NameCensus.

UK surname

Birdsall

A locational surname derived from a place in West Yorkshire, England, meaning "bird's nook" or "bird's corner."

In the 1881 census there were 548 people recorded with the Birdsall surname, ranking it #6,297 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 767, ranked #7,156, down from #6,297 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Otley, Tadcaster and Bradford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wakefield, Islington and Stockton-on-Tees.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Birdsall is 797 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 40.0%.

1881 census count

548

Ranked #6,297

Modern count

767

2016, ranked #7,156

Peak year

2010

797 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Birdsall had 548 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,297 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 767 in 2016, ranked #7,156.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 737 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Birdsall surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Birdsall surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Birdsall 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 308 #7,478
1861 historical 332 #7,673
1881 historical 548 #6,297
1891 historical 579 #6,585
1901 historical 707 #6,239
1911 historical 737 #5,816
1997 modern 763 #6,790
1998 modern 774 #6,938
1999 modern 762 #7,057
2000 modern 759 #7,038
2001 modern 762 #6,911
2002 modern 770 #6,984
2003 modern 786 #6,744
2004 modern 785 #6,771
2005 modern 743 #7,012
2006 modern 743 #7,038
2007 modern 744 #7,100
2008 modern 738 #7,192
2009 modern 771 #7,089
2010 modern 797 #7,052
2011 modern 794 #6,998
2012 modern 781 #6,993
2013 modern 766 #7,220
2014 modern 762 #7,268
2015 modern 766 #7,187
2016 modern 767 #7,156

Geography

Back to top

Where Birdsalls are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Otley, Tadcaster, Bradford, Scarborough and Guiseley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wakefield, Islington, Stockton-on-Tees and Northumberland. 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 Otley Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Tadcaster Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Scarborough Yorkshire, North Riding
5 Guiseley Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wakefield 001 Wakefield
2 Islington 016 Islington
3 Stockton-on-Tees 012 Stockton-on-Tees
4 Northumberland 003 Northumberland
5 Wakefield 010 Wakefield

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Birdsall

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Birdsall

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Birdsall 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

Birdsall is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Birdsall 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 Birdsall 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 Birdsall, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Birdsall

The surname Birdsall originated in England, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 12th century. It is a locational name derived from the place name Birdsall, a small village in the East Riding of Yorkshire. The name Birdsall itself is likely a combination of the Old English words "bridd" meaning bird and "salu" meaning hall or residence.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname Birdsall can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, a collection of financial records from the county, where a Robert de Birdsall is listed in 1176. The Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror, also contains references to the village of Birdsall.

In the 13th century, the surname Birdsall appeared in various forms such as Birdeshale and Birdeshal, reflecting the variations in spelling common during that time period. One notable figure bearing this name was William de Birdsall, a landowner in Yorkshire who lived during the reign of King Edward I (1272-1307).

During the 14th century, the Birdsall family played a prominent role in the local community of Yorkshire. John de Birdsall served as a member of the Parliament of England in 1327, representing the county of Yorkshire. Another member of the family, Thomas de Birdsall, was a wealthy merchant and landowner who lived in the latter half of the 14th century.

In the 15th century, the Birdsall surname gained further recognition with the rise of Sir Ralph Birdsall, a knight who fought in the Wars of the Roses during the latter half of the century. He was a staunch supporter of the House of York and played a significant role in the battles of Towton and Tewkesbury.

The 16th century saw the emergence of Christopher Birdsall, a renowned scholar and theologian who was born in Yorkshire in 1536. He studied at the University of Cambridge and later became a fellow of Trinity College. Birdsall was known for his contributions to the field of theology and his writings on religious reformation.

Throughout the centuries, the Birdsall surname has been carried by numerous individuals across various professions and walks of life. Some notable examples include John Birdsall (1609-1672), an early settler in Connecticut, and William Birdsall (1793-1864), a prominent architect who designed several churches and public buildings in England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Birdsall families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Birdsall 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. Yorkshire leads with 455 Birdsalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.62x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 455 8.62x
Lancashire 38 0.60x
Durham 21 1.33x
Northamptonshire 12 2.40x
Middlesex 3 0.06x
Selkirkshire 3 6.23x
Suffolk 3 0.46x
Surrey 3 0.12x
Devon 2 0.18x
Lincolnshire 2 0.23x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.28x
Cheshire 1 0.09x
Northumberland 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 57 Birdsalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.13x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 57 19.13x
Church Fenton 26 2736.84x
Stutton Cum Hazelwood 20 3174.60x
Baildon 15 150.91x
Skipton 15 90.31x
Bramley In Bramley 14 69.31x
Knottingley 13 140.09x
Scarborough 13 27.11x
Yeadon 13 109.06x
Moss Side 12 36.08x
Saxton Cum 12 1818.18x
Winlaton 12 78.95x
Grimstn Krby Wharf N 10 2173.91x
Ulleskelf 10 1190.48x
York St George 10 240.38x
Castleford 9 46.83x
Lillings Ambo 9 2250.00x
Rawdon 9 144.93x
Sherburn 9 207.37x
Egglescliffe 8 672.27x
Towton 8 4705.88x
Bradford 7 5.48x
Broughton In Salford 7 12.11x
Calverley Cum Farsley 7 46.70x
Garforth 7 173.27x
Pickering 7 105.26x
Tadcaster West 7 167.46x
Ackworth 6 148.15x
Falsgrave 6 77.12x
Mexborough 6 57.25x
Northampton Priory St 6 19.96x
Pudsey 6 21.27x
Thornton Dale 6 428.57x
Bingley 5 14.88x
Folkton 5 1785.71x
Great Little Marsden 5 17.27x
Huddersfield 5 6.50x
Northampton St Giles 5 26.21x
Sculcoates 5 5.98x
Thorner 5 292.40x
Wombwell 5 32.49x
Wortley In Bramley 5 11.96x
Eccleshill 4 31.15x
Farnley In Wharfedale 4 1600.00x
Holbeck 4 11.44x
Sandal Magna 4 51.28x
Sicklinghall 4 975.61x
Thorp Arch 4 555.56x
York St Mary 4 18.30x
Biggin 3 1304.35x
Hunslet 3 3.65x
Layton With Warbreck 3 12.94x
Melrose 3 24.73x
Newington 3 1.52x
Salford 3 1.61x
Shipley 3 10.95x
South Milford 3 155.44x
Adel Cum Eccup 2 91.74x
Bramham Cum Oglethorpe 2 94.79x
Chapel Allerton 2 25.32x
Cheetham 2 4.24x
Didsbury 2 23.84x
Great Driffield 2 18.47x
Heap 2 5.97x
Holy Trinity 2 1.58x
North Bierley 2 7.02x
Ryther Cum Ossendyke 2 377.36x
Saddleworth 2 4.91x
St Botolph Aldersgate 2 32.73x
Sutton In Keighley 2 66.89x
Worksop 2 9.39x
Wyke In Wetherby 2 769.23x
Beaghall 1 163.93x
Bury St Edmunds St James 1 5.77x
Coxlodge 1 16.58x
Gargrave 1 42.55x
Hessle In Sculcoates 1 21.46x
Ipswich St Margaret 1 4.54x
Marton Cum Grafton 1 149.25x
Wakefield 1 2.47x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 39
Elizabeth 28
Sarah 21
Ann 19
Annie 18
Harriet 10
Jane 10
Martha 10
Hannah 8
Alice 7
Emily 6
Eliza 5
Fanny 5
Margaret 5
Maria 5
Charlotte 4
Clara 4
Emma 4
Ada 3
Edith 3
Florence 3
Sophia 3
Agnes 2
Amy 2
Eleanor 2
Ellen 2
Faith 2
Frances 2
Isabella 2
Louisa 2
Ruth 2
Amelia 1
Anne 1
Beatrice 1
Betty 1
Catherine 1
Druscilla 1
Elisabeth 1
Eliz. 1
Elizabath 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Lacy 1
Lavinia 1
Letice 1
Livia 1
Lucy 1
Mabel 1
William 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 34
William 26
Charles 17
James 17
Thomas 17
George 15
Joseph 15
Samuel 7
Harry 6
Henry 6
Richard 6
Robert 6
Edward 5
Walter 5
Alfred 4
Frederick 4
Albert 3
Arthur 3
Benjamin 3
Frank 3
Herbert 3
Jacob 3
Tobias 3
Anthony 2
David 2
Francis 2
Fred 2
Geo. 2
Jabez 2
Joe 2
Martin 2
Tom 2
Arthier 1
Candler 1
Dawson 1
Earnest 1
Frances 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Hardwick 1
Harold 1
Harriet 1
Jno. 1
Jonathan 1
Josh.W. 1
Margaret 1
Mark 1
Marshall 1
Moses 1
Percy 1

FAQ

Birdsall surname: questions and answers

How common was the Birdsall surname in 1881?

In 1881, 548 people were recorded with the Birdsall surname. That placed it at #6,297 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Birdsall surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 767 in 2016. That gives Birdsall a modern rank of #7,156.

What does the Birdsall surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place in West Yorkshire, England, meaning "bird's nook" or "bird's corner."

What does the Birdsall map show?

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