UK surname
A surname of Scottish origin denoting someone residing near a place of broom bushes.
In the 1881 census there were 72 people recorded with the Roskelly surname, ranking it #23,371 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 34, ranked #35,768, down from #23,371 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Dunstan Stepney, Camborne and Kenwyn, Tregavethan. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Roskelly is 112 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 52.8%.
1881 census count
72
Ranked #23,371
Modern count
34
2016, ranked #35,768
Peak year
1901
112 bearers
Map years
1
1901 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Roskelly surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Roskelly surname density by area, 1901 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 | 40 | #26,118 |
| 1861 | historical | 64 | #25,747 |
| 1881 | historical | 72 | #23,371 |
| 1891 | historical | 77 | #27,169 |
| 1901 | historical | 112 | #21,382 |
| 1911 | historical | 88 | #24,041 |
| 1997 | modern | 32 | #34,472 |
| 1998 | modern | 35 | #34,344 |
| 1999 | modern | 34 | #34,528 |
| 2000 | modern | 33 | #34,607 |
| 2001 | modern | 31 | #34,648 |
| 2002 | modern | 35 | #34,554 |
| 2003 | modern | 33 | #34,773 |
| 2004 | modern | 38 | #34,555 |
| 2005 | modern | 36 | #34,894 |
| 2006 | modern | 31 | #35,467 |
| 2007 | modern | 33 | #35,461 |
| 2008 | modern | 32 | #35,610 |
| 2009 | modern | 30 | #35,871 |
| 2010 | modern | 31 | #35,906 |
| 2011 | modern | 33 | #35,777 |
| 2012 | modern | 33 | #35,767 |
| 2013 | modern | 39 | #35,483 |
| 2014 | modern | 35 | #35,722 |
| 2015 | modern | 35 | #35,702 |
| 2016 | modern | 34 | #35,768 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Dunstan Stepney, Camborne, Kenwyn, Tregavethan, Liskeard, St Cleer and London parishes. 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 Dunstan Stepney | London (East Districts) |
| 2 | Camborne | Cornwall |
| 3 | Kenwyn, Tregavethan | Cornwall |
| 4 | Liskeard, St Cleer | Cornwall |
| 5 | London parishes | London 2 |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Roskelly 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 Roskelly, 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 Roskelly surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Roskelly 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, Roskelly 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 Roskelly is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Roskelly, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Roskelly has its origins in Cornwall, a county in the southwestern part of England. It is believed to have derived from the Cornish words "ros" and "kelly," which translate to "valley" and "grove" or "hazel tree" respectively. The name likely referred to someone who lived in or near a valley with hazel trees.
The earliest known record of the Roskelly surname dates back to the 16th century in the parish records of St. Columb Major, Cornwall. The name was often spelled differently in those times, with variations such as Roskelley, Roskilly, and Roskylly appearing in various documents.
One notable historical reference to the name Roskelly is found in the Hearth Tax Rolls of 1665, where a John Roskelly is listed as a resident of the town of St. Columb Major. This record provides evidence of the surname's presence in Cornwall during that time period.
The earliest recorded individual with the surname Roskelly is believed to be John Roskelly, born around 1590 in St. Columb Major, Cornwall. Another early bearer of the name was William Roskelly, born in the same town in 1612.
In the 18th century, a prominent figure named Thomas Roskelly (1746-1819) was a renowned Cornish engineer and inventor. He is known for his contributions to the mining industry, particularly his design for a steam-powered pumping engine used in Cornish mines.
Another individual of note was John Roskelly (1802-1876), a Cornish merchant and shipowner who established a successful trading company in Falmouth, Cornwall. He was also involved in local politics and served as a member of the Falmouth Town Council.
In the 19th century, Samuel Roskelly (1830-1901) gained recognition as a Cornish Methodist minister and author. He wrote several works on religious themes and served as a pastor in various churches throughout Cornwall and Devon.
The Roskelly surname has also been associated with place names in Cornwall, such as Roskelly Moor, a moorland area near the town of St. Columb Major, and Roskelly Hill, a location in the parish of Crantock.
While the Roskelly name has its roots in Cornwall, it has since spread to other parts of the United Kingdom and beyond, as individuals with this surname have migrated and settled in various regions throughout history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Roskelly 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. Cornwall leads with 41 Roskellys recorded in 1881 and an index of 51.57x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cornwall | 41 | 51.57x |
| Devon | 17 | 11.63x |
| Durham | 6 | 2.87x |
| Middlesex | 3 | 0.43x |
| Sussex | 2 | 1.69x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.12x |
| Oxfordshire | 1 | 2.31x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.29x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Plymouth St Andrew in Devon leads with 7 Roskellys recorded in 1881 and an index of 62.17x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Plymouth St Andrew | 7 | 62.17x |
| Camborne | 6 | 182.93x |
| Holmside | 6 | 1176.47x |
| St Keyne | 5 | 12500.00x |
| Pelynt | 4 | 2500.00x |
| St Sampson | 4 | 6666.67x |
| Duloe | 3 | 1304.35x |
| Liskeard | 3 | 225.56x |
| Plymouth Charles The | 3 | 46.58x |
| Tavistock | 3 | 179.64x |
| Eastbourne | 2 | 36.70x |
| Kenwyn | 2 | 96.15x |
| Perranzabuloe | 2 | 289.86x |
| St Austell | 2 | 73.53x |
| St Cleer | 2 | 289.86x |
| St Pinnock | 2 | 1666.67x |
| Stoke Damerel | 2 | 19.55x |
| Bensington | 1 | 357.14x |
| Everton | 1 | 3.77x |
| Islington London | 1 | 1.47x |
| Lamerton | 1 | 357.14x |
| Lanreath | 1 | 714.29x |
| Mile End Old Town | 1 | 9.02x |
| Morval | 1 | 625.00x |
| Redruth | 1 | 44.44x |
| St Columb Major | 1 | 151.52x |
| St Hilary Marazion | 1 | 454.55x |
| St Neot | 1 | 322.58x |
| Stoke | 1 | 62.11x |
| Tormoham | 1 | 16.16x |
| Westminster St | 1 | 38.61x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Roskelly surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Roskelly 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 Roskelly households.
FAQ
In 1881, 72 people were recorded with the Roskelly surname. That placed it at #23,371 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 34 in 2016. That gives Roskelly a modern rank of #35,768.
A surname of Scottish origin denoting someone residing near a place of broom bushes.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Roskelly 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.