NameCensus.

UK surname

Borrell

A surname likely derived from the Catalan place name Borredà or the word "borrell" meaning "small brown one".

In the 1881 census there were 192 people recorded with the Borrell surname, ranking it #13,185 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 253, ranked #16,671, down from #13,185 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Pancras, St James Clerkenwell and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tameside, Cherwell and Sevenoaks.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Borrell is 262 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 31.8%.

1881 census count

192

Ranked #13,185

Modern count

253

2016, ranked #16,671

Peak year

2010

262 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Borrell had 192 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,185 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 253 in 2016, ranked #16,671.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 192 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Borrell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Borrell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Borrell 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 117 #15,456
1861 historical 164 #14,188
1881 historical 192 #13,185
1891 historical 187 #15,679
1901 historical 168 #16,886
1911 historical 163 #16,939
1997 modern 237 #15,809
1998 modern 249 #15,720
1999 modern 244 #16,052
2000 modern 250 #15,741
2001 modern 243 #15,791
2002 modern 244 #16,085
2003 modern 246 #15,769
2004 modern 241 #16,086
2005 modern 241 #16,036
2006 modern 235 #16,439
2007 modern 240 #16,392
2008 modern 244 #16,346
2009 modern 251 #16,368
2010 modern 262 #16,252
2011 modern 247 #16,783
2012 modern 246 #16,702
2013 modern 253 #16,642
2014 modern 252 #16,822
2015 modern 252 #16,705
2016 modern 253 #16,671

Geography

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Where Borrells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Pancras, St James Clerkenwell, Manchester, Grimsby, Great and Stickney, Mid Ville, East Ville. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Tameside, Cherwell, Sevenoaks and North Lincolnshire. 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 St Pancras London (North Districts)
2 St James Clerkenwell London (Central Districts)
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Grimsby, Great Lincolnshire
5 Stickney, Mid Ville, East Ville Lincolnshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tameside 011 Tameside
2 Cherwell 004 Cherwell
3 Sevenoaks 016 Sevenoaks
4 North Lincolnshire 017 North Lincolnshire
5 North Lincolnshire 022 North Lincolnshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Borrell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Borrell

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Borrell, 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 Borrell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Borrell 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Borrell is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Borrell 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

Borrell falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Borrell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Borrell

The surname BORRELL originated in Catalonia, Spain, in the early Middle Ages. It is derived from the Catalan word "borrell," which means "dark" or "swarthy." This suggests that the name may have initially been used as a nickname or descriptive term for someone with a darker complexion.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name BORRELL can be found in the 10th century, when a Count of Barcelona named Borrell II ruled over the county from 945 to 992. This count was instrumental in expanding the territory of Barcelona and defending it against invasions from the Moors.

During the 11th and 12th centuries, the BORRELL name appears in various medieval records and documents from the region of Catalonia. It is likely that the name spread and became more widespread as a result of the migration and settlement of Catalan families throughout the Iberian Peninsula.

In the 13th century, a notable bearer of the BORRELL surname was Ramon Borrell, a Catalan philosopher and theologian who lived from 1201 to 1285. He was a renowned scholar and writer who contributed to the intellectual and religious discourse of his time.

Another significant figure with the BORRELL surname was Joan Borrell, a Catalan painter who lived from 1520 to 1589. He was renowned for his religious paintings and works depicting scenes from the Bible, which adorned many churches and monasteries in Catalonia.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the BORRELL name can be found in various historical records and documents from different parts of Spain, suggesting that the surname had spread beyond its origins in Catalonia.

In the 18th century, a notable bearer of the BORRELL surname was Josep Borrell i Rull, a Catalan architect and engineer who lived from 1738 to 1804. He was responsible for designing and constructing several important buildings and infrastructure projects in Barcelona and other parts of Catalonia.

As the BORRELL surname continued to spread and establish itself in different regions of Spain, it also found its way to other parts of the world through migration and colonization. Today, the name can be found in various countries with historical ties to Spain, such as Latin America and the Philippines.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Borrell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Borrell 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. Lincolnshire leads with 97 Borrells recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.39x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 97 32.39x
Yorkshire 33 1.78x
Middlesex 26 1.39x
Oxfordshire 8 6.92x
Surrey 8 0.88x
Cheshire 7 1.69x
Lancashire 5 0.23x
Montgomeryshire 2 4.66x
Suffolk 2 0.88x
Cumberland 1 0.62x
Devon 1 0.26x
Essex 1 0.27x
Worcestershire 1 0.41x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Grimsby in Lincolnshire leads with 16 Borrells recorded in 1881 and an index of 84.17x.

Place Total Index
Great Grimsby 16 84.17x
Sculcoates 13 44.19x
Stickford 12 3870.97x
St Pancras London 10 6.63x
Boston 9 99.01x
Stickney 9 2045.45x
Barnetby Le Wold 8 1481.48x
Keelby 8 1666.67x
Oxford St Giles 8 144.93x
Stockport 7 32.89x
Gainsborough 6 84.99x
Islington London 6 3.31x
Battersea 5 7.25x
Belchford 5 1612.90x
Holy Trinity 5 11.20x
Thimbleby 5 2500.00x
Droylsden 4 55.17x
Great Driffield 4 104.99x
Kirkby Cum Osgodby 4 1666.67x
Tetford 4 1052.63x
Tottenham 4 13.41x
Acomb 3 309.28x
Clerkenwell London 3 6.79x
Skircoat 3 40.98x
Wold Newton 3 2727.27x
Barking 2 169.49x
Cadney 2 689.66x
Croydon 2 3.95x
Irby In Marsh 2 1818.18x
Pool 2 61.73x
Swaby 2 740.74x
Caldewgate 1 11.33x
Cherry Burton 1 344.83x
Colchester Holy Trinity 1 121.95x
Exeter St Sidwell 1 11.20x
Hackney London 1 0.95x
Holbeck 1 8.13x
Holy Trinity St Mary 1 35.34x
Manchester 1 1.00x
Manningham 1 4.37x
Middlesbrough 1 4.14x
St Andrew Holborn London 1 12.33x
St Marylebone London 1 1.00x
Stourbridge 1 15.90x
Streatham 1 7.19x
Willoughton 1 303.03x
Wyberton 1 243.90x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 18
Sarah 8
Elizabeth 5
Martha 4
Anne 3
Annie 3
Charlotte 3
Ellen 3
Emma 3
Louisa 3
Rebecca 3
Rose 3
Amelia 2
Eliza 2
Emily 2
Hannah 2
Harriet 2
Jane 2
Margaret 2
Maria 2
Alice 1
Amy 1
Betsey 1
Betsy 1
Blanche 1
Catherine 1
Christine 1
Clare 1
Edith 1
Elizth. 1
Fanny 1
Flora 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Leusa 1
Matilda 1
Minnie 1
Myerah 1
Priscella 1
Rosa 1
Rosetta 1
Susan 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 17
John 13
Charles 8
Thomas 7
Arthur 5
George 5
Edward 3
James 3
Richard 3
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Bernard 2
Christopher 2
Henry 2
Joseph 2
Alexander 1
Benjamin 1
Cash 1
Chrisopher 1
Ernest 1
Evan 1
Fitz 1
Green 1
Herbert 1
Jonas 1
Louis 1
Luke 1
Robert 1
Seymour 1
Stephen 1
Tobias 1
Tom 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Borrell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Borrell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 192 people were recorded with the Borrell surname. That placed it at #13,185 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Borrell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 253 in 2016. That gives Borrell a modern rank of #16,671.

What does the Borrell surname mean?

A surname likely derived from the Catalan place name Borredà or the word "borrell" meaning "small brown one".

What does the Borrell map show?

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