NameCensus.

UK surname

Birrell

A surname derived from a place name, possibly referring to someone from the town of Birtley.

In the 1881 census there were 1,461 people recorded with the Birrell surname, ranking it #2,854 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,845, ranked #3,437, down from #2,854 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Falkland, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Methil Methilhill, Kennoway and Bonnybank and Buckhaven, Denbeath and Muiredge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Birrell is 1,965 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 26.3%.

1881 census count

1,461

Ranked #2,854

Modern count

1,845

2016, ranked #3,437

Peak year

1901

1,965 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Birrell had 1,461 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,854 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,845 in 2016, ranked #3,437.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,965 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Birrell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Birrell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Birrell 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 757 #3,514
1861 historical 1,008 #2,773
1881 historical 1,461 #2,854
1891 historical 1,698 #2,661
1901 historical 1,965 #2,696
1911 historical 509 #7,732
1997 modern 1,800 #3,340
1998 modern 1,891 #3,305
1999 modern 1,898 #3,322
2000 modern 1,889 #3,320
2001 modern 1,811 #3,376
2002 modern 1,851 #3,376
2003 modern 1,830 #3,353
2004 modern 1,818 #3,365
2005 modern 1,819 #3,339
2006 modern 1,844 #3,303
2007 modern 1,843 #3,328
2008 modern 1,848 #3,352
2009 modern 1,864 #3,405
2010 modern 1,867 #3,469
2011 modern 1,833 #3,474
2012 modern 1,817 #3,447
2013 modern 1,849 #3,452
2014 modern 1,870 #3,444
2015 modern 1,845 #3,457
2016 modern 1,845 #3,437

Geography

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Where Birrells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Falkland, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Kennoway and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Methil Methilhill, Kennoway and Bonnybank, Buckhaven, Denbeath and Muiredge, Newtongrange and Clackmannan, Kennet and Forestmill. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Falkland Fife
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
4 Kennoway Fife
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Methil Methilhill Fife
2 Kennoway and Bonnybank Fife
3 Buckhaven, Denbeath and Muiredge Fife
4 Newtongrange Midlothian
5 Clackmannan, Kennet and Forestmill Clackmannanshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Birrell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Birrell

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

Established but Challenged

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Birrell is most associated with areas classed as Established Homeowners with Children, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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

These predominantly British-born residents are typically married/in civil partnerships and own the properties in which they are raising their children. Parents are typically over 45, and many other residents are beyond normal retirement age. Detached and semi-detached houses predominate and multiple car ownership is common.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Birrell is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Birrell falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Birrell

The surname Birrell is believed to have originated in Scotland, specifically in the Scottish Borders region. It is thought to be a locational name derived from the village of Birl, which is located near the town of Coldstream in Berwickshire. The name is believed to date back to the 12th century.

Historically, the name Birrell was sometimes spelled Byrl, Byrell, or Byrrell, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation that were common in the Middle Ages. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which were a series of homage rolls submitted to King Edward I of England during his invasion of Scotland.

In the 14th century, the Birrell family held lands in the village of Birl, and the name appears in various charters and records from that time period. One notable bearer of the name was John Birrell, who was born in Birl around 1450 and served as a soldier under King James IV of Scotland.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Birrell family expanded their presence in the Scottish Borders region, with branches of the family settling in towns and villages such as Duns, Greenlaw, and Lauder. In 1603, Robert Birrell, a merchant from Edinburgh, published a historical account of his time, which provides valuable insights into life in Scotland during that era.

In the 18th century, the Birrell name gained prominence with the birth of Andrew Birrell (1718-1798), a Scottish minister and author who served as the minister of the parish of St. Mary's in Ayr. Another notable bearer of the name was Augustine Birrell (1850-1933), a British politician and author who served as the Chief Secretary for Ireland from 1907 to 1916.

Other individuals of note with the surname Birrell include Francis Birrell (1889-1935), a Scottish artist and etcher known for his landscapes and portraits, and Andrew Birrell (1870-1949), a Scottish businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the city of Glasgow.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Birrell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Birrell 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. Fife leads with 614 Birrells recorded in 1881 and an index of 72.83x.

County Total Index
Fife 614 72.83x
Lanarkshire 176 3.82x
Midlothian 115 6.03x
Angus 92 6.97x
Lancashire 69 0.41x
Cumberland 60 4.89x
Middlesex 40 0.28x
Perthshire 30 4.69x
Surrey 29 0.42x
Renfrewshire 25 2.27x
Shropshire 25 2.03x
Clackmannanshire 19 16.15x
Argyllshire 17 4.29x
Dumfriesshire 16 5.09x
Northumberland 15 0.71x
Essex 14 0.50x
Kinross-shire 13 36.11x
Durham 11 0.26x
Kirkcudbrightshire 10 4.85x
Inverness-shire 8 1.88x
Warwickshire 8 0.22x
Ayrshire 7 0.66x
Stirlingshire 7 1.33x
East Lothian 6 3.18x
Staffordshire 6 0.12x
Sussex 5 0.21x
Buteshire 4 4.64x
Dunbartonshire 3 0.78x
Monmouthshire 3 0.29x
Yorkshire 3 0.02x
Kent 2 0.04x
West Lothian 2 0.93x
Worcestershire 2 0.11x
Berwickshire 1 0.58x
Cheshire 1 0.03x
Roxburghshire 1 0.39x
Royal Navy 1 0.59x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edinburgh St Cuthberts in Midlothian leads with 74 Birrells recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.64x.

Place Total Index
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 74 9.64x
Dunfermline 65 50.14x
Dundee 53 10.76x
Barony 50 4.29x
Dysart 48 84.54x
Wemyss 47 131.76x
Old Monkland 44 24.07x
Falkland 43 324.28x
Kilrenny 39 250.00x
Kettle 31 306.32x
Kennoway 30 391.13x
Glasgow 28 3.42x
Collessie 26 267.77x
Abbotshall 25 79.37x
Kirkcaldy 22 52.62x
Leslie 21 98.36x
Auchtermuchty 18 159.01x
Ferry Port On Craig 17 122.57x
Govan 17 1.49x
Hamilton 17 13.23x
Brampton 16 95.18x
Maryhill 16 17.75x
Largo 15 136.99x
Cupar 14 38.18x
Dunoon Kilmun 14 45.28x
Burntisland 12 50.91x
Lambeth 12 0.97x
Wrockwardine 12 44.35x
Kinglassie 11 171.34x
Leuchars 11 103.19x
Renfrew 11 30.18x
Scoonie 11 60.24x
Inverkeithing 10 78.74x
Kirkmabreck 10 110.99x
Liff Benvie 10 4.99x
Markinch 10 34.94x
Strathmiglo 10 99.21x
Anstruther Easter 9 148.03x
Caldewgate 9 13.40x
Huyton With Roby 9 45.45x
Leyton Low 9 15.75x
Manchester 9 1.18x
South Leith 9 4.19x
St Vigeans 9 12.64x
Chorlton Cum Hardy 8 71.36x
Crail 8 93.02x
Dalgety 8 124.22x
Dollar 8 65.63x
Newburgh 8 74.70x
Shoreditch London 8 1.30x
Shrewsbury St Chad 8 18.53x
Sutton Coldfield 8 21.19x
Abdie 7 145.83x
Anstruther Wester 7 213.41x
Chelsham 7 321.10x
Gretna 7 118.24x
Inverness 7 6.54x
Kensington London 7 0.88x
Kinnoull 7 41.67x
Newington 7 1.33x
Rickergate 7 26.98x
St Andrews 7 18.25x
St George Bloomsbury 7 8.57x
Stirling 7 10.57x
Tillicoultry 7 26.76x
Ulverston 7 14.22x
Wetheral 7 43.10x
Airlie 6 141.84x
Bedlington 6 8.48x
Bishopwearmouth 6 1.65x
Chelsea London 6 1.40x
Edinburgh St Georges 6 15.15x
Edinburgh St Marys 6 16.18x
Gladsmuir 6 71.34x
Liverpool 6 0.58x
Monifieth 6 12.87x
Fossoway 5 80.78x
Inchture 5 157.23x
Kilconquhar 5 49.85x
Riccarton Hurlford 5 26.74x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 22
Margaret 13
Elizabeth 12
Jane 9
Sarah 7
Alice 5
Ann 4
Louisa 4
Annie 3
Eliza 3
Ellen 3
Helen 3
Jessie 3
Lucy 3
Ada 2
Caroline 2
Deborah 2
Eliz. 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Ethel 2
Euphemia 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Georgina 2
Hannah 2
Isabella 2
Janet 2
Margt. 2
Nancy 2
Betsy 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Dora 1
Dorothy 1
Douglas 1
Elizth. 1
Evelina 1
Frederica 1
Georgianna 1
Ida 1
Jesse 1
Katalene 1
Kate 1
Kathleen 1
Lizzie 1
Loise 1
Lydia 1
Maggie 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 19
John 16
James 13
David 9
Robert 8
Thomas 8
George 7
Andrew 5
Henry 4
Joseph 4
Walter 4
Frederick 3
Adam 2
Alexander 2
Charles 2
Harry 2
Peter 2
Wm. 2
Alexr. 1
Augustine 1
Benjamin 1
Daniel 1
Dixon 1
Edwin 1
Erskine 1
Fredrick 1
Herbert 1
Hugh 1
Irwin 1
Jacob 1
Jane 1
Jonathan 1
Parkin 1
Patrick 1
Samuel 1
Sidney 1
Thos. 1
Tramer 1

FAQ

Birrell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Birrell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,461 people were recorded with the Birrell surname. That placed it at #2,854 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Birrell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,845 in 2016. That gives Birrell a modern rank of #3,437.

What does the Birrell surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name, possibly referring to someone from the town of Birtley.

What does the Birrell map show?

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