NameCensus.

UK surname

Barrell

A surname referring to someone who lived or worked near a barrel-maker.

In the 1881 census there were 1,141 people recorded with the Barrell surname, ranking it #3,509 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,380, ranked #4,374, down from #3,509 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Powys, North Norfolk and Mid Suffolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Barrell is 1,974 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 20.9%.

1881 census count

1,141

Ranked #3,509

Modern count

1,380

2016, ranked #4,374

Peak year

1911

1,974 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Barrell had 1,141 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,509 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,380 in 2016, ranked #4,374.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,974 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Barrell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Barrell surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Barrell 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 1,042 #2,692
1861 historical 1,205 #2,354
1881 historical 1,141 #3,509
1891 historical 1,775 #2,573
1901 historical 1,752 #2,962
1911 historical 1,974 #2,514
1997 modern 1,557 #3,788
1998 modern 1,578 #3,880
1999 modern 1,591 #3,892
2000 modern 1,516 #4,022
2001 modern 1,491 #4,005
2002 modern 1,503 #4,068
2003 modern 1,458 #4,089
2004 modern 1,460 #4,084
2005 modern 1,409 #4,172
2006 modern 1,431 #4,125
2007 modern 1,449 #4,116
2008 modern 1,444 #4,154
2009 modern 1,481 #4,157
2010 modern 1,480 #4,233
2011 modern 1,488 #4,180
2012 modern 1,421 #4,252
2013 modern 1,444 #4,268
2014 modern 1,445 #4,291
2015 modern 1,410 #4,335
2016 modern 1,380 #4,374

Geography

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Where Barrells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a and Langham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Powys, North Norfolk, Mid Suffolk, Enfield and East Staffordshire. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a Essex
5 Langham Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Powys 015 Powys
2 North Norfolk 003 North Norfolk
3 Mid Suffolk 007 Mid Suffolk
4 Enfield 004 Enfield
5 East Staffordshire 011 East Staffordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Barrell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Barrell

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Barrell is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Barrell 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

Barrell falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Barrell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Barrell

The surname BARRELL is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Old English words 'byrel' or 'byrig', meaning a barrel or cask. It is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, possibly as an occupational name for someone who made or carried barrels.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, which mention a person named Robert Barillarius. This Latin form of the name suggests a connection to the barrel-making trade.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Barillere, Barillar, and Bariller, reflecting the regional variations in spelling and pronunciation. These early spellings provide insight into the name's evolution over time.

The BARRELL surname is also associated with certain place names in England, such as Barwell in Leicestershire and Barwell in Somerset. These locations may have influenced the development and distribution of the name.

Notable historical figures with the BARRELL surname include:

1. John Barrell (c. 1530-1591), an English scholar and theologian who served as the Dean of Lincoln Cathedral. 2. Edward Barrell (1579-1655), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament during the reign of King Charles I. 3. Abraham Barrell (1670-1730), an English clockmaker and inventor known for his contributions to the development of the lever escapement mechanism. 4. John Barrell (1754-1825), an English artist and engraver, best known for his portraits and landscapes. 5. Joseph Barrell (1869-1919), an American geologist and professor at Yale University, known for his contributions to the study of structural geology and the development of the concept of isostasy.

The BARRELL surname has a rich history spanning several centuries and has been associated with various trades, professions, and notable individuals throughout its evolution.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Barrell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Barrell 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. Middlesex leads with 243 Barrells recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.19x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 243 2.19x
Suffolk 215 15.93x
Essex 173 7.91x
Surrey 63 1.17x
Herefordshire 58 12.76x
Lancashire 51 0.39x
Kent 49 1.30x
Monmouthshire 38 4.74x
Yorkshire 26 0.24x
Devon 25 1.08x
Gloucestershire 21 0.97x
Hertfordshire 20 2.62x
Cambridgeshire 18 2.56x
Somerset 18 1.01x
Worcestershire 18 1.24x
Lincolnshire 16 0.90x
Staffordshire 14 0.37x
Berkshire 10 1.20x
Hampshire 10 0.44x
Warwickshire 9 0.32x
Norfolk 8 0.47x
Lanarkshire 5 0.14x
Northamptonshire 5 0.48x
Isle of Man 4 1.94x
Buckinghamshire 3 0.45x
Cheshire 3 0.12x
Glamorgan 3 0.16x
Pembrokeshire 3 0.85x
Cumberland 2 0.21x
Durham 2 0.06x
Berwickshire 1 0.75x
Flintshire 1 0.34x
Sussex 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Langham in Essex leads with 47 Barrells recorded in 1881 and an index of 1843.14x.

Place Total Index
Langham 47 1843.14x
St Pancras London 41 4.60x
Kensington London 39 6.33x
Lambeth 27 2.79x
Stowmarket 25 160.26x
Spotland 24 16.42x
Orcop 18 857.14x
Mile End Old Town London 17 7.21x
St George Hanover Square 17 8.71x
Ipswich St Mathew 16 42.29x
West Ham 16 3.31x
Ipswich St Clement 14 40.80x
St Andrewthe Less 14 17.46x
Wivenhoe 14 161.10x
Grosmont 12 451.13x
Stoodleigh 12 718.56x
Belchamp Otten 11 866.14x
Shoreditch London 11 2.29x
Tenbury 11 138.89x
Bury St Edmunds St James 10 27.74x
Chelsea London 10 2.99x
Dedham 10 150.83x
Islington London 10 0.93x
Old Windsor 10 103.84x
Birmingham 9 0.97x
Camberwell 9 1.27x
Great Ashfield 9 596.03x
Hitcham 9 264.71x
Kirton 9 376.57x
Mile End 9 225.00x
Nash 9 989.01x
South Weald 9 48.05x
St Luke London 9 5.06x
Westminster St John 9 6.67x
Beaumont 8 493.83x
Llanfoist 8 144.14x
Melton 8 150.66x
Tottenham 8 4.53x
Aston 7 322.58x
Bitton 7 37.00x
Chiswick 7 11.56x
Great Glemham 7 538.46x
Handsworth 7 7.59x
Nettlestead 7 1842.11x
Portsea 7 1.57x
Rainham 7 67.37x
Sowerby In Halifax 7 19.49x
St Botolph Lincoln 7 54.95x
Stoke Damerel 7 4.34x
Washbrook 7 530.30x
Bermondsey 6 1.82x
Burton Upon Trent 6 6.86x
Clapham 6 4.33x
Cockfield 6 169.49x
Coddenham 6 194.17x
Drinkstone 6 340.91x
Hackney London 6 0.97x
Lewisham 6 2.98x
Queenborough 6 160.43x
South Mimms 6 39.47x
Spalding 6 17.06x
Stonham Earl 6 250.00x
Sudbury St Gregory 6 55.45x
Woodbridge 6 34.76x
Berkeley 5 41.36x
Bulmer 5 189.39x
Great Cornard 5 163.93x
Harrow On The Hill 5 22.58x
Kilpeck 5 588.24x
Longtown 5 177.94x
Manchester 5 0.85x
Manningham 5 3.70x
Mordiford 5 231.48x
Much Dewchurch 5 232.56x
Northampton All Sts 5 14.14x
Onehouse 5 378.79x
Peterchurch 5 206.61x
Rougham 5 161.29x
Southwark St George Martyr 5 2.24x
Thornaby 5 12.19x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 69
Elizabeth 35
Sarah 35
Emma 30
Eliza 27
Jane 24
Alice 18
Ellen 18
Hannah 15
Maria 12
Ann 11
Emily 11
Annie 10
Catherine 9
Susan 9
Ada 7
Caroline 7
Harriet 7
Martha 7
Kate 6
Agnes 5
Amelia 5
Edith 5
Esther 5
Frances 5
Lizzie 5
Lydia 5
Margaret 5
Rose 5
Charlotte 4
Florence 4
Harriett 4
Julia 4
Louisa 4
Lucy 4
Anne 3
Clara 3
Fanny 3
Matilda 3
Maud 3
Minnie 3
Rachel 3
Rebecca 3
Rosa 3
Ruth 3
Sophia 3
Susanah 3
Celia 2
Jenie 2
Louise 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 72
George 55
John 54
Thomas 34
Charles 33
James 29
Henry 27
Alfred 19
Arthur 17
Walter 17
Joseph 15
Samuel 14
Frederick 13
Richard 9
Robert 9
Edward 8
Harry 8
Francis 7
Albert 6
Benjamin 6
Isaac 6
Herbert 5
David 4
Edmund 4
Allen 3
Anthony 3
Frank 3
Geo. 3
Josiah 3
Wm. 3
Amos 2
Cecil 2
Chas. 2
Edwin 2
Fredk. 2
Fredrick 2
Philip 2
Phillip 2
Thos. 2
Willm. 2
Chas.Wm. 1
Enos 1
Everett 1
Eyra 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Hilo 1
Hubert 1
Hy 1
Jamea 1

FAQ

Barrell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Barrell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,141 people were recorded with the Barrell surname. That placed it at #3,509 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Barrell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,380 in 2016. That gives Barrell a modern rank of #4,374.

What does the Barrell surname mean?

A surname referring to someone who lived or worked near a barrel-maker.

What does the Barrell map show?

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