NameCensus.

UK surname

Rodell

An English habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "ridge hill."

In the 1881 census there were 70 people recorded with the Rodell surname, ranking it #23,670 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 129, ranked #26,270, down from #23,670 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and St John Hampstead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Powys, St Albans and Wiltshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rodell is 143 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 84.3%.

1881 census count

70

Ranked #23,670

Modern count

129

2016, ranked #26,270

Peak year

1999

143 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rodell had 70 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,670 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 129 in 2016, ranked #26,270.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 119 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Rodell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rodell surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rodell 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 27 #28,467
1861 historical 42 #28,691
1881 historical 70 #23,670
1891 historical 75 #27,414
1901 historical 111 #21,492
1911 historical 119 #20,535
1997 modern 127 #23,352
1998 modern 135 #23,118
1999 modern 143 #22,521
2000 modern 140 #22,752
2001 modern 140 #22,441
2002 modern 138 #23,094
2003 modern 141 #22,549
2004 modern 139 #22,891
2005 modern 135 #23,297
2006 modern 137 #23,270
2007 modern 133 #24,059
2008 modern 133 #24,350
2009 modern 127 #25,564
2010 modern 126 #26,312
2011 modern 133 #25,177
2012 modern 130 #25,559
2013 modern 131 #25,932
2014 modern 126 #26,781
2015 modern 131 #25,979
2016 modern 129 #26,270

Geography

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Where Rodells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, St John Hampstead and Cambridge: St Andrew the Less, St Andrew the Great, Holy Trinity, St Benedict. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Powys, St Albans and Wiltshire. 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 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 St John Hampstead London (North Districts)
5 Cambridge: St Andrew the Less, St Andrew the Great, Holy Trinity, St Benedict Cambridgeshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Powys 017 Powys
2 Powys 015 Powys
3 St Albans 016 St Albans
4 St Albans 018 St Albans
5 Wiltshire 046 Wiltshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rodell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rodell

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Rodell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Rodell 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Rodell 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

Rodell is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Rodell falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Rodell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Rodell

The surname Rodell has its origins in the Old English language and is believed to have originated in England during the Anglo-Saxon period, which lasted from the 5th to the 11th centuries. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English words "rod" meaning a clearing or meadow, and "dell" meaning a valley or hollow.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Rodell can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landowners and their holdings commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Rodelle" in the Domesday Book, referring to a person who lived in a valley or hollow where a clearing or meadow was located.

Throughout the centuries, the name has undergone various spelling variations, including Roddell, Roddelle, and Rodelle. These variations can be attributed to the lack of standardized spelling conventions during the Middle Ages, as well as regional dialects and scribal errors.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Richard Rodell, who was born in the village of Rodellsford, Derbyshire, in the late 13th century. The village's name is believed to have been derived from the surname, indicating the presence of the Rodell family in the area.

In the 14th century, John Rodell, a landowner and farmer from Cheshire, was mentioned in local records for his involvement in a dispute over land boundaries. His descendants continued to use the surname, and some of them migrated to other parts of England, contributing to the spread of the name.

During the 16th century, a prominent figure bearing the name Rodell was Sir Thomas Rodell, a wealthy merchant and member of the Guild of Mercers in London. He was known for his involvement in international trade and his philanthropic endeavors, including the establishment of a school for underprivileged children.

Another notable individual with the surname Rodell was Elizabeth Rodell, born in 1692 in Gloucestershire. She was a renowned herbalist and midwife, widely respected for her knowledge of medicinal plants and her skilled assistance during childbirth.

In the 19th century, William Rodell, born in 1815 in Yorkshire, gained recognition as a pioneering engineer and inventor. He is credited with developing several innovative agricultural machines, including an early version of the mechanical reaper, which greatly improved farming efficiency.

Throughout history, the Rodell surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including farmers, merchants, professionals, and artisans, contributing to the rich tapestry of English heritage and culture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rodell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rodell 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. Bedfordshire leads with 39 Rodells recorded in 1881 and an index of 110.33x.

County Total Index
Bedfordshire 39 110.33x
Middlesex 12 1.76x
Yorkshire 10 1.48x
Leicestershire 3 3.96x
Sussex 3 2.61x
Cambridgeshire 2 4.63x
Gloucestershire 1 0.75x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Luton in Bedfordshire leads with 39 Rodells recorded in 1881 and an index of 637.25x.

Place Total Index
Luton 39 637.25x
St Pancras London 11 20.02x
York St Michael Le 9 4090.91x
Leicester St Mary 3 49.02x
Preston 3 149.25x
St Andrewthe Less 2 40.49x
Gate Fulford 1 63.29x
St Marylebone London 1 2.74x
Westbury On Trym 1 22.03x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Eliza 3
Emily 3
Emma 3
Amelia 2
Ann 2
Clara 2
Maria 2
Ada 1
Ader 1
Agness 1
Alice 1
Anne 1
Annis 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Lena 1
Lizzie 1
Louisa 1
Lydia 1
Martha 1
Maude 1
Millie 1
Nellie 1
Sarah 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Rodell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rodell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 70 people were recorded with the Rodell surname. That placed it at #23,670 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rodell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 129 in 2016. That gives Rodell a modern rank of #26,270.

What does the Rodell surname mean?

An English habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "ridge hill."

What does the Rodell map show?

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