UK surname
Derived from a Middle English word for a person who attended to the machinery or tools of a mill.
In the 1881 census there were 21 people recorded with the Barrall surname, ranking it #30,609 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 56, ranked #34,562, down from #30,609 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Ecclesfield, Letcomb Regis, Childrey and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Barrall is 233 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 166.7%.
1881 census count
21
Ranked #30,609
Modern count
56
2016, ranked #34,562
Peak year
1861
233 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Barrall surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Barrall 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 | 46 | #24,985 |
| 1861 | historical | 233 | #10,501 |
| 1881 | historical | 21 | #30,609 |
| 1891 | historical | 153 | #18,078 |
| 1901 | historical | 15 | #32,383 |
| 1911 | historical | 49 | #27,894 |
| 1997 | modern | 81 | #29,436 |
| 1998 | modern | 81 | #29,849 |
| 1999 | modern | 74 | #30,759 |
| 2000 | modern | 69 | #31,273 |
| 2001 | modern | 67 | #31,297 |
| 2002 | modern | 74 | #31,048 |
| 2003 | modern | 74 | #31,091 |
| 2004 | modern | 73 | #31,403 |
| 2005 | modern | 71 | #31,816 |
| 2006 | modern | 76 | #31,633 |
| 2007 | modern | 78 | #31,748 |
| 2008 | modern | 70 | #32,856 |
| 2009 | modern | 76 | #32,635 |
| 2010 | modern | 74 | #33,167 |
| 2011 | modern | 66 | #33,768 |
| 2012 | modern | 65 | #33,964 |
| 2013 | modern | 67 | #33,939 |
| 2014 | modern | 67 | #33,959 |
| 2015 | modern | 61 | #34,284 |
| 2016 | modern | 56 | #34,562 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Ecclesfield, Letcomb Regis, Childrey, Manchester, Chelsea and London parishes. 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 | Ecclesfield | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 2 | Letcomb Regis, Childrey | Berkshire |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Chelsea | London (West Districts) |
| 5 | London parishes | London 2 |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Barrall 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 Barrall, 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 Barrall surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Barrall 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, Barrall 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 Barrall is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Barrall, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Barrall has its roots in England, originating from the Old English words "bær" meaning bear, and "heal" meaning hall or residence. It is believed to have first appeared in the 11th century as a descriptive name referring to someone who lived or worked in a residence associated with a bear emblem or symbol.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled "Barehall." This entry references a landowner in Oxfordshire. Over time, the spelling evolved to its modern form, Barrall.
During the medieval period, the name was predominantly found in the counties of Oxfordshire, Berkshire, and Buckinghamshire. It is thought that the name may have originated from a place name that no longer exists or has been absorbed into a larger town or village.
In the 16th century, records show a John Barrall (1525-1592) who was a successful merchant and alderman in the city of London. He is notable for his philanthropic efforts, founding a school for underprivileged children in his hometown of Coventry.
Another notable figure with the surname Barrall was Sir Thomas Barrall (1620-1695), a wealthy landowner and member of Parliament who played a significant role in the English Civil War. He served as a colonel in the Parliamentarian forces and was later knighted for his loyalty to the cause.
In the 18th century, the name was recorded in various parish records across England, including those of William Barrall (1734-1809), a respected clergyman and author of several religious texts.
The 19th century saw the Barrall name spread further afield with the emigration of English settlers to North America and other parts of the British Empire. One notable figure from this period was Henry Barrall (1856-1923), a Canadian engineer and politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.
Throughout its history, the surname Barrall has maintained a strong presence in England, with various branches of the family contributing to various fields, including business, politics, and academia.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Barrall 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. Yorkshire leads with 8 Barralls recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.94x.
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Skelton In Guisbrough in Yorkshire leads with 6 Barralls recorded in 1881 and an index of 1090.91x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Skelton In Guisbrough | 6 | 1090.91x |
| Stretford | 6 | 447.76x |
| Bradford | 1 | 20.37x |
| Bromley | 1 | 94.34x |
| Dunham Massey | 1 | 714.29x |
| Holy Rood | 1 | 1250.00x |
| Leeds | 1 | 8.73x |
| Maldon All Sts | 1 | 1250.00x |
| St Giles In Fields London | 1 | 100.00x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 9.15x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 6.07x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Barrall 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 Barrall 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 Barrall households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 3 |
| Carter | 1 |
| Cook (Domt) | 1 |
| Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Dressmakers Apprentice | 1 |
| Groom | 1 |
| Laborer Iron Mines | 1 |
| Laborer Wife | 1 |
| Ladies Outfitters | 1 |
| Plumber & Gas Fitter (Unemployed) | 1 |
| Plumber & Gas Fitter Wife | 1 |
| Scholar Laborer Son | 1 |
| Solicitors Clerk | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 21 people were recorded with the Barrall surname. That placed it at #30,609 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 56 in 2016. That gives Barrall a modern rank of #34,562.
Derived from a Middle English word for a person who attended to the machinery or tools of a mill.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Barrall 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.