NameCensus.

UK surname

Vassell

A habitational surname derived from a place name, possibly from one of the locations in England called Vassall or Vessel.

In the 1881 census there were 2 people recorded with the Vassell surname, ranking it #33,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 452, ranked #10,768, up from #33,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Croydon, Wolverhampton and Hackney.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Vassell is 467 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 22500.0%.

1881 census count

2

Ranked #33,721

Modern count

452

2016, ranked #10,768

Peak year

2010

467 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Vassell had 2 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 452 in 2016, ranked #10,768.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 6 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Vassell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Vassell surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Vassell 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 1 #33,412
1861 historical 6 #33,230
1881 historical 2 #33,721
1891 historical 2 #34,436
1997 modern 297 #13,623
1998 modern 309 #13,612
1999 modern 315 #13,524
2000 modern 321 #13,337
2001 modern 310 #13,452
2002 modern 345 #12,754
2003 modern 346 #12,511
2004 modern 359 #12,222
2005 modern 382 #11,591
2006 modern 397 #11,317
2007 modern 408 #11,203
2008 modern 428 #10,869
2009 modern 442 #10,844
2010 modern 467 #10,570
2011 modern 454 #10,707
2012 modern 440 #10,849
2013 modern 451 #10,814
2014 modern 454 #10,818
2015 modern 447 #10,873
2016 modern 452 #10,768

Geography

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Where Vassells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Croydon, Wolverhampton, Hackney, Lewisham and Enfield. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Croydon 011 Croydon
2 Wolverhampton 015 Wolverhampton
3 Hackney 002 Hackney
4 Lewisham 010 Lewisham
5 Enfield 001 Enfield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Vassell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Vassell

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Vassell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Vassell 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Vassell is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Vassell is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Vassell falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Vassell 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
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Vassell

The surname VASSELL originated in England during the medieval period. It derived from the Old French word "vaucel," which means "a youth" or "a servant." This name likely referred to a young servant or attendant who worked for a noble family or a household.

The earliest recorded instances of the VASSELL surname date back to the 13th century. In 1273, a Thomas Vaucel was listed in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire, indicating the presence of this name in that region of England. The similar spelling "Vaussell" also appeared in the 14th-century records of Somerset.

During the 16th century, the VASSELL name was found in various parts of England. In 1543, a William Vassell was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire. Additionally, the surname appeared in the parish records of St. Mary Magdalene in Canterbury, Kent, in the late 1500s.

One notable individual with the VASSELL surname was Samuel Vassell (1592-1667), an English merchant and politician. He served as a Member of Parliament for London from 1640 to 1648 and played a role in the English Civil War, initially supporting the Parliamentarian cause.

Another prominent figure was John Vassall (1624-1688), an English merchant and landowner. He was born in Jamaica and acquired significant wealth from his plantations on the island. Vassall was also involved in colonial politics and served as a Member of the Council of Jamaica.

In the 18th century, William Vassall (1700-1768) was a wealthy merchant and landowner from Jamaica. He owned several sugar plantations and was a prominent figure in the island's society. His son, Henry Vassall (1721-1768), was an English-born soldier and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Boston, Massachusetts, during the American Revolutionary period.

The VASSELL surname has also been associated with certain place names in England. For example, the village of Vassall in Somerset may have derived its name from this surname, although the etymology is not entirely clear.

It's worth noting that while the VASSELL name has been present in historical records for centuries, its popularity and distribution may have varied over time due to factors such as migration, intermarriage, and social mobility.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Vassell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Vassell 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. Yorkshire leads with 2 Vassells recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.47x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 2 10.47x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Rowley in Yorkshire leads with 1 Vassells recorded in 1881 and an index of 0.00x.

Place Total Index
Rowley 1 0.00x
Sculcoates 1 333.33x

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 2

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 Vassell households.

FAQ

Vassell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Vassell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2 people were recorded with the Vassell surname. That placed it at #33,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Vassell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 452 in 2016. That gives Vassell a modern rank of #10,768.

What does the Vassell surname mean?

A habitational surname derived from a place name, possibly from one of the locations in England called Vassall or Vessel.

What does the Vassell map show?

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