NameCensus.

UK surname

Birchall

A locational surname derived from a place where birch trees grew.

In the 1881 census there were 2,945 people recorded with the Birchall surname, ranking it #1,520 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,545, ranked #1,494, up from #1,520 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wigan, Manchester and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include St. Helens, Wigan and Northumberland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Birchall is 4,814 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 54.3%.

1881 census count

2,945

Ranked #1,520

Modern count

4,545

2016, ranked #1,494

Peak year

1999

4,814 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Birchall had 2,945 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,520 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,545 in 2016, ranked #1,494.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,492 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Birchall surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Birchall surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Birchall 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 1,594 #1,806
1861 historical 1,657 #1,729
1881 historical 2,945 #1,520
1891 historical 3,136 #1,507
1901 historical 3,862 #1,461
1911 historical 4,492 #1,149
1997 modern 4,452 #1,478
1998 modern 4,741 #1,435
1999 modern 4,814 #1,422
2000 modern 4,783 #1,422
2001 modern 4,693 #1,417
2002 modern 4,812 #1,413
2003 modern 4,665 #1,427
2004 modern 4,614 #1,439
2005 modern 4,508 #1,453
2006 modern 4,487 #1,460
2007 modern 4,559 #1,451
2008 modern 4,568 #1,456
2009 modern 4,687 #1,455
2010 modern 4,800 #1,452
2011 modern 4,692 #1,464
2012 modern 4,535 #1,488
2013 modern 4,642 #1,482
2014 modern 4,665 #1,481
2015 modern 4,612 #1,484
2016 modern 4,545 #1,494

Geography

Back to top

Where Birchalls are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wigan, Manchester, Liverpool, Warrington and Bolton-le-Moors. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to St. Helens, Wigan, Northumberland and Chorley. 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 Wigan Lancashire
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Liverpool Lancashire
4 Warrington Lancashire
5 Bolton-le-Moors Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 St. Helens 001 St. Helens
2 Wigan 018 Wigan
3 Northumberland 009 Northumberland
4 Wigan 021 Wigan
5 Chorley 014 Chorley

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Birchall

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Birchall

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Birchall, 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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Birchall surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Birchall household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Birchall is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Birchall is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

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

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Birchall falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Birchall is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Birchall

The surname Birchall has its origins in England, dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English words "birce" meaning birch tree, and "halh" meaning a nook or corner of land. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a birch tree or in a area with many birch trees.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Birchall can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire from 1199, where it appears as "Byrchehull". The Pipe Rolls were a collection of financial records maintained by the English Exchequer.

The Birchall surname is also mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1296, indicating its presence in southern England during the medieval period. In these records, the name is spelled as "Birchehulle".

During the Tudor era, the Birchall family was well-established in Lancashire, a county in northwestern England. A notable figure from this time was Richard Birchall, a Catholic martyr who was executed in 1588 for his faith during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

In the 17th century, the Birchall name appeared in the parish records of Burscough, Lancashire. One of the earliest recorded individuals was John Birchall, born in 1630, whose descendants continued to reside in the area for generations.

Another prominent figure was Samuel Birchall, a renowned engraver and goldsmith born in 1761 in Yorkshire. His work was highly regarded, and he was appointed as the Chief Engraver at the Royal Mint in 1815.

In the 19th century, John Birchall (1783-1860) was a wealthy industrialist and landowner from Warrington, Cheshire. He played a significant role in the development of the town's cotton industry and served as a magistrate.

Lastly, Wilfred Birchall (1867-1951) was a British lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Leeds from 1910 to 1922. He was also a prominent figure in the Liberal Party during the early 20th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Birchall families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Birchall 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. Lancashire leads with 2,130 Birchalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.26x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 2,130 6.26x
Cheshire 243 3.84x
Staffordshire 171 1.77x
Warwickshire 63 0.87x
Yorkshire 63 0.22x
Middlesex 56 0.20x
Kent 55 0.56x
Surrey 31 0.22x
Shropshire 19 0.77x
Durham 16 0.19x
Sussex 16 0.33x
Worcestershire 13 0.35x
Derbyshire 11 0.25x
Gloucestershire 7 0.12x
Northamptonshire 7 0.26x
Hampshire 5 0.09x
Berkshire 4 0.19x
Devon 4 0.07x
Lanarkshire 4 0.04x
Northumberland 4 0.09x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.10x
Cornwall 2 0.06x
Cumberland 2 0.08x
Isle of Man 2 0.38x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.09x
Denbighshire 1 0.09x
Essex 1 0.02x
Flintshire 1 0.13x
Hertfordshire 1 0.05x
Oxfordshire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wigan in Lancashire leads with 121 Birchalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.46x.

Place Total Index
Wigan 121 25.46x
Ince In Makerfield 99 62.56x
Warrington 89 22.08x
Rainford 88 239.26x
Liverpool 83 4.02x
Windle 65 33.97x
West Derby 63 6.33x
Sutton 62 54.36x
Skelmersdale 54 95.29x
Salford 51 5.10x
Great Bolton 50 11.10x
Parr 48 39.45x
Manchester 46 3.01x
Kirkdale 44 7.69x
Eccleston In Prescot 42 24.60x
Heath Charnock 41 453.04x
Barton Upon Irwell 38 14.84x
Preston 34 3.74x
Upholland 34 78.02x
Wolstanton 33 11.23x
Oldham 29 2.64x
Audley 28 29.25x
Adlington 27 84.80x
Everton 27 2.49x
Winstanley 27 504.67x
Hindley 26 17.93x
Huyton With Roby 25 62.74x
Farnworth 24 11.78x
Golborne 23 51.90x
Lathom 23 56.00x
Southworth With Croft 23 226.38x
Little Bolton 22 5.03x
Billinge Chapel End 21 110.06x
Islington London 21 0.76x
Toxteth Park 21 1.82x
Wolvey 21 273.44x
Bedford 20 28.11x
Haydock 20 34.13x
Orrell 20 47.30x
Stockport 20 6.14x
Ashton In Makerfield 18 18.59x
Chadderton 17 10.22x
Drayton In Hales 17 33.31x
Gorton 17 5.32x
Pennington In Leigh 17 26.05x
Aspull 16 20.00x
Bickerstaffe 16 71.88x
Bury 16 4.12x
Heaton Norris 16 8.27x
Maidstone 16 5.49x
Whiston 16 60.31x
Birmingham 15 0.62x
Chorlton On Medlock 15 2.78x
Hulme 15 2.11x
Much Woolton 15 32.50x
Newton In Ashton Under 15 24.03x
Ormskirk 15 23.05x
Prescot 15 24.39x
Stoke Upon Trent 15 1.46x
Ashford 14 14.70x
Astley 14 53.37x
Camberwell 14 0.76x
Culcheth 14 62.84x
Leeds 14 0.87x
Atherton 13 10.50x
Audley Talk O Th Hill 13 74.63x
Dukinfield 13 4.45x
Monks Coppenhall 13 5.45x
Tranmere 13 5.59x
Westleigh 13 16.83x
Wolstanton Thursfield 13 110.73x
Birkenhead 12 2.38x
Layton With Warbreck 12 9.62x
Wolstanton Knutton 12 20.31x
Ashton Under Lyne 11 1.48x
Leek Lowe 11 8.55x
Walton On Hill 11 5.97x
Woolwich 11 3.04x
Baddiley 10 357.14x
Wheelock 10 128.21x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 235
Elizabeth 156
Sarah 108
Ann 87
Margaret 79
Alice 74
Ellen 71
Jane 57
Annie 35
Hannah 33
Martha 29
Eliza 26
Emily 24
Emma 24
Esther 19
Anne 17
Catherine 16
Maria 15
Harriet 14
Frances 13
Louisa 12
Agnes 10
Edith 10
Clara 9
Lucy 9
Amy 8
Fanny 8
Isabella 8
Rachel 8
Ada 7
Elizth. 7
Florence 7
Margt. 7
Phoebe 7
Amelia 6
Caroline 6
Harriett 6
Rebecca 6
Ruth 6
Charlotte 5
Ethel 5
Lizzie 5
Nancy 5
Betsy 4
Betty 4
Elizebeth 4
Lydia 4
Allice 3
Helen 3
Lilly 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 216
William 179
James 157
Thomas 147
Joseph 89
Henry 63
George 60
Edward 47
Charles 40
Richard 33
Robert 26
Peter 24
Wm. 24
Samuel 23
Alfred 19
Arthur 16
Thos. 15
Nathan 13
Frederick 12
Edwin 11
Ralph 11
Harry 10
Herbert 10
Albert 8
Fred 8
Richd. 8
Walter 8
Isaac 6
Ellis 5
Ernest 5
Frank 5
Josiah 5
Jas. 4
Roger 4
Wright 4
Amos 3
Caleb 3
Daniel 3
Geo. 3
Hugh 3
Jesse 3
Merrick 3
Patrick 3
Tom 3
David 2
Edgar 2
Edwd. 2
Lewis 2
Louis 2
Oswald 2

FAQ

Birchall surname: questions and answers

How common was the Birchall surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,945 people were recorded with the Birchall surname. That placed it at #1,520 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Birchall surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,545 in 2016. That gives Birchall a modern rank of #1,494.

What does the Birchall surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place where birch trees grew.

What does the Birchall map show?

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