NameCensus.

UK surname

Serle

A habitational name likely referring to a person from Searle, a parish in West Yorkshire.

In the 1881 census there were 251 people recorded with the Serle surname, ranking it #11,041 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 179, ranked #21,086, down from #11,041 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Bedminster and Weston-super-Mare, Kewstoke, Worle. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Lindsey, South Gloucestershire and North Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Serle is 314 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 28.7%.

1881 census count

251

Ranked #11,041

Modern count

179

2016, ranked #21,086

Peak year

1851

314 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Serle had 251 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,041 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 179 in 2016, ranked #21,086.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 314 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Serle surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Serle surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Serle 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 314 #7,361
1861 historical 237 #10,359
1881 historical 251 #11,041
1891 historical 225 #13,714
1901 historical 224 #14,091
1911 historical 206 #14,677
1997 modern 182 #18,693
1998 modern 208 #17,693
1999 modern 200 #18,237
2000 modern 195 #18,494
2001 modern 193 #18,334
2002 modern 196 #18,535
2003 modern 194 #18,463
2004 modern 184 #19,183
2005 modern 182 #19,259
2006 modern 178 #19,666
2007 modern 171 #20,387
2008 modern 165 #21,056
2009 modern 174 #20,782
2010 modern 192 #19,960
2011 modern 183 #20,425
2012 modern 184 #20,291
2013 modern 186 #20,502
2014 modern 183 #20,880
2015 modern 182 #20,856
2016 modern 179 #21,086

Geography

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Where Serles are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Bedminster, Weston-super-Mare, Kewstoke, Worle, St Philip and Jacob and Exeter City: Holy Trinity. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Lindsey, South Gloucestershire, North Devon and Bristol. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Bedminster Somerset
3 Weston-super-Mare, Kewstoke, Worle Somerset
4 St Philip and Jacob Gloucestershire
5 Exeter City: Holy Trinity Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Lindsey 003 West Lindsey
2 South Gloucestershire 028 South Gloucestershire
3 South Gloucestershire 030 South Gloucestershire
4 North Devon 005 North Devon
5 Bristol 028 Bristol, City of

Forenames

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First names often paired with Serle

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Serle

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Serle, 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 Serle surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Serle 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Serle is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Serle is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Serle falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Serle is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Serle

The surname Serle has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is thought to have derived from the Old French word "serf," which referred to a person bound to serve a lord or master. Alternatively, it may have originated from the Anglo-Norman word "seruir," meaning "to serve."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Serle can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Serlonis." This entry suggests that individuals bearing this surname were likely serfs or servants during the Norman conquest of England.

In the 13th century, the name Serle was found in various records across England, including the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, where it was spelled as "Serle." This indicates that the name was particularly prevalent in the region of Oxfordshire during that time.

Notable individuals with the surname Serle include Sir Thomas Serle (1548-1623), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Herefordshire. Another prominent figure was John Serle (1594-1670), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works.

In the 17th century, the name Serle was associated with the village of Serl, located in the county of Bedfordshire. This suggests a potential link between the surname and a place name, although the exact connection remains unclear.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Serle surname in the American colonies can be traced back to John Serle, who arrived in Virginia in 1635. This highlights the dissemination of the name across the Atlantic during the period of English colonization.

Other notable individuals with the surname Serle include William Serle (1789-1866), an English author and biographer, and Ambrose Serle (1742-1812), an English naval officer and writer who served during the American Revolutionary War.

Throughout its history, the surname Serle has maintained a strong presence in various regions of England, particularly in Oxfordshire and Bedfordshire. While its exact origins remain somewhat obscure, the name's connection to servitude and service during the medieval period is widely acknowledged.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Serle families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Serle 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. Devon leads with 44 Serles recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.60x.

County Total Index
Devon 44 8.60x
Gloucestershire 36 7.47x
Somerset 34 8.59x
Middlesex 32 1.30x
Surrey 26 2.17x
Hampshire 15 2.98x
Cornwall 12 4.31x
Kent 11 1.31x
Berkshire 9 4.88x
East Lothian 5 15.36x
Hertfordshire 5 2.95x
Sussex 5 1.21x
Yorkshire 4 0.16x
Cambridgeshire 3 1.93x
Buckinghamshire 2 1.35x
Lanarkshire 2 0.25x
Dorset 1 0.62x
Essex 1 0.21x
Glamorgan 1 0.23x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.30x
Roxburghshire 1 2.25x
Royal Navy 1 3.41x
Suffolk 1 0.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bristol St Philip Jacob in Gloucestershire leads with 19 Serles recorded in 1881 and an index of 41.86x.

Place Total Index
Bristol St Philip Jacob 19 41.86x
Bedminster 15 40.34x
Stoke Damerel 11 30.72x
Exeter Holy Trinity 10 497.51x
Bermondsey 9 12.30x
Kenton 8 496.89x
Madron Penzance 8 79.05x
St Pancras London 8 4.04x
Lambeth 7 3.27x
Beerferris 6 600.00x
Bristol St George 6 26.91x
Newington 6 6.61x
Bampton 5 318.47x
Bristol St James St Paul 5 31.11x
Prestonkirk 5 306.75x
St John Winchester 5 471.70x
Barton Stacey 4 851.06x
Bath St James 4 96.85x
Mile End Old Town 4 10.31x
Plumstead 4 14.31x
St George In East 4 23.92x
Taunton St Mary 4 55.10x
Bow London 3 9.59x
Broadwater 3 31.55x
North Curry 3 222.22x
Portsea 3 3.04x
Reading St Giles 3 16.57x
Southowram 3 40.38x
Yattendon 3 1153.85x
Bristol St James In 2 28.21x
Camberwell 2 1.27x
Chalfont St Peter 2 162.60x
Cheltenham 2 5.38x
Cookham 2 34.78x
Govan 2 1.02x
Lansallos 2 333.33x
Lewisham 2 4.47x
Millbrook 2 15.76x
North Mimms 2 186.92x
Paddington London 2 2.21x
Sawbridgeworth 2 77.82x
Shadwell London 2 29.07x
Somerton 2 123.46x
Teddington London 2 35.91x
Thorney 2 115.61x
Tiverton 2 22.70x
Weston Super Mare 2 20.02x
Whitstable 2 48.66x
Aldrington 1 833.33x
Braughing 1 114.94x
Bromley 1 7.82x
Bulmer 1 169.49x
Castleton 1 52.36x
Chard 1 20.88x
Clapham 1 3.25x
Clifton 1 4.10x
Dymchurch 1 212.77x
Edmonton 1 5.05x
Fareham 1 16.53x
Hampstead London 1 2.61x
Hendon 1 11.31x
Hockworthy 1 384.62x
Hurstpierpoint 1 43.29x
Ickworth 1 1250.00x
Kensington London 1 0.73x
Llandaff 1 7.02x
Long Ashton 1 51.02x
North Petherton 1 31.35x
Nottingham St Mary 1 1.17x
Perranuthnoe 1 131.58x
Portland 1 11.53x
Royal Navy 1 3.99x
St Andrewthe Great 1 49.75x
St Clement Danes 1 25.13x
St Marylebone London 1 0.76x
Stoke Newington London 1 5.22x
Topsham 1 41.49x
Westbury On Trym 1 6.12x
Windlesham 1 44.44x
Wrington 1 75.19x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 16
Elizabeth 13
Sarah 9
Eliza 6
Fanny 6
Emily 5
Ann 4
Jane 4
Annie 3
Ellen 3
Frances 3
Isabella 3
Louisa 3
Edith 2
Emma 2
Florence 2
Lucy 2
Martha 2
Rose 2
Alace 1
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Anie 1
Anna 1
Anney 1
Beatrice 1
Bessie 1
Cecilia 1
Elizth. 1
Ester 1
Ettie 1
Eva 1
George 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Helen 1
Henrietta 1
Jessie 1
Laura 1
Lucie 1
Lydia 1
Mabel 1
Margaret 1
Marian 1
Matilda 1
Minnie 1
Norah 1
Not 1
Rebecca 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 13
William 12
Alfred 9
James 9
George 8
Thomas 7
Charles 4
Frederick 4
Henry 4
Richard 4
Edward 3
Robert 3
Samuel 3
Sidney 3
Albert 2
Daniel 2
Edwin 2
Geo. 2
Joseph 2
Philip 2
Walter 2
Alice 1
Arthur 1
Chas. 1
Clement 1
Danl. 1
Earnest 1
Edgar 1
Edmond 1
Frank 1
Herbert 1
Jane 1
Jno.R. 1
Luwigi 1
Saml. 1
Susan 1

FAQ

Serle surname: questions and answers

How common was the Serle surname in 1881?

In 1881, 251 people were recorded with the Serle surname. That placed it at #11,041 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Serle surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 179 in 2016. That gives Serle a modern rank of #21,086.

What does the Serle surname mean?

A habitational name likely referring to a person from Searle, a parish in West Yorkshire.

What does the Serle map show?

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