NameCensus.

UK surname

Rockell

In the 1881 census there were 111 people recorded with the Rockell surname, ranking it #18,597 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 233, ranked #17,625, up from #18,597 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Burnham, Dorney, London parishes and Woodburn. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wycombe and West Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rockell is 249 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 109.9%.

1881 census count

111

Ranked #18,597

Modern count

233

2016, ranked #17,625

Peak year

2013

249 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rockell had 111 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,597 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 233 in 2016, ranked #17,625.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 187 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Rockell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rockell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rockell 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 50 #24,274
1861 historical 69 #25,057
1881 historical 111 #18,597
1891 historical 121 #21,169
1901 historical 158 #17,507
1911 historical 187 #15,600
1997 modern 194 #17,978
1998 modern 199 #18,177
1999 modern 204 #18,021
2000 modern 205 #17,940
2001 modern 205 #17,683
2002 modern 228 #16,828
2003 modern 226 #16,766
2004 modern 223 #16,965
2005 modern 224 #16,876
2006 modern 223 #17,036
2007 modern 229 #16,941
2008 modern 237 #16,688
2009 modern 240 #16,896
2010 modern 244 #17,056
2011 modern 248 #16,735
2012 modern 246 #16,702
2013 modern 249 #16,825
2014 modern 246 #17,079
2015 modern 236 #17,477
2016 modern 233 #17,625

Geography

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Where Rockells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Burnham, Dorney, London parishes, Woodburn and Upton with Chalvey. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wycombe and West Devon. 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 Burnham, Dorney Buckinghamshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Woodburn Buckinghamshire
4 Upton with Chalvey Buckinghamshire
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wycombe 019 Wycombe
2 Wycombe 022 Wycombe
3 Wycombe 007 Wycombe
4 Wycombe 023 Wycombe
5 West Devon 004 West Devon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rockell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rockell

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Rockell, 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 Rockell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Rockell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

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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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Rockell is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Rockell is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Rockell falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

1881 census detail

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Rockell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rockell 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. Buckinghamshire leads with 60 Rockells recorded in 1881 and an index of 91.67x.

County Total Index
Buckinghamshire 60 91.67x
Middlesex 17 1.57x
Surrey 14 2.65x
Gloucestershire 8 3.77x
Berkshire 3 3.69x
Cheshire 2 0.84x
Norfolk 2 1.20x
Yorkshire 2 0.19x
Devon 1 0.44x
Hampshire 1 0.45x
Warwickshire 1 0.37x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Marlow in Buckinghamshire leads with 28 Rockells recorded in 1881 and an index of 1581.92x.

Place Total Index
Great Marlow 28 1581.92x
Lambeth 14 14.83x
Burnham 9 1084.34x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 8 40.02x
Paddington London 8 20.10x
Wycombe 8 163.93x
Little Marlow 6 1666.67x
Wooburn 6 666.67x
St George In East 5 67.93x
Ealing 3 30.99x
Birkenhead 2 10.50x
Heigham 2 22.40x
Hurley 2 476.19x
Kirk Smeaton 2 1428.57x
Saunderton 2 1250.00x
Bray 1 41.84x
Portsmouth 1 19.57x
Princethorpe 1 833.33x
St George Hanover 1 7.08x
Stoke Damerel 1 6.34x
Upton Cum Chalvey 1 38.31x

Top female names

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

Name Count
James 6
Charles 5
George 5
John 5
William 5
Henry 4
Robert 4
Thomas 4
Edwin 3
Arthur 2
Frederick 2
Joseph 2
Richard 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Elijah 1
Fred 1
Herbert 1
Jack 1
Samuel 1
Sidney 1
Waldemer 1
Walter 1
Wm.Hy. 1

FAQ

Rockell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rockell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 111 people were recorded with the Rockell surname. That placed it at #18,597 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rockell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 233 in 2016. That gives Rockell a modern rank of #17,625.

What does the Rockell map show?

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