NameCensus.

UK surname

Witchell

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "white hill."

In the 1881 census there were 358 people recorded with the Witchell surname, ranking it #8,638 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 400, ranked #11,879, down from #8,638 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Hawkesbury and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cotswold, Vale of White Horse and Aylesbury Vale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Witchell is 558 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 11.7%.

1881 census count

358

Ranked #8,638

Modern count

400

2016, ranked #11,879

Peak year

1891

558 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Witchell had 358 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,638 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 400 in 2016, ranked #11,879.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 558 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Witchell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Witchell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Witchell 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 302 #7,606
1861 historical 452 #5,730
1881 historical 358 #8,638
1891 historical 558 #6,800
1901 historical 460 #8,564
1911 historical 472 #8,192
1997 modern 428 #10,451
1998 modern 465 #10,155
1999 modern 449 #10,464
2000 modern 471 #10,073
2001 modern 453 #10,182
2002 modern 463 #10,202
2003 modern 434 #10,588
2004 modern 417 #10,943
2005 modern 424 #10,691
2006 modern 441 #10,411
2007 modern 430 #10,729
2008 modern 438 #10,668
2009 modern 437 #10,947
2010 modern 443 #11,046
2011 modern 455 #10,691
2012 modern 417 #11,346
2013 modern 421 #11,462
2014 modern 425 #11,432
2015 modern 402 #11,861
2016 modern 400 #11,879

Geography

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Where Witchells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Hawkesbury, London parishes, Llanover and Sopworth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cotswold, Vale of White Horse, Aylesbury Vale, Wiltshire and Sevenoaks. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Hawkesbury Gloucestershire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Llanover Monmouthshire
5 Sopworth Wiltshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cotswold 011 Cotswold
2 Vale of White Horse 016 Vale of White Horse
3 Aylesbury Vale 009 Aylesbury Vale
4 Wiltshire 015 Wiltshire
5 Sevenoaks 015 Sevenoaks

Forenames

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First names often paired with Witchell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Witchell

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

Witchell is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Witchell falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Witchell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Witchell

Witchell is a surname of English origin, believed to have originated during the medieval period. The name is primarily associated with the regions in Southern England, particularly counties such as Wiltshire, Hampshire, and Dorset. It derives from Old English elements, with "wit" potentially meaning "wise" or "knowledgeable" and "hylle" meaning "hill." Alternatively, "wit" could relate to "wic," meaning "dwelling" or "farm," suggesting an early form of "dwelling on the hill."

The earliest records of the surname Witchell can be traced back to the 13th century, where variations of the name appeared in local records and charters. The surname is not found in the Domesday Book of 1086, suggesting that it emerged later. One of the oldest recorded instances is that of John Witchell, mentioned in the Wiltshire Assize Rolls of 1249.

In the 14th century, the name appears again, this time with William Witchell being documented in the Subsidy Rolls of Dorset in 1327. These records indicate taxes paid by inhabitants, revealing the presence and economic activity of the Witchell family in these areas.

One notable individual is Richard Witchell, born around 1503, who was a yeoman farmer in Hampshire. His name appears in various property and legal documents of the period, showing the family's establishment within local agrarian society. Another prominent bearer of the name was Nicholas Witchell, born in Dorset in 1572, who is noted for his involvement in local merchant activities and trade.

By the 17th century, the surname spread further across England. An example is Robert Witchell, born in 1621, recorded in the parish registers of All Saints Church in Oxfordshire. His descendants continued to be locally significant in areas such as farming and small-scale industry.

The 18th century saw a Witchell family emigrate to the American colonies, specifically with Thomas Witchell, born in 1695, who settled in Virginia. This suggests the familial expansion and migration, typical of many English families seeking new opportunities across the Atlantic.

Lastly, in the 19th century, Hannah Witchell, born in 1823 in Wiltshire, became known in local history for her contributions to education, particularly the establishment of a small village school. This continuation of the Witchell name into newer generations illustrates the enduring presence and contributions of the family within English society over several centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Witchell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Witchell 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. Gloucestershire leads with 144 Witchells recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.32x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 144 21.32x
Wiltshire 60 19.70x
Somerset 34 6.13x
Monmouthshire 26 10.44x
Surrey 25 1.49x
Middlesex 18 0.52x
Kent 14 1.19x
Glamorgan 8 1.33x
Devon 5 0.70x
Durham 4 0.39x
Berkshire 3 1.16x
Lancashire 2 0.05x
Royal Navy 2 4.87x
Lanarkshire 1 0.09x
Leicestershire 1 0.26x
Norfolk 1 0.19x
Northamptonshire 1 0.31x
Oxfordshire 1 0.47x
Staffordshire 1 0.09x
Sussex 1 0.17x
Worcestershire 1 0.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bedminster in Somerset leads with 15 Witchells recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.80x.

Place Total Index
Bedminster 15 28.80x
Nymphsfield 15 4687.50x
Painswick 15 313.81x
Stroud 15 114.16x
Llanover 13 152.94x
Warminster 11 164.92x
Buckland Dinham 9 1666.67x
Bishopstone 8 551.72x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 8 12.58x
Clifton 8 23.43x
Coln St Aldwins 8 1538.46x
Tetbury 8 208.88x
Titsey 8 2962.96x
Trevethin 8 34.03x
Westerleigh 8 529.80x
Berwick St James 7 3181.82x
Charlton 7 786.52x
Henbury 7 212.12x
Plumstead 7 17.88x
Shoreditch London 7 4.69x
Walcot 7 23.71x
Wotton Under Edge 7 175.88x
Beddington 6 92.45x
Roath 6 22.03x
Dursley 5 179.86x
Horsley 5 167.22x
Sopworth 5 2173.91x
Stoke Gifford 5 1219.51x
Urchfont 5 400.00x
Chirton 4 1000.00x
Deptford St Paul 4 4.41x
Exeter St Sidwell 4 24.36x
Hawkesbury 4 173.91x
St Pancras London 4 1.44x
Whitworth 4 53.33x
Almondsbury 3 116.28x
Avening 3 125.52x
Battersea 3 2.37x
Camberwell 3 1.36x
Cheltenham 3 5.76x
Stapleton 3 23.42x
Swindon 3 12.70x
Berkeley 2 53.19x
Bethnal Green London 2 1.34x
Cirencester 2 21.88x
Croydon 2 2.15x
Ewenny 2 588.24x
Figheldean 2 363.64x
Llanwenarth Ultra 2 109.89x
Manchester 2 1.09x
Newington 2 1.57x
Northfleet 2 19.32x
Royal Navy 2 5.70x
Shaw Cum Donnington 2 240.96x
South Newton 2 250.00x
Upper Machen 2 116.96x
Winterbourne 2 53.62x
Aldbourn 1 56.50x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 4.44x
Bristol St John Baptist 1 158.73x
Bristol St Michael 1 17.27x
Brokenborough 1 227.27x
Charlton Kings 1 21.41x
Chipping Sodbury 1 79.37x
Devizes St James 1 24.69x
Devizes St John 1 43.67x
Great Badminton 1 172.41x
Hackney London 1 0.52x
Hanley Castle 1 37.17x
Kensington London 1 0.52x
Lambeth 1 0.33x
Leicester St Margaret 1 1.07x
Little Somerford 1 222.22x
Newport 1 8.42x
Northampton St Giles 1 8.10x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 1.81x
St George Hanover 1 2.22x
Tonbridge 1 2.36x
Westminster St 1 7.88x
Westonsuper Mare 1 88.50x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 22
Sarah 10
Annie 9
Elizabeth 9
Jane 9
Louisa 7
Lucy 7
Emily 6
Maria 6
Alice 5
Eliza 5
Emma 5
Fanny 5
Ann 4
Florence 4
Ada 3
Edith 3
Hannah 3
Harriett 3
Kate 3
Susan 3
Amy 2
Anne 2
Blanch 2
Caroline 2
Harriet 2
Martha 2
Priscilla 2
Rosabel 2
Rose 2
Selina 2
Albertha 1
Bessie 1
Catherine 1
Dorcas 1
Ellen 1
Esther 1
F.S.B. 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
Ida 1
Isabella 1
Jemima 1
Joanna 1
Laura 1
Leah 1
Lillian 1
Lily 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 16
George 14
John 14
Thomas 12
Henry 9
Charles 8
Edward 8
James 5
Arthur 4
Frank 4
Joseph 4
Robert 4
Samuel 4
Albert 3
Frederick 3
Walter 3
Alfred 2
Edmund 2
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Moses 2
Percy 2
Wm. 2
Alonzo 1
Arther 1
Benjamin 1
C.H. 1
Charlie 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Duncan 1
Enoch 1
Fredrick 1
Georgie 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Isaac 1
Jesse 1
Job 1
Jour 1
Keith 1
Noah 1
R.B. 1
Reuben 1
Richard 1
Seward 1
Sidney 1
Stanley 1
Tho. 1

FAQ

Witchell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Witchell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 358 people were recorded with the Witchell surname. That placed it at #8,638 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Witchell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 400 in 2016. That gives Witchell a modern rank of #11,879.

What does the Witchell surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "white hill."

What does the Witchell map show?

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