NameCensus.

UK surname

Scannell

An Irish occupational surname referring to a descendant of a scanner or historian.

In the 1881 census there were 181 people recorded with the Scannell surname, ranking it #13,690 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 844, ranked #6,621, up from #13,690 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and St George in the East. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Merthyr Tydfil, Brent and Tower Hamlets.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Scannell is 881 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 366.3%.

1881 census count

181

Ranked #13,690

Modern count

844

2016, ranked #6,621

Peak year

2010

881 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Scannell had 181 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,690 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 844 in 2016, ranked #6,621.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 391 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Scannell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Scannell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Scannell 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 135 #13,964
1861 historical 149 #15,373
1881 historical 181 #13,690
1891 historical 222 #13,854
1901 historical 338 #10,709
1911 historical 391 #9,443
1997 modern 788 #6,624
1998 modern 835 #6,529
1999 modern 852 #6,471
2000 modern 859 #6,401
2001 modern 846 #6,359
2002 modern 874 #6,321
2003 modern 865 #6,255
2004 modern 843 #6,390
2005 modern 812 #6,533
2006 modern 819 #6,496
2007 modern 836 #6,460
2008 modern 832 #6,542
2009 modern 859 #6,522
2010 modern 881 #6,506
2011 modern 848 #6,627
2012 modern 835 #6,621
2013 modern 848 #6,650
2014 modern 859 #6,613
2015 modern 849 #6,608
2016 modern 844 #6,621

Geography

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Where Scannells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, St George in the East 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 Merthyr Tydfil, Brent, Tower Hamlets, Ipswich and Swansea. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 St George in the East London (East Districts)
4 London parishes London 1
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Merthyr Tydfil 002 Merthyr Tydfil
2 Brent 015 Brent
3 Tower Hamlets 019 Tower Hamlets
4 Ipswich 013 Ipswich
5 Swansea 021 Swansea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Scannell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Scannell

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

Read profile summary

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Scannell 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

Scannell 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

Scannell falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Scannell 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Scannell

The surname SCANNELL is of Irish origin, deriving from the Gaelic ÓScannail, which translates to "descendant of Scannail." The name Scannail is thought to have been a personal name, perhaps a diminutive form of Scannal, which means "scandal" or "reproach." The name likely emerged in the late 11th or early 12th century in Ireland.

The SCANNELL surname is most prevalent in the counties of Cork, Kerry, and Limerick, suggesting that the name originated in the province of Munster. The earliest recorded spelling of the name appears to be O'Scannill, found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the early 17th century.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Donough O'Scannell, who was recorded as the Bishop of Raphoe in County Donegal in the year 1290. Another notable figure was John O'Scannell, a 16th-century poet and historian from County Limerick.

In the 17th century, a branch of the SCANNELL family settled in County Cork, where they became prominent landowners. One notable member of this branch was Patrick SCANNELL (1629-1691), who served as a member of the Irish Parliament and fought in the Williamite War in Ireland.

During the 19th century, the SCANNELL surname spread beyond Ireland due to the Great Famine and subsequent emigration. One notable figure from this period was Michael SCANNELL (1836-1917), an Irish-American politician and lawyer who served as a member of the New York State Assembly.

Another notable bearer of the name was Michael Vincent SCANNELL (1884-1963), an Irish-American prelate who served as the Bishop of Omaha, Nebraska, from 1948 until his retirement in 1960.

In more recent times, the name has been borne by individuals such as Terry SCANNELL (born 1937), an English actor and author known for his roles in television series like Z-Cars and Softly, Softly.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Scannell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Scannell 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. Middlesex leads with 72 Scannells recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.99x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 72 3.99x
Glamorgan 30 9.55x
Monmouthshire 15 11.50x
Kent 14 2.27x
Devon 11 2.93x
Gloucestershire 8 2.26x
Surrey 7 0.80x
Warwickshire 6 1.32x
Sussex 4 1.31x
Carmarthenshire 3 3.94x
Hampshire 3 0.81x
Lancashire 3 0.14x
Royal Navy 3 13.95x
Cambridgeshire 2 1.75x
Hertfordshire 1 0.80x
Lanarkshire 1 0.17x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.41x
Pembrokeshire 1 1.74x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Merthyr Tydfil in Glamorgan leads with 17 Scannells recorded in 1881 and an index of 56.29x.

Place Total Index
Merthyr Tydfil 17 56.29x
St George In East 14 114.10x
Plymouth St Andrew 11 38.01x
Islington London 10 5.72x
Mile End Old Town 10 35.11x
St Woollos 9 61.81x
Cardiff St Mary 8 46.22x
Fulham London 7 26.75x
Shoreditch London 7 8.95x
Bristol St Paul In 6 63.63x
Wouldham 6 769.23x
Kensington London 5 4.98x
Birmingham 4 2.64x
Chichester St Andrew 4 1250.00x
Risca 4 162.60x
St Clement Danes 4 136.99x
Sully 4 3076.92x
Pembrey 3 85.71x
Royal Navy 3 16.32x
Southwark St John 3 54.35x
Westminster St 3 45.11x
Ashford 2 139.86x
Bedwellty 2 8.68x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 2 6.00x
Deptford St Paul 2 4.21x
Greenwich 2 6.96x
Hougham 2 54.64x
Mile End New Town 2 81.30x
Norwood 2 48.43x
Southwark St George Martyr 2 5.51x
St Marylebone London 2 2.08x
St Pancras London 2 1.38x
Wisbech St Peter 2 34.90x
Aldershot 1 8.07x
Aston 1 0.80x
Bermondsey 1 1.86x
Chatham 1 5.90x
Coventry Holy Trinity 1 7.36x
Govan 1 0.69x
Heston 1 16.69x
Holdenhurst 1 10.31x
Hubberston 1 119.05x
Little Bolton 1 3.63x
Lower Darwen 1 35.59x
Newington 1 1.50x
Nottingham St Peter 1 36.90x
Orpington 1 52.91x
Penarth 1 32.57x
Portsea 1 1.38x
Salford 1 1.59x
Standon 1 78.13x
Whitefriars Precinct 1 344.83x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 14
Ellen 6
Margaret 5
Catherine 4
Alice 3
Ann 3
Eliza 3
Hannah 3
Johanna 3
Anne 2
Bridget 2
Bridgett 2
Emma 2
Florence 2
Julia 2
Maria 2
Teresa 2
Agnes 1
Anastasia 1
Anna 1
Annetta 1
Annie 1
Cordelia 1
Edith 1
Elizabeth 1
Emily 1
Honorah 1
Jane 1
Kate 1
Margarett 1
Margret 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
Maude 1
May 1
Rosa 1
Rose 1
Sarah 1
Selena 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Scannell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Scannell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 181 people were recorded with the Scannell surname. That placed it at #13,690 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Scannell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 844 in 2016. That gives Scannell a modern rank of #6,621.

What does the Scannell surname mean?

An Irish occupational surname referring to a descendant of a scanner or historian.

What does the Scannell map show?

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