NameCensus.

UK surname

Scovell

A surname derived from a location in England, potentially related to fields or open areas.

In the 1881 census there were 446 people recorded with the Scovell surname, ranking it #7,361 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 397, ranked #11,941, down from #7,361 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Charlton Marshall, Newchurch and Calbourne, Shalfleet, Brook. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Isle of Wight and Mendip.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Scovell is 605 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 11.0%.

1881 census count

446

Ranked #7,361

Modern count

397

2016, ranked #11,941

Peak year

1911

605 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Scovell had 446 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,361 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 397 in 2016, ranked #11,941.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 605 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Scovell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Scovell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Scovell 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 245 #8,920
1861 historical 218 #11,175
1881 historical 446 #7,361
1891 historical 377 #9,302
1901 historical 545 #7,575
1911 historical 605 #6,798
1997 modern 477 #9,652
1998 modern 495 #9,678
1999 modern 505 #9,587
2000 modern 506 #9,541
2001 modern 490 #9,619
2002 modern 496 #9,697
2003 modern 483 #9,735
2004 modern 466 #10,030
2005 modern 435 #10,480
2006 modern 436 #10,506
2007 modern 439 #10,553
2008 modern 442 #10,573
2009 modern 440 #10,888
2010 modern 433 #11,242
2011 modern 425 #11,285
2012 modern 396 #11,807
2013 modern 401 #11,890
2014 modern 405 #11,880
2015 modern 394 #12,038
2016 modern 397 #11,941

Geography

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Where Scovells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Charlton Marshall, Newchurch, Calbourne, Shalfleet, Brook, Freshwater and Portsmouth, Portsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Isle of Wight and Mendip. 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 Charlton Marshall Dorset
2 Newchurch Hampshire
3 Calbourne, Shalfleet, Brook Hampshire
4 Freshwater Hampshire
5 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Isle of Wight 018 Isle of Wight
2 Isle of Wight 016 Isle of Wight
3 Isle of Wight 006 Isle of Wight
4 Isle of Wight 005 Isle of Wight
5 Mendip 007 Mendip

Forenames

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First names often paired with Scovell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Scovell

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Scovell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Scovell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Scovell is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Scovell is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Scovell 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 Scovell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Scovell

The surname Scovell has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "scoffa" and "feld," meaning "brushwood" and "field" respectively. This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near or worked in an area with thick underbrush.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1191, where a person named William Scovell is mentioned. The name also appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273, suggesting its presence in various parts of England during that time.

In the 14th century, the name Scovell was associated with the village of Scovel in Gloucestershire. This place name, spelled as "Scofeld" in the Domesday Book of 1086, likely contributed to the evolution of the surname.

During the Tudor period, a prominent figure with the surname Scovell was Sir John Scovell (c. 1505-1558), who served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire and held the position of Sheriff of the county in 1542.

Another notable individual was Sir Thomas Scovell (1609-1683), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Kent. He served as an Alderman of the City of London and was knighted by King Charles II in 1663.

In the 18th century, Edward Scovell (1720-1784) was a renowned English clergyman and author, known for his works on theology and philosophy.

The Scovell family also had a presence in North America, with William Scovell (1689-1756) being one of the earliest recorded members. He was a Quaker from Pennsylvania and played a significant role in the early development of the state.

One of the more recent historical figures with the surname Scovell was Sir Nathaniel Scovell (1843-1921), a British Army officer who served in the Crimean War and the Anglo-Zulu War, earning numerous military honors throughout his career.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Scovell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Scovell 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. Hampshire leads with 256 Scovells recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.71x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 256 28.71x
Middlesex 45 1.03x
Surrey 31 1.46x
Wiltshire 29 7.54x
Kent 24 1.62x
Dorset 22 7.71x
Sussex 12 1.64x
Somerset 8 1.14x
Lancashire 6 0.12x
Staffordshire 6 0.41x
Essex 3 0.35x
Berkshire 1 0.31x
Hertfordshire 1 0.33x
Shropshire 1 0.27x
Warwickshire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Carisbrooke in Hampshire leads with 38 Scovells recorded in 1881 and an index of 306.95x.

Place Total Index
Carisbrooke 38 306.95x
Portsea 28 16.02x
Shorwell 17 1868.13x
Downton 16 318.09x
Whitwell 14 1333.33x
Cobham 13 373.56x
St George Hanover 13 22.89x
Freshwater 12 294.84x
Godshill 12 582.52x
Southampton St Mary 11 19.62x
Fordingbridge 10 206.19x
Kensington London 10 4.13x
St Helens 10 154.32x
Ventnor 9 106.13x
Beckenham 8 41.24x
Blandford St Mary 8 1481.48x
Brading 8 67.51x
Dibden 8 1066.67x
No Mans Land 8 4000.00x
Nursling 8 559.44x
Walcot 8 21.45x
Banstead 7 121.95x
Deal 7 55.29x
Hamble Le Rice 7 1129.03x
Holdenhurst 7 29.93x
Twickenham 7 37.53x
Witchampton 7 958.90x
Fawley 6 212.01x
Millbrook 6 26.71x
Northwood 6 47.24x
Ryde 6 31.32x
Shalfleet 6 348.84x
Battersea 5 3.12x
Funtington 5 303.03x
Ramsgate 5 20.64x
St Mary Extra 5 69.64x
Brighton 4 2.70x
Eling 4 44.30x
Everton 4 2.43x
Hawley 4 238.10x
Lyme Regis 4 116.96x
Fisherton Anger 3 42.13x
St Pancras London 3 0.86x
Sunbury 3 57.36x
Upper Penn 3 81.52x
West Ham 3 1.58x
Wolverhampton 3 2.66x
Alverstoke 2 6.20x
Ash Normandy 2 69.44x
Bethnal Green London 2 1.06x
Chelsea London 2 1.53x
Niton 2 168.07x
Paddington London 2 1.25x
Preston 2 15.61x
St Marylebone London 2 0.86x
Tarrant Rushton 2 800.00x
Tonbridge 2 3.74x
Warblington 2 56.50x
Wylye 2 273.97x
Bishopstoke 1 43.67x
Bramshaw 1 88.50x
Camberwell 1 0.36x
Canterbury St Mary 1 10.04x
Canterbury St Mildred 1 28.41x
Cove 1 85.47x
Harbrough Magna 1 196.08x
Langton Long Blandford 1 243.90x
Liverpool 1 0.32x
New Windsor 1 9.11x
Penge 1 3.60x
Portsmouth 1 4.87x
Shanklin 1 37.59x
Shrewsbury St Mary 1 6.74x
Southampton Holy Rood 1 111.11x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 1.14x
St Albans 1 16.29x
St Michael Winchester 1 54.95x
Stoughton 1 107.53x
Toxteth Park 1 0.57x
Willesden 1 2.44x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 21
Elizabeth 14
Emily 11
Caroline 10
Ellen 10
Sarah 10
Ann 9
Emma 9
Alice 8
Eliza 7
Fanny 7
Rose 7
Charlotte 6
Jane 6
Annie 5
Edith 5
Florence 4
Louisa 4
Ada 3
Agnes 3
Bertha 3
Jessie 3
Augusta 2
Cecilia 2
Frances 2
Janet 2
Kate 2
Lucy 2
Lydia 2
Margaret 2
Maria 2
Martha 2
Anna 1
Arabella 1
Beatrice 1
Catherine 1
Constance 1
Editha 1
Esther 1
Eva 1
Eveline 1
Hildra 1
Infant 1
Jemima 1
Jemina 1
Kezia 1
Kitty 1
Laura 1
Lavinia 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 27
William 26
James 16
Charles 15
Henry 12
Frank 9
John 9
Robert 9
Edward 7
Frederick 7
Albert 6
Samuel 6
Arthur 4
Benjamin 4
Harry 4
Isaac 4
Richard 4
Thomas 4
Alfred 3
Alexander 2
Bertram 2
Charlie 2
Daniel 2
Ernest 2
Frederic 2
Fredk. 2
Mark 2
Thornton 2
Walter 2
Augustus 1
Barnabas 1
Charley 1
Chas. 1
Chas.P. 1
Christopher 1
David 1
Edmund 1
Edwd.W. 1
Fielding 1
Francis 1
Fredrick 1
Herbert 1
Jacob 1
Joe 1
Levi 1
Mary 1
Moses 1
Peter 1
Silas 1
Stephen 1

FAQ

Scovell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Scovell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 446 people were recorded with the Scovell surname. That placed it at #7,361 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Scovell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 397 in 2016. That gives Scovell a modern rank of #11,941.

What does the Scovell surname mean?

A surname derived from a location in England, potentially related to fields or open areas.

What does the Scovell map show?

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