UK surname
A locational surname derived from places named Berrel in Dordogne, France, or Berrell in Gloucestershire, England.
In the 1881 census there were 77 people recorded with the Berrell surname, ranking it #22,617 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 73, ranked #33,502, down from #22,617 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Kingsley and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Berrell is 167 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 5.2%.
1881 census count
77
Ranked #22,617
Modern count
73
2016, ranked #33,502
Peak year
1861
167 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Berrell surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Berrell surname density by area, 1901 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 | 100 | #17,164 |
| 1861 | historical | 167 | #13,956 |
| 1881 | historical | 77 | #22,617 |
| 1891 | historical | 121 | #21,169 |
| 1901 | historical | 108 | #21,836 |
| 1911 | historical | 85 | #24,322 |
| 1997 | modern | 89 | #28,490 |
| 1998 | modern | 90 | #28,920 |
| 1999 | modern | 85 | #29,578 |
| 2000 | modern | 84 | #29,706 |
| 2001 | modern | 80 | #29,945 |
| 2002 | modern | 81 | #30,294 |
| 2003 | modern | 84 | #29,978 |
| 2004 | modern | 87 | #29,897 |
| 2005 | modern | 81 | #30,740 |
| 2006 | modern | 73 | #31,954 |
| 2007 | modern | 75 | #32,079 |
| 2008 | modern | 78 | #32,081 |
| 2009 | modern | 80 | #32,277 |
| 2010 | modern | 82 | #32,492 |
| 2011 | modern | 86 | #32,006 |
| 2012 | modern | 88 | #32,064 |
| 2013 | modern | 84 | #32,745 |
| 2014 | modern | 83 | #32,910 |
| 2015 | modern | 78 | #33,210 |
| 2016 | modern | 73 | #33,502 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Kingsley, Edinburgh, Manchester and Lambeth. 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 | Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) | Glamorganshire |
| 2 | Kingsley | Surrey |
| 3 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Berrell 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 Berrell, 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 Berrell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Berrell 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, Berrell 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 Berrell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Berrell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname "BERRELL" is believed to have originated in England, with roots tracing back to the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name derived from various place names in England, possibly related to the Old English words "beorg" meaning hill or "bær" meaning grove.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Berellus" in reference to a landowner in Oxfordshire. This entry suggests that the name had already been established in England by the late 11th century.
In the 13th century, records show variants of the name such as "Berel" and "Berhill" appearing in various counties across England, including Oxfordshire, Berkshire, and Wiltshire. The spelling "Berrell" became more prevalent in the 15th and 16th centuries.
One notable historical figure with the surname was Sir John Berrell (c. 1492-1558), a prominent English merchant and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Mary I. He was born in Worcestershire and served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1554.
Another individual of note was Robert Berrell (1635-1698), an English clergyman and author who served as the Chaplain to King William III and later became the Dean of Windsor.
In the 18th century, William Berrell (1714-1786) was a successful merchant and landowner in Northumberland, England. His descendants continued to hold significant landholdings in the region for several generations.
Across the Atlantic, one of the earliest bearers of the name in North America was John Berrell, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 and later became a landowner in St. Mary's County, Maryland.
Another notable figure was Captain James Berrell (1748-1826), an English Royal Navy officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and later became the Commander-in-Chief of the East Indies Station.
While the surname "BERRELL" is not among the most common surnames in the English-speaking world, it has a long and intriguing history, with its roots stretching back to medieval England and various locations across the country.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Berrell 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. Northamptonshire leads with 14 Berrells recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.82x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Northamptonshire | 14 | 19.82x |
| Hertfordshire | 10 | 19.32x |
| Yorkshire | 9 | 1.21x |
| Lancashire | 7 | 0.79x |
| Bedfordshire | 6 | 15.43x |
| Glamorgan | 6 | 4.59x |
| Wiltshire | 5 | 7.53x |
| Surrey | 4 | 1.09x |
| Cumberland | 3 | 4.64x |
| Middlesex | 3 | 0.40x |
| Worcestershire | 3 | 3.06x |
| Dumfriesshire | 2 | 12.06x |
| Kent | 2 | 0.78x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.65x |
| Shropshire | 1 | 1.54x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.79x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Yardley Gobion in Northamptonshire leads with 7 Berrells recorded in 1881 and an index of 4666.67x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yardley Gobion | 7 | 4666.67x |
| Aberdare | 6 | 66.82x |
| Chipping Barnet | 6 | 659.34x |
| Nether Hallam | 5 | 49.65x |
| Ridgmont | 5 | 2631.58x |
| Corsham | 4 | 412.37x |
| East Barnet | 4 | 388.35x |
| Lambeth | 4 | 6.11x |
| Earls Barton | 3 | 500.00x |
| Kings Norton | 3 | 34.09x |
| St Cuthbert W O | 3 | 95.24x |
| Bootle Cum Linacre | 2 | 28.25x |
| Gretna | 2 | 645.16x |
| Harlestone | 2 | 1333.33x |
| Kings Sutton | 2 | 645.16x |
| Otley | 2 | 110.50x |
| Beswick | 1 | 43.86x |
| Brighton | 1 | 3.91x |
| Broughton In Salford | 1 | 12.27x |
| Clerkenwell London | 1 | 5.64x |
| Deptford St Paul | 1 | 5.06x |
| Ealing | 1 | 14.90x |
| Eccleshill | 1 | 55.25x |
| Hound | 1 | 96.15x |
| Kearsley | 1 | 53.19x |
| Kirkdale | 1 | 6.67x |
| Leeds | 1 | 2.38x |
| Lewisham | 1 | 7.32x |
| Melksham | 1 | 86.96x |
| Prescot | 1 | 62.11x |
| Rushbury | 1 | 769.23x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 1.65x |
| Wootton | 1 | 294.12x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Berrell 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 Berrell 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 Berrell households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 13 |
| Lace Maker | 3 |
| Agl Labr | 2 |
| Commercial Clerk | 2 |
| Dressmaker | 2 |
| Work At Stone Cutter | 2 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Ag Labs Wife | 1 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Baker Daur | 1 |
| Baker Master | 1 |
| Baker Wife | 1 |
| Bolt Maker | 1 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Civil Engr | 1 |
| Clerk Of Works | 1 |
| Cloth Weaver | 1 |
| Colliery Bank Woman | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Domestic Servt Cook | 1 |
| Farm Servant | 1 |
| File Maker | 1 |
| Gardener | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| Governess | 1 |
| Hair Dresser & Printer | 1 |
| Harness Maker | 1 |
| Inc From Houses | 1 |
| Joiner | 1 |
| Laborer | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Medical Candidate Army Medical Dept | 1 |
| Milliners Apprentice | 1 |
| Monthly Nurse | 1 |
| Nurse Dom (St) | 1 |
| Piecer Winder (Weaving Miill) | 1 |
| Printer | 1 |
| Pupil Teacher | 1 |
| Quarry Boy | 1 |
| Retired Laundress | 1 |
| School Board Teacher | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 77 people were recorded with the Berrell surname. That placed it at #22,617 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 73 in 2016. That gives Berrell a modern rank of #33,502.
A locational surname derived from places named Berrel in Dordogne, France, or Berrell in Gloucestershire, England.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Berrell 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.