UK surname
A placename referring to someone who lived on a hill or elevated ground.
In the 1881 census there were 157 people recorded with the Tell surname, ranking it #15,046 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 53, ranked #34,727, down from #15,046 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Carlisle St Cuthbert, Halifax and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tell is 226 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 66.2%.
1881 census count
157
Ranked #15,046
Modern count
53
2016, ranked #34,727
Peak year
1891
226 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Tell surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Tell surname density by area, 1881 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 | 107 | #16,402 |
| 1861 | historical | 210 | #11,551 |
| 1881 | historical | 157 | #15,046 |
| 1891 | historical | 226 | #13,668 |
| 1901 | historical | 133 | #19,372 |
| 1911 | historical | 68 | #26,050 |
| 1997 | modern | 44 | #33,275 |
| 1998 | modern | 43 | #33,557 |
| 1999 | modern | 41 | #33,866 |
| 2000 | modern | 45 | #33,526 |
| 2001 | modern | 44 | #33,490 |
| 2002 | modern | 45 | #33,712 |
| 2003 | modern | 42 | #34,040 |
| 2004 | modern | 46 | #33,883 |
| 2005 | modern | 44 | #34,255 |
| 2006 | modern | 44 | #34,568 |
| 2007 | modern | 44 | #34,760 |
| 2008 | modern | 41 | #35,067 |
| 2009 | modern | 40 | #35,274 |
| 2010 | modern | 44 | #35,183 |
| 2011 | modern | 44 | #35,161 |
| 2012 | modern | 51 | #34,756 |
| 2013 | modern | 50 | #34,891 |
| 2014 | modern | 50 | #34,927 |
| 2015 | modern | 50 | #34,886 |
| 2016 | modern | 53 | #34,727 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Carlisle St Cuthbert, Halifax, London parishes, St Pancras and Wigan. 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 | Carlisle St Cuthbert | Cumberland |
| 2 | Halifax | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Wigan | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Tell 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 Tell, 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 Tell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Tell 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, Tell 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 Tell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Tell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Tell is of Germanic origin, derived from the Old High German word "tella" or "tello," meaning "flat or level ground." The name is believed to have originated in regions of present-day Germany and Switzerland during the medieval period.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Tell can be found in the Codex Manesse, a 14th-century manuscript containing a collection of Middle High German poetry. The name appears in reference to a knight named Heinrich von Telle, who lived around 1300 in the region of Baden-Württemberg.
The surname Tell is closely associated with the legendary Swiss folk hero William Tell, whose exploits are depicted in the 15th-century Swiss German play "William Tell" by Friedrich Schiller. While the historical accuracy of William Tell's existence is debated, the legend has contributed significantly to the recognition and popularity of the surname.
In England, the surname Tell is thought to have originated from place names such as Telle in Wiltshire or Telle in Worcestershire, both of which derive from the Old English word "telga," meaning "a small branch or twig." One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name in England was Robert de Telle, who is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086.
Notable individuals with the surname Tell throughout history include:
1. Wilhelm Tell (c. 1250 - c. 1350), the legendary Swiss folk hero and the central figure in the legend of the apple shot from his son's head.
2. Johann Tell (1529 - 1594), a German Protestant theologian and reformer who played a significant role in the Reformation.
3. William Tell (1608 - 1687), an English Puritan minister and author who was influential in the development of Congregationalism.
4. Abraham Tell (1664 - 1741), a Swiss Anabaptist leader and minister who helped establish the Amish community in Pennsylvania.
5. William Tell (1733 - 1796), an American Revolutionary War soldier and frontiersman known for his exploits in the Ohio Territory.
The surname Tell has been carried by individuals across various regions and time periods, reflecting its Germanic roots and the historical migration patterns that have contributed to its global spread.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tell 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 25 Tells recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.66x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 25 | 1.66x |
| Yorkshire | 25 | 1.68x |
| Surrey | 22 | 3.01x |
| Lancashire | 20 | 1.12x |
| Durham | 11 | 2.46x |
| Northamptonshire | 7 | 4.95x |
| Norfolk | 6 | 2.60x |
| Staffordshire | 6 | 1.18x |
| Kent | 5 | 0.98x |
| Shropshire | 5 | 3.85x |
| Derbyshire | 4 | 1.70x |
| Wiltshire | 4 | 3.01x |
| Nottinghamshire | 3 | 1.48x |
| Herefordshire | 2 | 3.25x |
| Angus | 1 | 0.72x |
| Dorset | 1 | 1.01x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.34x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 0.97x |
| Inverness-shire | 1 | 2.23x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 0.60x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 0.42x |
| Perthshire | 1 | 1.48x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.39x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 11 Tells recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.40x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Tell surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 16 |
| Sarah | 6 |
| Hannah | 5 |
| Alice | 4 |
| Eliza | 4 |
| Ann | 3 |
| Elizabeth | 3 |
| Anne | 2 |
| Ellen | 2 |
| Harriett | 2 |
| Jessie | 2 |
| Maria | 2 |
| Martha | 2 |
| Ada | 1 |
| Agnes | 1 |
| Amelia | 1 |
| Amy | 1 |
| Betsy | 1 |
| Betty | 1 |
| Caroline | 1 |
| Charlotte | 1 |
| Clara | 1 |
| Edith | 1 |
| Eleanor | 1 |
| Emily | 1 |
| Flora | 1 |
| Francis | 1 |
| Grace | 1 |
| Harriet | 1 |
| Helen | 1 |
| Jane | 1 |
| Katherine | 1 |
| Lucretia | 1 |
| Madge | 1 |
| Marette | 1 |
| Margaret | 1 |
| Margurite | 1 |
| Minnie | 1 |
| Phillis | 1 |
| Rebecca | 1 |
| Susan | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Tell 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 Tell households.
FAQ
In 1881, 157 people were recorded with the Tell surname. That placed it at #15,046 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 53 in 2016. That gives Tell a modern rank of #34,727.
A placename referring to someone who lived on a hill or elevated ground.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Tell 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.