NameCensus.

UK surname

Burchill

A locational surname derived from the Old English words 'burh' and 'hyll', meaning a person from a hill near a fortified town or settlement.

In the 1881 census there were 323 people recorded with the Burchill surname, ranking it #9,240 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 480, ranked #10,292, down from #9,240 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Dudley and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Somerset, South Gloucestershire and Bristol.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Burchill is 515 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 48.6%.

1881 census count

323

Ranked #9,240

Modern count

480

2016, ranked #10,292

Peak year

1998

515 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Burchill had 323 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,240 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 480 in 2016, ranked #10,292.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 483 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Multicultural Inner Suburbs.

Burchill surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Burchill surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Burchill 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 244 #8,950
1861 historical 248 #9,947
1881 historical 323 #9,240
1891 historical 393 #8,995
1901 historical 459 #8,577
1911 historical 483 #8,043
1997 modern 498 #9,324
1998 modern 515 #9,378
1999 modern 512 #9,490
2000 modern 508 #9,519
2001 modern 481 #9,743
2002 modern 493 #9,728
2003 modern 485 #9,701
2004 modern 477 #9,833
2005 modern 468 #9,909
2006 modern 479 #9,788
2007 modern 485 #9,780
2008 modern 470 #10,102
2009 modern 478 #10,189
2010 modern 493 #10,161
2011 modern 504 #9,895
2012 modern 491 #10,013
2013 modern 491 #10,158
2014 modern 492 #10,212
2015 modern 486 #10,216
2016 modern 480 #10,292

Geography

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Where Burchills are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Dudley, Manchester, St George and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Bristol and Herefordshire. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Dudley Staffordshire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 St George Gloucestershire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Somerset 024 North Somerset
2 South Gloucestershire 027 South Gloucestershire
3 South Gloucestershire 028 South Gloucestershire
4 Bristol 027 Bristol, City of
5 Herefordshire 015 Herefordshire, County of

Forenames

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First names often paired with Burchill

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Burchill

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

Baseline UK

Group

Multicultural Inner Suburbs

Nationally, the Burchill surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Multicultural Inner Suburbs, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Burchill household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house many younger and middle-aged adults with children. All ethnic minorities, apart from those identifying as Pakistani or Bangladeshi, appear to be present in above average proportions. Affiliation to Christian religions is uncommon. Long-term disability rates are low, mirrored in limited provision of unpaid care. Privately rented terrace houses and flats are the norm. Managerial, professional and technical occupations are prevalent, and work is rarely part time. Many individuals have degree level qualifications. These areas form the inner suburbs of many of the UK’s towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Burchill is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Burchill 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

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

Meaning and origin of Burchill

The surname Burchill has its origins in England, tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "burh" meaning a fortified town or borough, and "hill" referring to a hill or elevated place. This suggests that the name may have originated from individuals who lived in or near a fortified town situated on a hill.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Burchel" and "Burchill," indicating the surname's presence in England during the Norman conquest. These early spellings also hint at the name's potential Norman-French influence, as many English surnames were adapted or altered during this period.

In the 13th century, the surname appears in various records, such as the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire (1273) and the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire (1275), where it is spelled as "Burchull" and "Burchill," respectively. These early spellings highlight the surname's evolution over time.

Notably, the surname Burchill is associated with several place names in England, including Burchill Hill in Staffordshire and Burchill Wood in Leicestershire. These place names further reinforce the connection between the surname and its geographical origins.

Among the notable individuals bearing the surname Burchill throughout history are:

1. John Burchill (c. 1460 - 1530), an English Member of Parliament for Wilton during the reign of Henry VIII. 2. Richard Burchill (1815 - 1879), a British mathematician and educator who served as the headmaster of the Royal Naval School in London. 3. Julie Burchill (born 1959), a controversial English writer and journalist known for her provocative opinions and commentary. 4. Edward Burchill (1920 - 2005), an Australian politician who served as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council. 5. Garry Burchill (born 1949), an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played for the Parramatta Eels and Western Suburbs Magpies.

While the surname Burchill is not among the most common surnames in England, it has a rich history that spans centuries, reflecting the country's diverse cultural and linguistic influences. The name's evolution from its Old English roots to its various spellings and associations with specific places serves as a testament to the enduring legacy of surnames in tracing the stories and identities of families across generations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Burchill families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Burchill 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. Gloucestershire leads with 124 Burchills recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.13x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 124 20.13x
Middlesex 54 1.72x
Somerset 26 5.14x
Kent 19 1.77x
Surrey 16 1.05x
Lancashire 14 0.38x
Hampshire 11 1.71x
Worcestershire 11 2.68x
Warwickshire 8 1.01x
Essex 7 1.13x
Staffordshire 7 0.66x
Yorkshire 7 0.22x
Durham 4 0.43x
Wiltshire 4 1.44x
Berkshire 2 0.85x
Monmouthshire 2 0.88x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.47x
Cheshire 1 0.14x
Devon 1 0.15x
Norfolk 1 0.21x
Sussex 1 0.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Mangotsfield in Gloucestershire leads with 56 Burchills recorded in 1881 and an index of 912.05x.

Place Total Index
Mangotsfield 56 912.05x
Bristol St George 34 119.34x
Islington London 14 4.60x
Mile End Old Town London 12 17.95x
Bedminster 11 23.15x
Bethnal Green London 11 8.06x
Bitton Oldland 9 142.86x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 9 15.52x
Manchester 9 5.37x
Dudley 8 16.04x
Freshwater 7 238.10x
River 7 1029.41x
St Marylebone London 7 4.17x
Yeovil 6 58.42x
Canterbury St Mary 5 69.54x
Nailsea 5 250.00x
Aston 4 1.83x
Brightside Bierlow 4 6.55x
Heworth 4 21.73x
Lambeth 4 1.46x
Lewisham 4 7.00x
Stratford On Avon 4 91.12x
Winterbourne 4 117.65x
Bradford 3 3.98x
Chelsham 3 625.00x
Hackney London 3 1.70x
Prittlewell 3 34.92x
Stapleton 3 25.66x
Walsall Foreign 3 5.48x
Wolstanton 3 9.32x
Worcester St Clement 3 114.94x
Bitton 2 37.31x
Bristol St Paul In 2 12.19x
Clifton 2 6.42x
Elton 2 15.53x
Hazeleigh 2 1538.46x
Kingston On Thames 2 5.44x
Lyncombe Widcombe 2 15.11x
Newton In Makerfield 2 17.53x
Nottingham St Mary 2 1.83x
Padworth 2 689.66x
Portsmouth 2 13.50x
Rodbourne Cheney 2 93.02x
Southwark St George Martyr 2 3.16x
Southwark St John 2 20.81x
St Pancras London 2 0.79x
Woolwich 2 5.05x
Alverstoke 1 4.29x
Battersea 1 0.87x
Bedwellty 1 2.49x
Birkenhead 1 1.81x
Bristol St Thomas 1 142.86x
Devonport 1 13.32x
Egham 1 10.64x
Gloucester Barton St 1 27.70x
Great Yarmouth 1 2.50x
Hampton London 1 19.38x
Kensington London 1 0.57x
Keynsham 1 27.55x
Mile End New Town London 1 16.10x
Milton In Gravesend 1 6.22x
Newington 1 0.86x
Newport 1 9.23x
Oldham 1 0.83x
Poplar London 1 1.69x
Purton 1 40.49x
South Shoebury 1 40.16x
St Botolph Aldersgate 1 27.78x
Swindon 1 4.64x
Tillington 1 105.26x
Tipton 1 3.08x
Warblington 1 39.22x
Westbury On Trym 1 4.79x
Weston Super Mare 1 7.83x
Woodham Walter 1 178.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 18
Elizabeth 14
Ann 8
Eliza 8
Jane 6
Sarah 6
Charlotte 5
Ellen 5
Emma 5
Louisa 5
Emily 4
Hannah 4
Harriet 4
Alice 3
Fanny 3
Martha 3
Rose 3
Agnes 2
Annie 2
Clara 2
Edith 2
Emmeline 2
Hester 2
Laura 2
Matilda 2
Minnie 2
Rosa 2
Susan 2
Agness 1
Amelia 1
Amy 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Dora 1
Esther 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Georgina 1
Isabella 1
Kezair 1
Lillian 1
Lilly 1
Lousia 1
Lydia 1
Maggie 1
Maria 1
Maud 1
Milley 1
Minica 1
Sybil 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 19
John 17
William 17
James 10
Charles 9
Samuel 9
Henry 7
Thomas 6
Robert 5
Arthur 4
Joseph 4
Chas. 3
Edwin 3
Francis 3
Wm. 3
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Fred 2
Gideon 2
Gilbert 2
Herbert 2
Isaac 2
Jno. 2
Richard 2
Thos. 2
Alfer 1
Benjamin 1
Ernest 1
Frederic 1
Frederick 1
Hanah 1
Hugh 1
Isacher 1
Jermiah 1
Jos. 1
Karen 1
Lewis 1
Nicholas 1
Rob. 1
Robt. 1
Sam 1
Sidney 1
Solomon 1
Sydney 1
Timothy 1
Willm.Jas. 1

FAQ

Burchill surname: questions and answers

How common was the Burchill surname in 1881?

In 1881, 323 people were recorded with the Burchill surname. That placed it at #9,240 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Burchill surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 480 in 2016. That gives Burchill a modern rank of #10,292.

What does the Burchill surname mean?

A locational surname derived from the Old English words 'burh' and 'hyll', meaning a person from a hill near a fortified town or settlement.

What does the Burchill map show?

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