NameCensus.

UK surname

Birtwell

A locative surname derived from a place name meaning "well by the bright stream".

In the 1881 census there were 279 people recorded with the Birtwell surname, ranking it #10,230 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 283, ranked #15,359, down from #10,230 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Neilston, Rochdale and Whalley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hyndburn and Ribble Valley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Birtwell is 407 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 1.4%.

1881 census count

279

Ranked #10,230

Modern count

283

2016, ranked #15,359

Peak year

1911

407 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Birtwell had 279 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,230 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 283 in 2016, ranked #15,359.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 407 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Birtwell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Birtwell surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Birtwell 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 134 #14,033
1861 historical 198 #12,114
1881 historical 279 #10,230
1891 historical 343 #9,994
1901 historical 382 #9,775
1911 historical 407 #9,176
1997 modern 285 #13,981
1998 modern 285 #14,351
1999 modern 286 #14,412
2000 modern 283 #14,488
2001 modern 286 #14,160
2002 modern 288 #14,373
2003 modern 278 #14,540
2004 modern 284 #14,377
2005 modern 270 #14,822
2006 modern 270 #14,923
2007 modern 274 #14,932
2008 modern 274 #15,063
2009 modern 282 #15,059
2010 modern 284 #15,312
2011 modern 277 #15,433
2012 modern 261 #16,041
2013 modern 271 #15,875
2014 modern 275 #15,831
2015 modern 275 #15,707
2016 modern 283 #15,359

Geography

Back to top

Where Birtwells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Neilston, Rochdale, Whalley and Blackburn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hyndburn and Ribble Valley. 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 Neilston Renfrew
2 Rochdale Lancashire
3 Whalley Lancashire
4 Blackburn Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hyndburn 002 Hyndburn
2 Hyndburn 004 Hyndburn
3 Hyndburn 001 Hyndburn
4 Hyndburn 006 Hyndburn
5 Ribble Valley 007 Ribble Valley

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Birtwell

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Birtwell

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Birtwell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Birtwell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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, Birtwell 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

Birtwell 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

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

Meaning and origin of Birtwell

The surname Birtwell is of English origin, originating in the northern counties of England during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from a combination of the Old English words "byri" meaning a manor or fortified dwelling, and "well" referring to a spring or stream of water.

This name suggests that the earliest bearers of the surname likely resided near a well or water source situated within the confines of a manor or fortified estate. It is possible that the name was initially a descriptive topographic surname, identifying a person's place of residence.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1190, where a person named Willelmus de Byriwell is mentioned. This entry provides evidence of the name's existence in the 12th century.

In the 13th century, the Birtwell surname can be found in various historical records, such as the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire from 1292, which mentions a Nicholas de Byrewell. The variant spelling "Byrewell" further supports the name's connection to the Old English roots.

Notably, the Birtwell surname appears in the renowned Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of land ownership and taxation in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This entry suggests that the name's origins may even predate the Norman Conquest of 1066.

Among the notable individuals who bore the Birtwell surname throughout history are:

1. John Birtwell (c. 1540-1610), an English landowner and Member of Parliament for Stamford during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. 2. Richard Birtwell (1670-1743), a prominent merchant and philanthropist in the city of Bristol, known for his significant contributions to the local community. 3. Elizabeth Birtwell (1734-1817), an influential writer and poet from Lancashire, who published several popular works during the late 18th century. 4. Sir Thomas Birtwell (1815-1892), a distinguished military officer who served in the British Army and was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery during the Crimean War. 5. Harriet Birtwell (1876-1963), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights, who established several successful schools in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The Birtwell surname has a rich history deeply rooted in the English countryside, with its origins dating back to the medieval era. While the name may have evolved in spelling over the centuries, its connection to the Old English words for manor and water source has remained a consistent thread throughout its evolution.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Birtwell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Birtwell 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 229 Birtwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.09x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 229 7.09x
Renfrewshire 25 11.85x
Yorkshire 12 0.44x
Warwickshire 5 0.73x
Cheshire 2 0.33x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.58x
Devon 1 0.18x
Kent 1 0.11x
Middlesex 1 0.04x
Midlothian 1 0.27x
Northumberland 1 0.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Accrington in Lancashire leads with 67 Birtwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 228.20x.

Place Total Index
Accrington 67 228.20x
Pendleton In Clitheroe 28 2295.08x
Neilston 25 236.07x
Clitheroe 17 178.76x
Clayton Le Moors 16 255.18x
Blackburn 14 16.29x
Bury 10 27.11x
Church 10 219.30x
Whalley 8 169.85x
Wuerdle Wardle 7 71.43x
Bowling 6 22.46x
Great Harwood 6 102.74x
Coventry Holy Trinity 5 24.40x
Goldshaw Booth 5 1515.15x
Haslingden 5 37.40x
Salford 5 5.26x
Billington 4 303.03x
Read 4 465.12x
Wiswell 4 579.71x
Burnley 3 11.03x
Great Little Marsden 3 20.28x
Keighley 3 10.43x
Northowram 3 15.86x
Rishton 3 79.16x
Westhoughton 3 34.80x
Dukinfield 2 7.20x
Heyhouses 2 2857.14x
Pendleton In Salford 2 5.20x
Cheetham 1 4.15x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 1.95x
Hexham 1 15.95x
Islington London 1 0.38x
Lancaster 1 5.20x
Liberton 1 17.76x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 2.29x
Rochester St Margaret 1 10.21x
Soham 1 26.95x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 20
Elizabeth 16
Ellen 9
Margaret 9
Alice 8
Sarah 8
Jane 6
Eliza 3
Hannah 3
Isabella 3
Martha 3
Ann 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Edith 2
Harriet 2
M. 2
Nancy 2
Ruth 2
Susannah 2
Ambrosine 1
Amy 1
Betsy 1
Cathrine 1
Christina 1
Dahlia 1
Eleanor 1
Eliz.A. 1
Eliz.M. 1
Elizth.A. 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Eunice 1
Eveline 1
Flora 1
Frances 1
Harrietta 1
Katie 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Mabel 1
Maria 1
Naomi 1
Peggy 1
Pricilla 1
Priscilla 1
Robert 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 13
William 12
James 11
Thomas 11
George 8
Robert 7
Joseph 5
Richard 4
Abraham 3
Benjamin 3
Jacob 3
Albert 2
Arthur 2
Francis 2
Geo. 2
Henry 2
Herbert 2
Oliver 2
Ambrose 1
Aquila 1
Barnabas 1
Burscough 1
Carey 1
Edward 1
Elijah 1
Emma 1
Geoffrey 1
Isaac 1
Jas. 1
Jeffrey 1
Joshua 1
Lorn. 1
Marmaduke 1
Mary 1
Miles 1
Peter 1
Philip 1
Randal 1
Robt. 1
Tempest 1
Thos. 1
Wood 1

FAQ

Birtwell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Birtwell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 279 people were recorded with the Birtwell surname. That placed it at #10,230 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Birtwell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 283 in 2016. That gives Birtwell a modern rank of #15,359.

What does the Birtwell surname mean?

A locative surname derived from a place name meaning "well by the bright stream".

What does the Birtwell map show?

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