NameCensus.

UK surname

Birtles

Likely English habitational name derived from Birtles, a township in Cheshire.

In the 1881 census there were 1,038 people recorded with the Birtles surname, ranking it #3,783 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,435, ranked #4,272, down from #3,783 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Astbury and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cheshire West and Chester, Doncaster and Birmingham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Birtles is 1,477 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 38.2%.

1881 census count

1,038

Ranked #3,783

Modern count

1,435

2016, ranked #4,272

Peak year

2010

1,477 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Birtles had 1,038 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,783 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,435 in 2016, ranked #4,272.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,463 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Birtles surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Birtles surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Birtles 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 522 #4,805
1861 historical 417 #6,163
1881 historical 1,038 #3,783
1891 historical 999 #4,155
1901 historical 1,272 #3,901
1911 historical 1,463 #3,295
1997 modern 1,357 #4,239
1998 modern 1,451 #4,166
1999 modern 1,456 #4,177
2000 modern 1,458 #4,156
2001 modern 1,437 #4,124
2002 modern 1,458 #4,160
2003 modern 1,441 #4,124
2004 modern 1,422 #4,168
2005 modern 1,369 #4,267
2006 modern 1,379 #4,244
2007 modern 1,394 #4,245
2008 modern 1,415 #4,221
2009 modern 1,414 #4,301
2010 modern 1,477 #4,238
2011 modern 1,472 #4,204
2012 modern 1,418 #4,263
2013 modern 1,454 #4,240
2014 modern 1,471 #4,234
2015 modern 1,428 #4,287
2016 modern 1,435 #4,272

Geography

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Where Birtles' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Astbury, Manchester, Sheffield and Norton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cheshire West and Chester, Doncaster, Birmingham and Cotswold. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Astbury Cheshire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Norton Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cheshire West and Chester 012 Cheshire West and Chester
2 Doncaster 018 Doncaster
3 Birmingham 011 Birmingham
4 Cheshire West and Chester 017 Cheshire West and Chester
5 Cotswold 005 Cotswold

Forenames

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First names often paired with Birtles

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Birtles

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Birtles is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Birtles 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

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

Meaning and origin of Birtles

The surname Birtles finds its origins in England, with records dating back to the 13th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Old English words "byrig" and "hyll," meaning "town hill" or "town ridge." This suggests that the name may have originated as a place name referring to a settlement located on a hill or elevated terrain.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire from 1327, where a John de Byrthull is mentioned. This spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time, with the final form "Birtles" emerging in the 16th century.

The Birtles family can be traced back to the county of Cheshire, particularly in the areas around Nantwich and Middlewich. In the 16th century, there are records of the Birtles family owning land and property in these regions, suggesting their established presence in the area.

A notable figure bearing this surname was William Birtles, a prominent merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers in London during the late 16th century. He was involved in the lucrative wool trade and played a significant role in the city's commercial activities.

In the 17th century, records show a John Birtles who served as a captain in the Parliamentary forces during the English Civil War. His service and contributions to the Parliamentarian cause were documented in various historical accounts of the time.

Moving into the 18th century, the name appears in several parish records across various counties in England, indicating the widespread distribution of the Birtles family. One notable individual from this period was Samuel Birtles (1736-1819), a respected clergyman and author who published works on theology and religious subjects.

The 19th century saw the rise of Richard Birtles (1822-1893), a prominent industrialist and entrepreneur from Manchester. He established a successful textile manufacturing business, contributing to the growth of the city's industrial economy during the Victorian era.

In more recent times, the name Birtles has been carried by individuals such as Sir Walter Birtles (1904-1988), a British diplomat and ambassador who served in various countries throughout his distinguished career in the Foreign Office.

While the origins of the Birtles surname can be traced back to England, over the centuries, the name has spread to other parts of the world, including North America, Australia, and other English-speaking countries, reflecting the migration patterns of individuals bearing this surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Birtles families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Birtles 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 408 Birtles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.39x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 408 3.39x
Cheshire 246 11.00x
Yorkshire 146 1.45x
Staffordshire 95 2.78x
Derbyshire 44 2.77x
Middlesex 23 0.23x
Surrey 13 0.26x
Westmorland 12 5.39x
Shropshire 10 1.14x
Worcestershire 9 0.68x
Cumberland 3 0.34x
Durham 3 0.10x
Essex 3 0.15x
Gloucestershire 3 0.15x
Leicestershire 3 0.27x
Montgomeryshire 3 1.29x
Warwickshire 3 0.12x
Devon 2 0.09x
Anglesey 1 0.56x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.16x
Denbighshire 1 0.26x
Flintshire 1 0.37x
Hampshire 1 0.05x
Isle of Man 1 0.53x
Kent 1 0.03x
Northamptonshire 1 0.10x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.07x
Sussex 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. Ecclesall Bierlow in Yorkshire leads with 60 Birtles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.37x.

Place Total Index
Ecclesall Bierlow 60 29.37x
Manchester 50 9.24x
Congleton 40 103.49x
Norton 38 290.52x
Salford 26 7.35x
Sheffield 25 7.82x
Wolstanton 24 23.10x
Farnworth 23 31.92x
Newton 21 22.66x
Ashton Under Lyne 19 7.23x
West Derby 19 5.40x
Barnsley 17 16.41x
Macclesfield 17 17.10x
Warrington 15 10.52x
Burslem 14 14.29x
Chorlton On Medlock 14 7.33x
Stretford 14 21.16x
Gorton 13 11.50x
Kirkdale 13 6.43x
Liverpool 12 1.64x
Oldham 12 3.09x
Chadderton 11 18.71x
Heeley 11 36.04x
Monks Coppenhall 11 13.03x
Odd Rode 11 99.28x
Pownall Fee 11 109.89x
Prestwich 11 36.67x
Stoke Upon Trent 10 2.76x
Bollington In 9 45.20x
Castleton 9 7.49x
Fulshaw 9 218.45x
Great Budworth 9 226.70x
Marston 9 389.61x
Pendleton In Salford 9 6.28x
Stafford St Mary 9 18.58x
Toxteth Park 9 2.21x
Altrincham 8 20.47x
Bradford 8 3.29x
Heaton Norris 8 11.69x
Kings Norton 8 6.74x
Swettenham 8 1333.33x
Wuerdle Wardle 8 21.91x
Bedford 7 27.82x
Formby 7 51.40x
Frodsham 7 80.74x
High Barton 7 542.64x
Islington London 7 0.71x
Mottram St Andrew 7 551.18x
Over Alderley 7 503.60x
Shoreditch London 7 1.59x
Wrockwardine 7 36.36x
Barton Upon Irwell 6 6.63x
Bollin Fee 6 60.48x
Brightside Bierlow 6 3.05x
Castle Church 6 29.18x
Crumpsall 6 21.17x
Everton 6 1.57x
Knutsford Nether 6 44.38x
Leftwich 6 60.36x
Lower Bebington 6 45.15x
Marston 6 176.47x
Pennington In Leigh 6 26.01x
Sale 6 21.86x
Spotland 6 4.49x
Stockport 6 5.21x
Stone 6 13.71x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 6 17.33x
Barrow In Furness 5 3.06x
Brinnington 5 23.92x
Broughton In Salford 5 4.55x
Calver 5 331.13x
Camberwell 5 0.77x
Kendal 5 12.26x
Leek Lowe 5 10.98x
Godley 4 82.82x
Great Little Saughall 4 161.94x
Middleton In Oldham 4 11.09x
Newington 4 1.07x
Norton In Moors 4 22.09x
Smallwood 4 199.01x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 89
Sarah 47
Elizabeth 38
Ann 29
Annie 24
Eliza 18
Alice 17
Ellen 17
Jane 16
Margaret 16
Harriet 15
Martha 15
Emma 13
Emily 12
Ada 9
Edith 8
Hannah 8
Lucy 8
Maria 7
Charlotte 6
Louisa 6
Frances 5
Amy 4
Catherine 4
Clara 4
Fanny 4
Florence 4
Lavinia 4
Lilly 4
Agnes 3
Betsy 3
Esther 3
Gertrude 3
Isabella 3
Jessie 3
Bertha 2
Blanch 2
Caroline 2
Eleanor 2
Ethel 2
Kate 2
Lily 2
Lizzie 2
M. 2
Matilda 2
Bessie 1
Dinah 1
Dora 1
Edner 1
Theresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 67
John 59
James 48
Thomas 39
Joseph 23
Henry 21
George 20
Samuel 20
Arthur 13
Charles 12
Harry 10
Peter 10
Edward 9
Albert 8
Alfred 8
Daniel 8
Francis 6
Robert 6
Frank 5
Herbert 5
Richard 5
Thos. 5
Walter 5
Wm. 5
Tom 4
Abraham 3
Fred 3
Frederick 3
Geo. 3
Joshua 3
Andrew 2
Bernard 2
Edwin 2
Hugh 2
Isaac 2
Jas. 2
Jno. 2
Job 2
Ben 1
Byron 1
Chas. 1
Edmund 1
Eli 1
Ernie 1
Fredk.H. 1
Issac 1
Jabez 1
Jas.C. 1
Jno.Thos. 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Birtles surname: questions and answers

How common was the Birtles surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,038 people were recorded with the Birtles surname. That placed it at #3,783 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Birtles surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,435 in 2016. That gives Birtles a modern rank of #4,272.

What does the Birtles surname mean?

Likely English habitational name derived from Birtles, a township in Cheshire.

What does the Birtles map show?

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