UK surname
An English surname derived from the Middle English word "suel" meaning "swollen" or "protuberant".
In the 1881 census there were 15 people recorded with the Suell surname, ranking it #31,451 among surnames in the records. By 2009, the modern count was 1, ranked #38,998, down from #31,451 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Sidbury, Tipton otherwise Tibington and Paddington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Suell is 137 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 93.3%.
1881 census count
15
Ranked #31,451
Modern count
1
2009, ranked #38,998
Peak year
1891
137 bearers
Map years
1
1891 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Suell surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Suell surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 29 | #28,082 |
| 1861 | historical | 58 | #26,585 |
| 1881 | historical | 15 | #31,451 |
| 1891 | historical | 137 | #19,501 |
| 1901 | historical | 33 | #30,384 |
| 1911 | historical | 51 | #27,708 |
| 1997 | modern | 2 | #38,557 |
| 1998 | modern | 3 | #38,304 |
| 1999 | modern | 3 | #38,318 |
| 2000 | modern | 1 | #38,790 |
| 2001 | modern | 2 | #38,335 |
| 2002 | modern | 2 | #38,400 |
| 2003 | modern | 2 | #38,424 |
| 2004 | modern | 1 | #38,771 |
| 2005 | modern | 1 | #38,814 |
| 2006 | modern | 1 | #38,879 |
| 2007 | modern | 1 | #38,907 |
| 2008 | modern | 1 | #38,949 |
| 2009 | modern | 1 | #38,998 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Sidbury, Tipton otherwise Tibington, Paddington, Clifton and St Pancras. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sidbury | Devon |
| 2 | Tipton otherwise Tibington | Staffordshire |
| 3 | Paddington | London (West Districts) |
| 4 | Clifton | Gloucestershire |
| 5 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Suell surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Suell, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Suell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Suell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Suell is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Suell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Suell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname SUELL originated in Germany, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the late 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old German word "sulle," which referred to a swampy or marshy area, indicating that the name's bearers likely hailed from or resided in a region characterized by wetlands.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the SUELL surname can be found in church records from the town of Meiningen, located in the present-day state of Thuringia, Germany. These records mention a Hans SUELL, born in 1587, who worked as a farmer and landowner in the area.
By the 17th century, the SUELL name had spread to other parts of Germany, with various spelling variations emerging, such as SUELE, SÜELL, and SÜHLE. In 1638, a Johann SUELL was documented as a merchant in the city of Hamburg, while a Heinrich SUELE served as a town councilor in the village of Rothenburg ob der Tauber in 1672.
As the centuries progressed, the SUELL name continued to gain prominence, with several notable individuals bearing the surname. One such figure was Johann Georg SUELL (1727-1795), a celebrated German composer and organist who served as the Kapellmeister (music director) at the court of Prince-Bishop Adam Friedrich von Seinsheim in Würzburg.
Another prominent SUELL was August Wilhelm SUELL (1805-1876), a German lawyer and politician who served as a member of the Prussian House of Representatives and was actively involved in the liberal movement of the mid-19th century.
In the late 19th century, the SUELL surname found its way to the United States, with several German immigrants bearing the name settling in various parts of the country. One notable American SUELL was William SUELL (1858-1932), a successful businessman and philanthropist who founded the SUELL Machinery Company in Cincinnati, Ohio.
While the SUELL name may not be as widespread as some other German surnames, its long and varied history spanning several centuries is a testament to the rich cultural heritage and diverse backgrounds of its bearers.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Suell surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 8 Suells recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.48x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 8 | 5.48x |
| Buckinghamshire | 5 | 56.63x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 4.28x |
| Sussex | 1 | 4.06x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Missenden in Buckinghamshire leads with 5 Suells recorded in 1881 and an index of 4545.45x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Great Missenden | 5 | 4545.45x |
| Paddington London | 4 | 74.49x |
| St Pancras London | 4 | 34.01x |
| Clee With Weelsby | 1 | 196.08x |
| Hartfield | 1 | 1250.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Suell surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Suell surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Suell households.
FAQ
In 1881, 15 people were recorded with the Suell surname. That placed it at #31,451 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 1 in 2009. That gives Suell a modern rank of #38,998.
An English surname derived from the Middle English word "suel" meaning "swollen" or "protuberant".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Suell bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.