NameCensus.

UK surname

Soal

In the 1881 census there were 72 people recorded with the Soal surname, ranking it #23,371 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 121, ranked #27,399, down from #23,371 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lewisham, London parishes and Eyworth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Caerphilly, Isle of Wight and Cherwell.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Soal is 136 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 68.1%.

1881 census count

72

Ranked #23,371

Modern count

121

2016, ranked #27,399

Peak year

1911

136 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Soal had 72 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,371 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 121 in 2016, ranked #27,399.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 136 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Soal surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Soal surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Soal 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 69 #21,148
1861 historical 69 #25,057
1881 historical 72 #23,371
1891 historical 99 #24,200
1901 historical 114 #21,166
1911 historical 136 #18,962
1997 modern 112 #25,244
1998 modern 118 #25,041
1999 modern 112 #26,044
2000 modern 110 #26,248
2001 modern 104 #26,765
2002 modern 111 #26,291
2003 modern 108 #26,486
2004 modern 109 #26,607
2005 modern 99 #28,177
2006 modern 102 #27,926
2007 modern 104 #28,020
2008 modern 99 #29,181
2009 modern 103 #29,127
2010 modern 110 #28,666
2011 modern 109 #28,653
2012 modern 118 #27,250
2013 modern 118 #27,686
2014 modern 124 #27,049
2015 modern 121 #27,405
2016 modern 121 #27,399

Geography

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Where Soals are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lewisham, London parishes, Eyworth, Petersfield and St John Hackney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Caerphilly, Isle of Wight, Cherwell and Horsham. 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 Lewisham London (South Districts)
2 London parishes London 3
3 Eyworth Bedfordshire
4 Petersfield Hampshire
5 St John Hackney London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Caerphilly 021 Caerphilly
2 Isle of Wight 007 Isle of Wight
3 Caerphilly 020 Caerphilly
4 Cherwell 014 Cherwell
5 Horsham 013 Horsham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Soal

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Soal

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Soal, 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 Soal surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Soal household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

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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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Soal 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

Soal 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

Soal falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Soal 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 Soal, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

1881 census detail

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Soal families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Soal 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. Sussex leads with 25 Soals recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.11x.

County Total Index
Sussex 25 21.11x
Hampshire 17 11.81x
Middlesex 12 1.71x
Kent 9 3.76x
Cumberland 8 13.23x
Cambridgeshire 1 2.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Midhurst in Sussex leads with 10 Soals recorded in 1881 and an index of 2564.10x.

Place Total Index
Midhurst 10 2564.10x
Bishops Waltham 8 1333.33x
Stanwix 8 1632.65x
Harting 7 2258.06x
Lewisham 7 54.77x
Buriton 6 2142.86x
Hackney London 6 15.24x
Bromley London 5 32.36x
Lancing 3 909.09x
Petersfield 3 750.00x
Brighton 2 8.37x
Dover St James 1 95.24x
Elm 1 227.27x
Greenwich 1 8.94x
Keymer 1 119.05x
Kirdford 1 243.90x
St Pancras London 1 1.77x
Upper Beeding 1 666.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Emily 3
Jane 3
Mary 3
Sarah 3
Annie 2
Louisa 2
Susan 2
Zilpal 2
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Charlotte 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Elizabeth 1
Hannah 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 9
William 8
James 7
Edward 5
John 3
Richard 2
Samuel 2
Albert 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Joseph 1

Top occupations

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 Soal households.

FAQ

Soal surname: questions and answers

How common was the Soal surname in 1881?

In 1881, 72 people were recorded with the Soal surname. That placed it at #23,371 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Soal surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 121 in 2016. That gives Soal a modern rank of #27,399.

What does the Soal map show?

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