NameCensus.

UK surname

Roussel

A French topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a small stream or brook.

In the 1881 census there were 29 people recorded with the Roussel surname, ranking it #29,484 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 133, ranked #25,765, up from #29,484 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kensington and Chelsea, Eastbourne and Purbeck.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Roussel is 153 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 358.6%.

1881 census count

29

Ranked #29,484

Modern count

133

2016, ranked #25,765

Peak year

2011

153 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • Roussel had 29 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #29,484 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 133 in 2016, ranked #25,765.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 32 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Roussel surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Roussel surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Roussel 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 9 #31,675
1861 historical 7 #33,053
1881 historical 29 #29,484
1891 historical 23 #32,389
1901 historical 21 #31,686
1911 historical 32 #29,838
1997 modern 77 #29,874
1998 modern 94 #28,435
1999 modern 106 #26,885
2000 modern 117 #25,324
2001 modern 121 #24,493
2002 modern 130 #23,903
2003 modern 123 #24,497
2004 modern 126 #24,335
2005 modern 125 #24,398
2006 modern 129 #24,165
2007 modern 134 #23,931
2008 modern 139 #23,635
2009 modern 144 #23,577
2010 modern 151 #23,377
2011 modern 153 #22,996
2012 modern 147 #23,567
2013 modern 141 #24,670
2014 modern 141 #24,855
2015 modern 143 #24,481
2016 modern 133 #25,765

Geography

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Where Roussels are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kensington and Chelsea, Eastbourne, Purbeck, East Lindsey and Enfield. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kensington and Chelsea 003 Kensington and Chelsea
2 Eastbourne 011 Eastbourne
3 Purbeck 002 Purbeck
4 East Lindsey 006 East Lindsey
5 Enfield 009 Enfield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Roussel

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Roussel

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Roussel surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Roussel 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Roussel is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Roussel is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Roussel falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Roussel 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Roussel

The surname ROUSSEL has its origins in France, originating in the Middle Ages. It is a French patronymic name derived from the Old French personal name "Roussel," which itself comes from the Latin word "russus," meaning "red-haired" or "reddish-brown."

The earliest recorded instances of the surname ROUSSEL can be traced back to the 12th century. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Guillaume Roussel, a Norman knight who participated in the Third Crusade (1189-1192) under the command of King Richard I of England.

In the 13th century, the ROUSSEL name appeared in various medieval records and documents, such as the Cartulaire de l'Abbaye de Saint-Père de Chartres, which mentions a certain Renaud Roussel in 1249. The name was also found in the Trésor des Chartes du Comté de Rethel, a collection of charters from the County of Rethel, where a Simon Roussel is recorded in 1273.

During the 14th century, the ROUSSEL surname gained prominence in the region of Normandy, particularly in the towns of Rouen and Caen. One notable figure from this period was Jean Roussel (c. 1330-1400), a Norman lawyer and judge who served as the Bailli of Rouen.

In the 15th century, the ROUSSEL name appeared in the records of the famous Hundred Years' War between England and France. A certain Jacques Roussel (c. 1415-1480) was a French military commander who fought alongside Joan of Arc during the Siege of Orléans in 1429.

Over the centuries, the ROUSSEL surname has been associated with several notable individuals, including François Roussel (1557-1623), a French Catholic theologian and controversialist; François-Thérèse Roussel (1693-1759), a French painter and engraver; and Pierre Roussel (1742-1802), a French mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics.

Other notable bearers of the ROUSSEL surname include Napoléon Roussel (1805-1878), a French general who served under Napoleon III; Théodore Roussel (1847-1926), a French naval officer and explorer who participated in several expeditions to the Arctic; and Albert Roussel (1869-1937), a renowned French composer and conductor known for his orchestral and chamber works.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Roussel families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Roussel 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. Channel Islands leads with 73 Roussels recorded in 1881 and an index of 245.21x.

County Total Index
Channel Islands 73 245.21x
Middlesex 9 0.90x
Glamorgan 7 4.00x
Surrey 6 1.23x
Hampshire 2 0.97x
Kent 2 0.58x
Devon 1 0.48x
Midlothian 1 0.74x
Oxfordshire 1 1.61x
Sussex 1 0.59x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Michaelinthe Vale in Channel Islands leads with 22 Roussels recorded in 1881 and an index of 2075.47x.

Place Total Index
St Michaelinthe Vale 22 2075.47x
St Helier 18 185.76x
St Sampson 10 746.27x
Penlline 7 7000.00x
St Andrew 7 1794.87x
Camberwell 6 9.35x
St Maryde Castro 6 821.92x
St John 5 877.19x
Chelsea London 3 9.91x
Paddington London 3 8.12x
Lewisham 2 10.94x
Portsmouth 2 42.19x
St Giles In Fields 2 57.64x
St Peter Port 2 36.30x
St Saviour 2 121.21x
Edinburgh St Marys 1 38.17x
Hendon 1 27.70x
Newhaven 1 72.46x
Oxford St Clement 1 63.69x
Plymouth Charles The 1 10.86x
St Peter 1 116.28x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Betsey 3
Elizabeth 3
Margaret 3
Marie 3
Rachel 3
Ada 2
Emma 2
Julie 2
Philomine 2
Adele 1
Agnes 1
Alexandrine 1
Amelia 1
Ann 1
Annie 1
Bertha 1
Catherine 1
Cathrine 1
Clara 1
Clarice 1
Desiree 1
Eliza 1
Emily 1
Ernestine 1
Frances 1
Helen 1
Henriette 1
Judith 1
Louisa 1
Louise 1
Lydia 1
Maria 1
Nancy 1
Ruth 1
Susannah 1
V. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 6
Thomas 5
Alfred 3
Francois 3
James 3
Peter 3
Albert 2
Edward 2
Frederick 2
Auguste 1
Charles 1
E. 1
Edwin 1
Francis 1
Henry 1
Jean 1
Joseph 1
Leonce 1
Louis 1
Marie 1
Napoleon 1
Philbert 1
Stephen 1
William 1
Yves 1

FAQ

Roussel surname: questions and answers

How common was the Roussel surname in 1881?

In 1881, 29 people were recorded with the Roussel surname. That placed it at #29,484 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Roussel surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 133 in 2016. That gives Roussel a modern rank of #25,765.

What does the Roussel surname mean?

A French topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a small stream or brook.

What does the Roussel map show?

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