UK surname
A variant form of the English surname Barnwell, derived from a place name meaning "barn stream".
In the 1881 census there were 93 people recorded with the Barnell surname, ranking it #20,593 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 65, ranked #34,017, down from #20,593 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Barnell is 466 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 30.1%.
1881 census count
93
Ranked #20,593
Modern count
65
2016, ranked #34,017
Peak year
1861
466 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Barnell surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Barnell surname density by area, 1911 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 | 124 | #14,792 |
| 1861 | historical | 466 | #5,573 |
| 1881 | historical | 93 | #20,593 |
| 1891 | historical | 385 | #9,150 |
| 1901 | historical | 147 | #18,270 |
| 1911 | historical | 125 | #19,932 |
| 1997 | modern | 78 | #29,785 |
| 1998 | modern | 77 | #30,289 |
| 1999 | modern | 74 | #30,759 |
| 2000 | modern | 75 | #30,668 |
| 2001 | modern | 72 | #30,813 |
| 2002 | modern | 69 | #31,527 |
| 2003 | modern | 62 | #32,258 |
| 2004 | modern | 58 | #32,880 |
| 2005 | modern | 59 | #33,008 |
| 2006 | modern | 58 | #33,433 |
| 2007 | modern | 59 | #33,634 |
| 2008 | modern | 54 | #34,232 |
| 2009 | modern | 58 | #34,144 |
| 2010 | modern | 61 | #34,143 |
| 2011 | modern | 60 | #34,202 |
| 2012 | modern | 53 | #34,657 |
| 2013 | modern | 64 | #34,127 |
| 2014 | modern | 71 | #33,717 |
| 2015 | modern | 70 | #33,717 |
| 2016 | modern | 65 | #34,017 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes, St Pancras, St James Clerkenwell and Manchester. 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 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | St James Clerkenwell | London (Central Districts) |
| 5 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Barnell 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 Barnell, 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 Barnell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Barnell 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, Barnell 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 Barnell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Barnell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Barnell has its origins in England, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from a location called Barnwell, which was a village near Cambridge. The name itself is a combination of the Old English words "bær," meaning "barn," and "well," meaning "a spring or stream."
This surname was first recorded in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire in 1273, where it appeared as "de Barnwell." These rolls were a census-like survey conducted by King Edward I, which documented the names of landowners and their properties. The spelling "Barnell" emerged in the 15th century, likely due to regional variations in pronunciation and spelling.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Sussex Subsidy Rolls of 1296, where a Thomas de Barnwell is listed as a taxpayer. This suggests that the family had already begun to spread beyond the original Barnwell village by the late 13th century.
In the 14th century, a notable figure named John Barnell was a prominent landowner in the village of Whaddon, Cambridgeshire. Records from this period indicate that he was involved in various legal disputes over property rights and land ownership.
During the 16th century, a branch of the Barnell family settled in the county of Somerset. One member, William Barnell (1520-1589), was a successful merchant and served as the Mayor of Taunton in 1568. His descendants continued to play an active role in the local community for several generations.
In the 17th century, a renowned mathematician and astronomer named Robert Barnell (1638-1717) made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics. He was a Fellow of the Royal Society and published several treatises on astronomical calculations and observations.
Another notable figure was Sir John Barnell (1685-1764), a prominent lawyer and politician who served as the Attorney General of England and Wales from 1737 to 1742. He was also a Member of Parliament for several constituencies throughout his career.
Over the centuries, the Barnell surname has been found in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Cambridgeshire, Somerset, and Devon. While not an extremely common name, it has a rich history that spans multiple regions and various walks of life.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Barnell 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 17 Barnells recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.87x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 17 | 1.87x |
| Yorkshire | 11 | 1.22x |
| Bedfordshire | 10 | 21.29x |
| Surrey | 9 | 2.04x |
| Kent | 8 | 2.58x |
| Somerset | 6 | 4.11x |
| Essex | 5 | 2.79x |
| Norfolk | 5 | 3.59x |
| Warwickshire | 4 | 1.75x |
| Worcestershire | 4 | 3.38x |
| Staffordshire | 3 | 0.98x |
| Cheshire | 2 | 1.00x |
| Durham | 2 | 0.74x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.53x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.54x |
| Herefordshire | 1 | 2.69x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.34x |
| Monmouthshire | 1 | 1.52x |
| Northamptonshire | 1 | 1.17x |
| Wiltshire | 1 | 1.25x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Luton in Bedfordshire leads with 10 Barnells recorded in 1881 and an index of 123.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Luton | 10 | 123.00x |
| Clifton In York | 9 | 478.72x |
| Bow London | 6 | 51.95x |
| Stogumber | 6 | 1538.46x |
| Rotherhithe | 5 | 44.60x |
| West Ham | 5 | 12.65x |
| Clerkenwell London | 4 | 18.68x |
| Great Yarmouth | 4 | 34.63x |
| Hampstead London | 4 | 28.31x |
| Wollescote | 4 | 421.05x |
| Woolwich | 4 | 35.00x |
| Sedgley | 3 | 26.39x |
| Altrincham | 2 | 57.14x |
| Camberwell | 2 | 3.45x |
| Chilvers Coton | 2 | 212.77x |
| Folkestone | 2 | 33.33x |
| Gateshead | 2 | 9.90x |
| Margate St John Baptist | 2 | 35.27x |
| Barony | 1 | 1.35x |
| Bedwellty | 1 | 8.64x |
| Birmingham | 1 | 1.31x |
| Bolehall Glascote | 1 | 103.09x |
| Dawlish | 1 | 70.92x |
| Dorking | 1 | 33.67x |
| Fakenham | 1 | 144.93x |
| Figheldean | 1 | 714.29x |
| Heaton | 1 | 103.09x |
| Leominster | 1 | 64.94x |
| Middlesbrough | 1 | 8.54x |
| Newington | 1 | 2.98x |
| Portsea | 1 | 2.74x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 1.37x |
| Towcester | 1 | 113.64x |
| Westminster St Margaret | 1 | 22.83x |
| Willesden | 1 | 11.70x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Barnell 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 Barnell 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 Barnell households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 20 |
| Domestic Servant | 3 |
| Wrought Nail Maker | 2 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Basket Maker | 1 |
| Boot Finisher | 1 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Coach Builder | 1 |
| Coachman | 1 |
| Cook Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Cord Wainer | 1 |
| Dom Servant | 1 |
| Errand Man | 1 |
| Farm Labourer | 1 |
| Farmer | 1 |
| Footman Dom Servt | 1 |
| Gen Dom Servant | 1 |
| General | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| Horse Nail Maker | 1 |
| House Carpenter | 1 |
| Housemaid Domestic | 1 |
| Income | 1 |
| Ironmongers Assistant | 1 |
| Labourer (Employing 1 Man) | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Manufacturer Of Hats | 1 |
| Manufacturer Wife | 1 |
| Milkman | 1 |
| Rly Signalman | 1 |
| Serv Dom | 1 |
| Shoe Binder | 1 |
| Shoemaker | 1 |
| Soldier | 1 |
| Stone Mason | 1 |
| Stone Mason Apprentice | 1 |
| Tailoress | 1 |
| Visitor | 1 |
| Wine Merchants Porter | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 93 people were recorded with the Barnell surname. That placed it at #20,593 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 65 in 2016. That gives Barnell a modern rank of #34,017.
A variant form of the English surname Barnwell, derived from a place name meaning "barn stream".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Barnell 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.