NameCensus.

UK surname

Speller

An occupational surname referring to a scribe, copyist, or one who teaches or practices spelling and writing.

In the 1881 census there were 816 people recorded with the Speller surname, ranking it #4,586 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,292, ranked #4,633, down from #4,586 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Paddington and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Caerphilly, Epping Forest and Bromley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Speller is 1,516 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 58.3%.

1881 census count

816

Ranked #4,586

Modern count

1,292

2016, ranked #4,633

Peak year

2000

1,516 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Speller had 816 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,586 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,292 in 2016, ranked #4,633.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,404 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Speller surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Speller surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Speller 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 433 #5,664
1861 historical 637 #4,207
1881 historical 816 #4,586
1891 historical 951 #4,353
1901 historical 1,138 #4,268
1911 historical 1,404 #3,438
1997 modern 1,466 #3,991
1998 modern 1,508 #4,024
1999 modern 1,504 #4,072
2000 modern 1,516 #4,022
2001 modern 1,483 #4,019
2002 modern 1,481 #4,113
2003 modern 1,408 #4,211
2004 modern 1,422 #4,168
2005 modern 1,345 #4,321
2006 modern 1,338 #4,349
2007 modern 1,348 #4,358
2008 modern 1,340 #4,401
2009 modern 1,382 #4,374
2010 modern 1,412 #4,372
2011 modern 1,366 #4,441
2012 modern 1,316 #4,513
2013 modern 1,339 #4,529
2014 modern 1,334 #4,570
2015 modern 1,306 #4,612
2016 modern 1,292 #4,633

Geography

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Where Spellers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Paddington, St Pancras 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, Epping Forest, Bromley and Southend-on-Sea. 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 1
2 Paddington London (West Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 St John Hackney London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Caerphilly 003 Caerphilly
2 Epping Forest 002 Epping Forest
3 Bromley 009 Bromley
4 Southend-on-Sea 017 Southend-on-Sea
5 Bromley 008 Bromley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Speller

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Speller

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Speller is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Speller is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Speller 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 Speller is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Speller

The surname Speller has its origins in England and dates back to the 13th century. It is thought to be an occupational name derived from the Middle English word "spelere," which referred to a reciter of tales or a minstrel. The name likely originated from individuals who made their living as traveling storytellers or entertainers.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, where a William le Speller is mentioned. This historic document provides evidence that the name was already established in medieval England.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Spellere, Spellare, and Spellour, reflecting the variations in spelling common during that time. The name was also found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where a John le Speller is listed.

During the 15th and 16th centuries, the surname began to be more consistently spelled as Speller. One notable bearer of the name was William Speller, a merchant from Bristol who lived in the late 15th century and is mentioned in historical records from that city.

The Speller surname has also been associated with various place names throughout England. For example, there is a village called Speller in Yorkshire, which may have contributed to the name's geographical distribution.

Among the notable individuals with the surname Speller throughout history are:

1. John Speller (c. 1600-1663), an English Puritan preacher and author known for his religious works. 2. Nathaniel Speller (1675-1751), a British naval officer and explorer who served in the Royal Navy during the early 18th century. 3. Elizabeth Speller (1768-1825), an English writer and poet from Kent, known for her collection of poems published in 1795. 4. Sir Henry Speller (1829-1904), a British businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to education and social welfare initiatives in London. 5. Reginald Speller (1901-1978), an English cricketer who played for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club in the 1920s and 1930s.

While the surname Speller may not be as common today as it once was, its history can be traced back to medieval England, where it originated as an occupational name for storytellers and minstrels, reflecting the rich cultural traditions of that era.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Speller families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Speller 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. Middlesex leads with 296 Spellers recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.66x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 296 3.66x
Essex 294 18.44x
Surrey 75 1.91x
Hertfordshire 54 9.70x
Kent 22 0.80x
Berkshire 11 1.81x
Lancashire 11 0.11x
Sussex 11 0.81x
Buckinghamshire 10 2.05x
Gloucestershire 9 0.57x
Channel Islands 8 3.34x
Huntingdonshire 7 4.36x
Durham 5 0.21x
Leicestershire 3 0.34x
Suffolk 3 0.30x
Royal Navy 2 2.08x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.20x
Devon 1 0.06x
Dorset 1 0.19x
Northamptonshire 1 0.13x
Northumberland 1 0.08x
Somerset 1 0.08x
Yorkshire 1 0.01x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 46 Spellers recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.88x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 46 5.88x
Great Burstead 29 500.00x
Paddington London 29 9.76x
Hackney London 25 5.52x
Waltham Holy Cross 23 154.36x
Aythorpe Roothing 18 2727.27x
St Pancras London 17 2.61x
Takeley 17 745.61x
Hatfield Broad Oak 16 297.40x
Camberwell 15 2.91x
Cheshunt 15 77.08x
Hornsey 14 13.71x
West Ham 14 3.98x
Bermondsey 13 5.41x
St George Bloomsbury 13 28.05x
Ingatestone 12 468.75x
Sawbridgeworth 12 142.35x
Tottenham 12 9.33x
Bromley London 11 6.19x
Mile End Old Town 11 8.63x
Shoreditch London 11 3.14x
Stoke Newington London 11 17.49x
White Roothing 11 940.17x
Beauchamp Roothing 10 1562.50x
Bethnal Green London 10 2.85x
Chelmsford 10 36.56x
Fyfield 10 775.19x
Prittlewell 10 45.25x
Southwark Christchurch 10 26.42x
Albury 9 520.23x
Barking 9 19.29x
Cookham 9 47.62x
Ealing 9 12.47x
Hedsor 9 2093.02x
Lewisham 9 6.12x
Thaxted 9 170.13x
Hastings St Mary In The 8 27.54x
Kensington London 8 1.78x
Ratcliffe London 8 17.94x
Southwark St John 8 32.39x
Bishop Stortford 7 37.63x
Danbury 7 259.26x
Great Hadham 7 194.99x
Henham 7 308.37x
Moreton 7 560.00x
St Ives 7 84.13x
St Marylebone London 7 1.62x
Abbots Roothing 6 937.50x
Bow London 6 5.83x
Southwark St George Martyr 6 3.69x
St Andrew Holborn 6 21.91x
St Lawrence 6 91.88x
Theydon Garnon 6 164.84x
Bristol St James St Paul 5 9.47x
Broxted 5 259.07x
Gateshead 5 2.78x
Harlow 5 72.78x
Leyton 5 18.21x
Magdalen Laver 5 1086.96x
Poplar London 5 3.28x
Salford 5 1.77x
St Giles Cripplegate 5 46.64x
Stanford Rivers 5 185.19x
Stansted Mountfitchet 5 124.07x
Toxteth Park 5 1.54x
Battersea 4 1.35x
Bristol St Paul In 4 9.48x
Bromley 4 9.52x
Finchingfield 4 80.00x
Great Canfield 4 421.05x
Great Easton 4 185.19x
Hammersmith London 4 2.01x
Nazeing 4 195.12x
St Giles In Fields 4 14.36x
St Luke London 4 3.09x
Chislehurst 3 20.30x
Croydon 3 1.37x
Richmond 3 5.44x
St George Hanover 3 2.85x
Twickenham 3 8.66x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 53
John 33
George 30
Charles 28
James 25
Thomas 22
Henry 20
Edward 17
Arthur 16
Alfred 14
Frederick 13
Albert 10
Joseph 10
Walter 10
Harry 7
Samuel 7
Frank 5
Herbert 5
Richard 5
Ernest 4
Robert 4
Edwin 3
Fred 3
Leonard 3
Newman 3
Thos. 3
Andrew 2
Chas. 2
Francis 2
Jas. 2
Reed 2
Reginald 2
Sidney 2
Willm. 2
Ben 1
David 1
Donald 1
Easy 1
Edmund 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.J. 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Octavius 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Philip 1
Reuben 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Speller surname: questions and answers

How common was the Speller surname in 1881?

In 1881, 816 people were recorded with the Speller surname. That placed it at #4,586 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Speller surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,292 in 2016. That gives Speller a modern rank of #4,633.

What does the Speller surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a scribe, copyist, or one who teaches or practices spelling and writing.

What does the Speller map show?

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