NameCensus.

UK surname

Spindler

An occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of spindles, a tool used in spinning thread.

In the 1881 census there were 297 people recorded with the Spindler surname, ranking it #9,792 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 545, ranked #9,349, up from #9,792 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Isleworth, London parishes and Portsmouth, Portsea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Waveney, Maldon and Suffolk Coastal.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Spindler is 568 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 83.5%.

1881 census count

297

Ranked #9,792

Modern count

545

2016, ranked #9,349

Peak year

2010

568 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Spindler had 297 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,792 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 545 in 2016, ranked #9,349.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 467 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Spindler surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Spindler surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Spindler 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 164 #12,116
1861 historical 202 #11,906
1881 historical 297 #9,792
1891 historical 369 #9,447
1901 historical 434 #8,940
1911 historical 467 #8,267
1997 modern 515 #9,110
1998 modern 542 #9,028
1999 modern 542 #9,079
2000 modern 545 #9,017
2001 modern 549 #8,811
2002 modern 567 #8,777
2003 modern 546 #8,884
2004 modern 530 #9,117
2005 modern 520 #9,187
2006 modern 511 #9,331
2007 modern 523 #9,238
2008 modern 518 #9,388
2009 modern 539 #9,313
2010 modern 568 #9,134
2011 modern 558 #9,152
2012 modern 539 #9,328
2013 modern 561 #9,177
2014 modern 562 #9,226
2015 modern 552 #9,277
2016 modern 545 #9,349

Geography

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Where Spindlers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Isleworth, London parishes, Portsmouth, Portsea, Bramfield and Ipswich St Mary Stoke. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Waveney, Maldon and Suffolk Coastal. 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 Isleworth Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 London parishes London 3
3 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
4 Bramfield Suffolk
5 Ipswich St Mary Stoke Suffolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Waveney 015 Waveney
2 Waveney 002 Waveney
3 Maldon 001 Maldon
4 Suffolk Coastal 001 Suffolk Coastal
5 Waveney 014 Waveney

Forenames

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First names often paired with Spindler

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Spindler

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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, Spindler 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

Spindler 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

Spindler falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Spindler

The surname Spindler has its roots in Germany, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have originated as an occupational name for a spinner or someone who worked with spinning yarn or thread. The name is derived from the Middle High German word "spinnæler" or "spinnelære," which translates to "spinner."

In the medieval era, many surnames were derived from occupations, reflecting the individual's trade or profession. The Spindler name likely emerged in regions where textile production and weaving were prevalent industries, such as in the German states of Bavaria, Saxony, and Thuringia.

The earliest recorded instances of the Spindler surname can be traced back to the 13th and 14th centuries. In 1285, a Henricus Spindeler was mentioned in records from the city of Cologne. Another early reference is found in the town of Eger (now Cheb, Czech Republic), where a Johannes Spindler was documented in 1351.

The name also appeared in various forms and spellings throughout history, such as Spindeler, Spindeler, and Spindler. These variations were common due to regional dialects and inconsistencies in record-keeping.

Notable individuals with the Spindler surname include:

1. Christoph Spindler (1615-1688), a German Lutheran theologian and philosopher. 2. Konrad Spindler (1663-1732), a German painter and engraver known for his religious works. 3. Wilhelm Spindler (1776-1834), a German historian and philologist who served as a professor at the University of Giessen. 4. Max Spindler (1877-1952), a German artist and illustrator known for his book illustrations and postcard designs. 5. Anton Spindler (1878-1951), an Austrian politician and member of the Christian Social Party.

Over the centuries, the Spindler name has been associated with various places, such as Spindlermühle (now Špindlerův Mlýn) in the Czech Republic, a town named after a historic mill owned by someone with the Spindler surname.

While the Spindler name has its roots in Germany, it has since spread to other parts of Europe and beyond, with individuals bearing this surname found in countries like Austria, Switzerland, and even the United States and Canada due to immigration patterns.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Spindler families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Spindler 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. Suffolk leads with 104 Spindlers recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.37x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 104 29.37x
Middlesex 68 2.34x
Berkshire 26 11.92x
Oxfordshire 23 12.81x
Surrey 14 0.99x
Buckinghamshire 11 6.26x
Devon 9 1.49x
Lincolnshire 9 1.94x
Warwickshire 9 1.23x
Durham 5 0.58x
Hampshire 5 0.84x
Kent 5 0.50x
Angus 4 1.49x
Midlothian 2 0.51x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.51x
Royal Navy 1 2.89x
Yorkshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Westleton in Suffolk leads with 27 Spindlers recorded in 1881 and an index of 3253.01x.

Place Total Index
Westleton 27 3253.01x
Ipswich St Margaret 20 166.53x
Bromley London 11 17.20x
Cookham 11 161.76x
Isleworth 11 85.14x
Mile End Old Town 11 23.98x
Sotherton 10 5555.56x
St Pancras London 10 4.27x
Bermondsey 9 10.40x
Gainsborough 9 82.12x
St Budeaux 8 425.53x
Bramfield 7 1129.03x
Chediston 7 1944.44x
Islington London 7 2.48x
Kelsale 7 714.29x
Aldeburgh 6 285.71x
Aston 6 2.97x
Bisham 6 857.14x
Headington 6 215.05x
Oxford St Clement 6 132.45x
Poplar London 6 10.94x
Wraysbury 6 909.09x
Bishopwearmouth 5 6.74x
East West Hanney 5 581.40x
Ipswich St Mary Stoke 5 151.98x
Portsea 5 4.28x
Battersea 4 3.74x
Dundee 4 3.98x
Lee 4 27.78x
Oxford St Thomas 4 47.73x
Paddington London 4 3.74x
Woodbridge 4 88.30x
Leamington Priors 3 16.63x
Preston Bisset 3 882.35x
Withersdale 3 1875.00x
East Retford 2 58.82x
Edinburgh Greenside S 2 141.84x
Hammersmith London 2 2.79x
Harmondsworth 2 111.11x
Henley On Thames 2 54.35x
Leiston 2 82.30x
Oxford All Sts 2 512.82x
Stanton St John 2 363.64x
Tottenham 2 4.32x
Yoxford 2 188.68x
Barton Hartshorn 1 909.09x
Blythburgh 1 121.95x
Bruisyard 1 416.67x
Bucklebury 1 87.72x
Cranford 1 200.00x
Garford 1 294.12x
Holywell 1 119.05x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 2.15x
Ramsgate 1 6.18x
Reading St Mary 1 5.72x
Royal Navy 1 3.38x
Shipton In Great 1 232.56x
Southwold 1 47.62x
St Vedast Foster Lane 1 555.56x
Uffington 1 175.44x
Wendover 1 52.91x
Wenhaston 1 114.94x
Weybridge 1 32.89x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 13
Elizabeth 11
Ellen 11
Mary 11
Alice 9
Jane 8
Maria 6
Charlotte 5
Emma 4
Hannah 4
Harriet 4
Jessie 4
Kate 4
Martha 4
Susan 4
Catherine 3
Eliza 3
Ada 2
Annie 2
Caroline 2
Eleanor 2
Emily 2
Fanny 2
Louisa 2
Bertha 1
Catharine 1
Celia 1
Cicelia 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Elizh. 1
Elizth. 1
Ella 1
Ethel 1
Felicia 1
Flora 1
Florence 1
Grace 1
Isabella 1
Johanna 1
Kathleen 1
Laura 1
Lucy 1
Madolen 1
Maud 1
Midiam 1
Minnie 1
Rose 1
Rosetta 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 18
George 15
John 13
Frederick 7
Charles 6
Harry 6
James 6
David 5
Thomas 5
Henry 4
Richard 4
Arthur 3
Edward 3
Joseph 3
Abraham 2
Alfred 2
Edwin 2
Fredk. 2
Jacob 2
Javes 2
Lewis 2
Ralph 2
Robert 2
Tom 2
Walter 2
Andrew 1
Christopher 1
Enas 1
Evan 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Herbert 1
Launceton 1
Moses 1
Price 1
Reginald 1
Ruben 1
Saml.Fredk. 1
Samuel 1
Sydney 1
Weston 1
Willm. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Spindler surname: questions and answers

How common was the Spindler surname in 1881?

In 1881, 297 people were recorded with the Spindler surname. That placed it at #9,792 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Spindler surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 545 in 2016. That gives Spindler a modern rank of #9,349.

What does the Spindler surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of spindles, a tool used in spinning thread.

What does the Spindler map show?

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