warwickshire 5 0.72x
Selkirkshire 4 16.02x
Stirlingshire 4 3.93x
Cheshire 3 0.49x
Hampshire 2 0.35x
Shropshire 2 0.84x
Hertfordshire 1 0.53x
Huntingdonshire 1 1.82x
Norfolk 1 0.24x
Royal Navy 1 3.04x
Somerset 1 0.23x
Worcestershire 1 0.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cranborne in Dorset leads with 29 Revels recorded in 1881 and an index of 1324.20x.

Place Total Index
Cranborne 29 1324.20x
Revelstoke 16 3076.92x
Briton Ferry 9 157.07x
Hawick 9 80.43x
Ormesby 9 122.45x
Smeeth 9 1525.42x
West Parley 9 2812.50x
Ashton Under Lyne 7 9.78x
Barony 7 3.10x
Gateshead 7 11.38x
Westoe 7 15.03x
Beaconsfield 6 387.10x
Bradwell 6 618.56x
Great Grimsby 6 21.42x
Seend 6 1250.00x
Southcoates 6 39.50x
Tydd St Mary 6 681.82x
Birmingham 5 2.16x
Dundee 5 5.24x
Leicester St Margaret 5 6.70x
Mendham 5 704.23x
Ramsgate 5 32.53x
Sheffield 5 5.74x
Swanland 5 1190.48x
West Ham 5 4.16x
Galashiels 4 43.34x
Kingswinford 4 11.82x
Stirling 4 31.15x
Bulwell 3 37.08x
Long Houghton 3 714.29x
Olney 3 129.87x
St Peters 3 68.81x
Cheetham 2 8.19x
Cramlington 2 36.83x
Crowle 2 74.35x
Ellesmere Criftins 2 1052.63x
Guildford St Mary 2 121.21x
Hammersmith London 2 2.94x
Ickham Well 2 370.37x
Lambeth 2 0.83x
Sculcoates 2 4.61x
Tipton 2 7.01x
Wingham 2 183.49x
Bilborough 1 526.32x
Bingham 1 63.29x
Birkenhead 1 2.06x
Buckland In Dover 1 32.05x
Cheshunt 1 15.04x
Cowlinge 1 156.25x
Croydon 1 1.34x
Dalziel 1 10.42x
Ditchingham 1 98.04x
Elvet 1 16.86x
Hackney London 1 0.65x
Kensington London 1 0.65x
Lewisham 1 1.99x
Liversedge 1 8.21x
Mansfield 1 7.76x
Metheringham 1 56.82x
Morwick 1 1111.11x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 1 18.52x
Nottingham St Mary 1 1.04x
Offord D Arcy 1 303.03x
Owston 1 80.00x
Plymouth Charles The 1 3.95x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 2.26x
Plympton St Mary 1 30.12x
Portsea 1 0.90x
Powick 1 40.00x
Ringwood 1 27.62x
Ripple 1 384.62x
Royal Navy 1 3.56x
South Newton 1 156.25x
Stonham Aspall 1 144.93x
Sutton In Ashfield 1 12.39x
Tintwistle 1 30.67x
Wendover 1 55.56x
West Wickham 1 109.89x
Wortley In Bramley 1 4.62x
Yokefleet 1 1000.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 15
George 14
James 9
John 8
Thomas 7
Charles 6
Francis 6
Joseph 6
Henry 5
Alfred 4
Frederick 3
Samuel 3
Walter 3
Benjamin 2
Edgar 2
Edwin 2
Harry 2
Richard 2
Abel 1
Adam 1
Albert 1
Andrew 1
Auther 1
Christopher 1
Colin 1
Daniel 1
Ernest 1
Fredric 1
Hesakiah 1
Hubert 1
Jesse 1
Joshua 1
Malcolm 1
Mary 1
Richd.P. 1
Riley 1
Robert 1
Sidney 1
Tom 1
Will 1

FAQ

Revel surname: questions and answers

How common was the Revel surname in 1881?

In 1881, 286 people were recorded with the Revel surname. That placed it at #10,036 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Revel surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 169 in 2016. That gives Revel a modern rank of #21,884.

What does the Revel surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old French word "reveler", meaning to celebrate or have a good time.

What does the Revel map show?

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