NameCensus.

UK surname

Shelswell

In the 1881 census there were 73 people recorded with the Shelswell surname, ranking it #23,220 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 104, ranked #30,317, down from #23,220 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Shenington and Wellesbourne. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northampton, Warwick and Rotherham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Shelswell is 120 in 2004. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 42.5%.

1881 census count

73

Ranked #23,220

Modern count

104

2016, ranked #30,317

Peak year

2004

120 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Shelswell had 73 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,220 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 104 in 2016, ranked #30,317.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 114 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Shelswell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Shelswell surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Shelswell 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 50 #24,274
1861 historical 88 #22,554
1881 historical 73 #23,220
1891 historical 114 #22,006
1901 historical 104 #22,310
1911 historical 110 #21,519
1997 modern 105 #26,188
1998 modern 104 #26,981
1999 modern 108 #26,602
2000 modern 118 #25,197
2001 modern 110 #25,900
2002 modern 106 #26,985
2003 modern 117 #25,282
2004 modern 120 #25,078
2005 modern 111 #26,260
2006 modern 106 #27,332
2007 modern 105 #27,868
2008 modern 108 #27,684
2009 modern 112 #27,685
2010 modern 110 #28,666
2011 modern 114 #27,784
2012 modern 113 #28,016
2013 modern 116 #27,992
2014 modern 114 #28,608
2015 modern 115 #28,319
2016 modern 104 #30,317

Geography

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Where Shelswells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Shenington, Wellesbourne, Swalcliffe and Kenilworth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northampton, Warwick, Rotherham, Stratford-on-Avon and South Bucks. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Shenington Oxfordshire
3 Wellesbourne Warwickshire
4 Swalcliffe Oxfordshire
5 Kenilworth Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northampton 031 Northampton
2 Warwick 014 Warwick
3 Rotherham 015 Rotherham
4 Stratford-on-Avon 008 Stratford-on-Avon
5 South Bucks 003 South Bucks

Forenames

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First names often paired with Shelswell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Shelswell

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Shelswell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Shelswell 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Shelswell is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Shelswell is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Shelswell 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 Shelswell 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 Shelswell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

1881 census detail

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Shelswell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Shelswell 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. Warwickshire leads with 37 Shelswells recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.61x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 37 20.61x
Oxfordshire 11 25.02x
Worcestershire 7 7.53x
Middlesex 5 0.70x
Northamptonshire 4 5.97x
Surrey 3 0.86x
Yorkshire 3 0.43x
Buckinghamshire 1 2.32x
Cumberland 1 1.63x
Staffordshire 1 0.42x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 11 Shelswells recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.25x.

Place Total Index
Aston 11 22.25x
Budbrooke 10 5555.56x
Shenington 5 5555.56x
Leamington Priors 4 90.50x
W Shutford 4 5000.00x
Wappenham 4 3636.36x
Bourton On Dunsmore 3 4285.71x
Ecclesfield 3 58.03x
Islington London 3 4.35x
Wellesbourne Hastings 3 1764.71x
Worcester St Martin 3 240.00x
Alkerton 2 5000.00x
Claines 2 78.43x
Harbury 2 689.66x
Lambeth 2 3.22x
Warwick St Mary 2 128.21x
Worcester St Peter 2 113.64x
Caldewgate 1 29.76x
Hammersmith London 1 5.70x
Kenilworth 1 99.01x
Napton On Hill 1 454.55x
Putney 1 30.86x
St George Hanover 1 10.76x
Upper Penn 1 166.67x
Winslow 1 243.90x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 4
Caroline 3
Eliza 3
Hannah 3
Mary 3
Alice 2
Elizabeth 2
Emma 2
Julia 2
Martha 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Ann 1
Edith 1
Elenor 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Flora 1
Laura 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
Rose 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 7
William 7
Henry 4
George 3
James 2
At. 1
Daniel 1
Edward 1
Frank 1
Joseph 1
Oscar 1
Rosa 1
Thomas 1
Walter 1
Willy 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Shelswell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Shelswell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 73 people were recorded with the Shelswell surname. That placed it at #23,220 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Shelswell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 104 in 2016. That gives Shelswell a modern rank of #30,317.

What does the Shelswell map show?

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