UK surname
A person or family with ancestry from or connected to a location called Scobell.
In the 1881 census there were 124 people recorded with the Scobell surname, ranking it #17,429 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 79, ranked #33,100, down from #17,429 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Streatham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Scobell is 154 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 36.3%.
1881 census count
124
Ranked #17,429
Modern count
79
2016, ranked #33,100
Peak year
1901
154 bearers
Map years
4
1881 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Scobell surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Scobell surname density by area, 1881 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 | 87 | #18,695 |
| 1861 | historical | 97 | #21,503 |
| 1881 | historical | 124 | #17,429 |
| 1891 | historical | 112 | #22,291 |
| 1901 | historical | 154 | #17,775 |
| 1911 | historical | 120 | #20,447 |
| 1997 | modern | 66 | #31,038 |
| 1998 | modern | 72 | #30,775 |
| 1999 | modern | 75 | #30,661 |
| 2000 | modern | 69 | #31,273 |
| 2001 | modern | 71 | #30,907 |
| 2002 | modern | 68 | #31,626 |
| 2003 | modern | 68 | #31,689 |
| 2004 | modern | 69 | #31,784 |
| 2005 | modern | 59 | #33,008 |
| 2006 | modern | 58 | #33,433 |
| 2007 | modern | 63 | #33,243 |
| 2008 | modern | 59 | #33,827 |
| 2009 | modern | 66 | #33,538 |
| 2010 | modern | 71 | #33,401 |
| 2011 | modern | 81 | #32,558 |
| 2012 | modern | 77 | #33,124 |
| 2013 | modern | 83 | #32,813 |
| 2014 | modern | 85 | #32,743 |
| 2015 | modern | 78 | #33,210 |
| 2016 | modern | 79 | #33,100 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Streatham, Heavitree and Croydon, Battersea (Penge), Sanderstead. 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 | Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff | Gloucestershire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Streatham | London (South Districts) |
| 4 | Heavitree | Devon |
| 5 | Croydon, Battersea (Penge), Sanderstead | Surrey |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Scobell 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 Scobell, 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 Scobell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Scobell 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, Scobell 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 Scobell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Scobell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Scobell is of English origin, emerging in the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "scop" and "bell," which together translate to "bell-ringer" or "bell-maker." This connection suggests that the earliest bearers of this surname may have been associated with the profession of bell-making or bell-ringing in churches or monasteries.
The earliest known records of the Scobell surname date back to the 13th century. One notable mention is found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1275, where a certain William Scobell is listed. This document provides evidence of the surname's existence and usage during that time period.
In the 16th century, the surname appears in various historic records, including the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1558, which mentions a Henry Scobell. This record sheds light on the geographical distribution of the name, suggesting its presence in the county of Essex during that era.
One of the most prominent figures bearing the Scobell surname was Henry Scobell (1610-1660), who served as the Clerk of the Parliament during the English Civil War and the Interregnum period. He was responsible for recording the proceedings of the Rump Parliament and played a significant role in the events leading up to the execution of King Charles I.
Another notable individual was John Scobell (1615-1684), an English legal writer and compiler of parliamentary ordinances. His work, titled "A Collection of Acts and Ordinances of General Use," published in 1658, served as an important reference for legal practitioners during the Commonwealth period.
In the 17th century, the Scobell surname appears in various parish records and land registers, indicating its presence across different regions of England. For instance, the parish records of Ipswich, Suffolk, mention a baptism of a child named Scobell in 1639.
The Scobell surname has also been associated with several place names in England, such as Scobell Green in Hertfordshire and Scobell's Farm in Buckinghamshire. These place names may have derived from individuals bearing the Scobell surname or vice versa, further emphasizing the surname's long-standing presence in the region.
Other notable figures with the Scobell surname include Samuel Scobell (1645-1701), an English Puritan minister, and William Scobell (1680-1744), a composer and organist who served at the Chapels Royal during the reign of King George I.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Scobell 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. Devon leads with 44 Scobells recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.48x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Devon | 44 | 17.48x |
| Surrey | 20 | 3.39x |
| Middlesex | 11 | 0.91x |
| Kent | 10 | 2.42x |
| Cornwall | 7 | 5.11x |
| Gloucestershire | 7 | 2.95x |
| Northumberland | 7 | 3.89x |
| Worcestershire | 7 | 4.43x |
| Somerset | 5 | 2.57x |
| Berkshire | 2 | 2.20x |
| Herefordshire | 1 | 2.02x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 1.20x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.49x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.33x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Exeter Heavitree in Devon leads with 14 Scobells recorded in 1881 and an index of 744.68x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Exeter Heavitree | 14 | 744.68x |
| Croydon | 13 | 39.74x |
| Beckenham | 7 | 129.87x |
| Redmarley | 7 | 1707.32x |
| Rotherhithe | 7 | 46.85x |
| Cramlington | 6 | 252.10x |
| Clist St Lawrance | 5 | 10000.00x |
| Batsford | 4 | 8000.00x |
| Ermington | 4 | 434.78x |
| High Littleton | 4 | 1250.00x |
| Madron | 4 | 360.36x |
| Ratcliffe London | 4 | 59.88x |
| Ugborough | 4 | 655.74x |
| Littleworth | 3 | 1304.35x |
| Plymouth Charles The | 3 | 27.05x |
| Bickleigh | 2 | 800.00x |
| Exminster | 2 | 219.78x |
| Madron Penzance | 2 | 40.16x |
| Meavy | 2 | 1666.67x |
| Mile End Old Town | 2 | 10.48x |
| Plymouth St Andrew | 2 | 10.31x |
| Sulhamstead Abbots | 2 | 1538.46x |
| Westminster St James | 2 | 16.09x |
| Ash Next Ridley | 1 | 384.62x |
| Aston | 1 | 1.19x |
| Aveton Gifford | 1 | 277.78x |
| Bedminster | 1 | 5.47x |
| Broad Clist | 1 | 114.94x |
| Broadwater | 1 | 21.37x |
| Dodbrooke | 1 | 200.00x |
| Folkestone | 1 | 12.50x |
| Gwennap | 1 | 38.76x |
| Hentland | 1 | 416.67x |
| Holbeton | 1 | 217.39x |
| Lewisham | 1 | 4.55x |
| Newcastle On Tyne St | 1 | 10.72x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 2.25x |
| Plymstock | 1 | 75.76x |
| Shoreditch London | 1 | 1.91x |
| St George Hanover | 1 | 6.33x |
| Stoke Damerel | 1 | 5.68x |
| Totteridge | 1 | 384.62x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Scobell surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 12 |
| Elizabeth | 8 |
| Martha | 4 |
| Annie | 3 |
| Edith | 3 |
| Frances | 3 |
| Jane | 3 |
| Adelaide | 2 |
| Ellen | 2 |
| Emily | 2 |
| Louisa | 2 |
| Rosa | 2 |
| Ada | 1 |
| Amy | 1 |
| Ann | 1 |
| Anna | 1 |
| Charlotte | 1 |
| Dora | 1 |
| Eleanor | 1 |
| Fanny | 1 |
| Florence | 1 |
| Georgianna | 1 |
| Harriet | 1 |
| Henrietta | 1 |
| Isabella | 1 |
| Juliana | 1 |
| Kate | 1 |
| Katherine | 1 |
| Lavinia | 1 |
| Lillian | 1 |
| Lily | 1 |
| Lois | 1 |
| Lucy | 1 |
| Lydia | 1 |
| Margaret | 1 |
| Margaritt | 1 |
| Marianna | 1 |
| Mellany | 1 |
| Minnie | 1 |
| Racina | 1 |
| Rosina | 1 |
| Sophia | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Scobell 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 Scobell households.
FAQ
In 1881, 124 people were recorded with the Scobell surname. That placed it at #17,429 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 79 in 2016. That gives Scobell a modern rank of #33,100.
A person or family with ancestry from or connected to a location called Scobell.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Scobell 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.