UK surname
An English habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "hill clearing" or "overgrown meadow."
In the 1881 census there were 75 people recorded with the Burdell surname, ranking it #22,893 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 84, ranked #32,726, down from #22,893 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Burdell is 147 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 12.0%.
1881 census count
75
Ranked #22,893
Modern count
84
2016, ranked #32,726
Peak year
1891
147 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Burdell surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Burdell surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 57 | #23,092 |
| 1861 | historical | 129 | #17,271 |
| 1881 | historical | 75 | #22,893 |
| 1891 | historical | 147 | #18,592 |
| 1901 | historical | 76 | #25,734 |
| 1911 | historical | 95 | #23,294 |
| 1997 | modern | 75 | #30,109 |
| 1998 | modern | 83 | #29,638 |
| 1999 | modern | 84 | #29,700 |
| 2000 | modern | 87 | #29,377 |
| 2001 | modern | 85 | #29,396 |
| 2002 | modern | 89 | #29,428 |
| 2003 | modern | 85 | #29,877 |
| 2004 | modern | 82 | #30,468 |
| 2005 | modern | 80 | #30,842 |
| 2006 | modern | 79 | #31,263 |
| 2007 | modern | 77 | #31,856 |
| 2008 | modern | 77 | #32,181 |
| 2009 | modern | 74 | #32,835 |
| 2010 | modern | 82 | #32,492 |
| 2011 | modern | 76 | #32,989 |
| 2012 | modern | 84 | #32,502 |
| 2013 | modern | 83 | #32,813 |
| 2014 | modern | 82 | #32,992 |
| 2015 | modern | 82 | #32,911 |
| 2016 | modern | 84 | #32,726 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Lambeth, Nottingham St Mary and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 2 | Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard | Nottinghamshire |
| 3 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 4 | Nottingham St Mary | Nottinghamshire |
| 5 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Burdell surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Burdell, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Burdell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Burdell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Burdell is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Burdell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Burdell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Burdell has its origins in England, dating back to the late 11th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "burg" and "dæl," which together mean "valley by a fortified place." This suggests that the name may have originated from a place name describing a settlement located in a valley near a castle or fortified town.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and population in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Burdell," "Burdel," and "Burdal," indicating the variations in spelling that were common during that time.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the Burdell family seems to have been concentrated primarily in the counties of Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire, with some branches also found in Essex and Kent. One notable figure from this period was Sir John Burdell, a knight who fought in the Wars of the Roses during the 15th century.
As the name spread across England, it took on various regional spellings and variations. In Yorkshire, for example, the name was often spelled "Burdhill," likely influenced by the local dialect and the presence of hills in the region. Similarly, in Devon and Cornwall, the name was sometimes rendered as "Burdall" or "Burdell."
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname was William Burdell, born in 1325 in Hertfordshire. He was a landowner and served as a local magistrate during the reign of Edward III. Another notable figure was Richard Burdell, born in 1492 in Buckinghamshire, who was a merchant and one of the first settlers in the Virginia Colony in the early 17th century.
During the English Civil War in the 17th century, the Burdell family appears to have been divided in their loyalties. Records show that John Burdell, born in 1610 in Kent, fought on the Parliamentarian side, while his cousin, Thomas Burdell, born in 1615 in Essex, supported the Royalist cause.
By the 18th century, the Burdell name had spread further across England, with notable individuals such as Samuel Burdell (1725-1801), a renowned architect who designed several churches and country houses in Gloucestershire, and Elizabeth Burdell (1760-1823), a writer and poet from Warwickshire.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Burdell surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Nottinghamshire leads with 22 Burdells recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.62x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Nottinghamshire | 22 | 22.62x |
| Middlesex | 12 | 1.66x |
| Northamptonshire | 8 | 11.79x |
| Lincolnshire | 7 | 6.07x |
| Dorset | 5 | 10.56x |
| Leicestershire | 5 | 6.25x |
| Surrey | 5 | 1.42x |
| Yorkshire | 4 | 0.56x |
| Hampshire | 3 | 2.03x |
| Huntingdonshire | 1 | 6.98x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.12x |
| Rutland | 1 | 18.87x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Snenton in Nottinghamshire leads with 13 Burdells recorded in 1881 and an index of 340.31x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Snenton | 13 | 340.31x |
| Peterborough | 8 | 162.93x |
| Islington London | 6 | 8.58x |
| Nottingham St Mary | 6 | 23.85x |
| Harlaxton | 5 | 5555.56x |
| Leicester St Margaret | 5 | 25.63x |
| Parkstone | 5 | 909.09x |
| Denby | 3 | 769.23x |
| Lambeth | 3 | 4.77x |
| Nottingham St Peter | 3 | 277.78x |
| Portsmouth | 3 | 87.98x |
| Battersea | 2 | 7.53x |
| Chelsea London | 2 | 9.20x |
| Fletton | 1 | 217.39x |
| Horton In Bradford | 1 | 8.95x |
| Hulme | 1 | 5.59x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 3.77x |
| Pinchbeck | 1 | 135.14x |
| St George Hanover Square | 1 | 7.87x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 2.60x |
| Uppingham | 1 | 158.73x |
| Westminster St James | 1 | 13.48x |
| Wilsford | 1 | 588.24x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Burdell surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Burdell surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Burdell households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 16 |
| Bricklayer | 4 |
| Lace Hand | 3 |
| General Servant | 2 |
| House Duties | 2 |
| Seamstress | 2 |
| Ag Lab & Shepherd | 1 |
| Assists In Housework | 1 |
| Baker | 1 |
| Bakers Wife | 1 |
| Boot Maker | 1 |
| Domestic Duties | 1 |
| Domestic General Servant | 1 |
| Domestic Servant (Cook) | 1 |
| Dress Maker | 1 |
| Fancy Weaver | 1 |
| Farmers Boy | 1 |
| General Serv | 1 |
| General Serv (D) | 1 |
| General Servent | 1 |
| Hatter | 1 |
| Joiner | 1 |
| Lace Finisher | 1 |
| Lace Mender | 1 |
| Laundres | 1 |
| Metallurgist | 1 |
| Miliner | 1 |
| Music Seller Etc | 1 |
| None | 1 |
| Paper Hanger | 1 |
| Sacristan St Peters | 1 |
| Scholar Pauper | 1 |
| Tailors Apprentice | 1 |
| Wool Comb Minder (Worsted) | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 75 people were recorded with the Burdell surname. That placed it at #22,893 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 84 in 2016. That gives Burdell a modern rank of #32,726.
An English habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "hill clearing" or "overgrown meadow."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Burdell bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.