UK surname
A locational surname derived from places in England called Burrellin.
In the 1881 census there were 51 people recorded with the Burell surname, ranking it #26,428 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4, ranked #38,419, down from #26,428 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Feock, London parishes and Monkwearmouth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Burell is 112 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 92.2%.
1881 census count
51
Ranked #26,428
Modern count
4
2016, ranked #38,419
Peak year
1861
112 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Burell surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Burell surname density by area, 1861 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 | 70 | #21,020 |
| 1861 | historical | 112 | #19,279 |
| 1881 | historical | 51 | #26,428 |
| 1891 | historical | 34 | #31,604 |
| 1901 | historical | 47 | #28,929 |
| 1911 | historical | 50 | #27,806 |
| 1997 | modern | 14 | #36,528 |
| 1998 | modern | 8 | #37,334 |
| 1999 | modern | 3 | #38,318 |
| 2000 | modern | 5 | #37,823 |
| 2001 | modern | 4 | #37,862 |
| 2002 | modern | 3 | #38,152 |
| 2003 | modern | 4 | #37,951 |
| 2004 | modern | 6 | #37,655 |
| 2005 | modern | 6 | #37,724 |
| 2006 | modern | 7 | #37,634 |
| 2007 | modern | 7 | #37,687 |
| 2008 | modern | 6 | #37,883 |
| 2009 | modern | 7 | #37,816 |
| 2010 | modern | 7 | #37,904 |
| 2011 | modern | 6 | #38,016 |
| 2012 | modern | 4 | #38,335 |
| 2013 | modern | 4 | #38,359 |
| 2014 | modern | 3 | #38,552 |
| 2015 | modern | 3 | #38,558 |
| 2016 | modern | 4 | #38,419 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Feock, London parishes, Monkwearmouth, Grappenhall (Latchford) , Runcorn (Thelwall) and Jarrow. 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 | Feock | Cornwall |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Monkwearmouth | Durham |
| 4 | Grappenhall (Latchford) , Runcorn (Thelwall) | Lancashire |
| 5 | Jarrow | Durham |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Burell 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 Burell, 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 Burell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Burell 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, Burell 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 Burell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Burell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Burell has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 12th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Old French word "burel," which referred to a coarse woolen cloth. This suggests that the name may have been an occupational name for someone who worked with or traded in this type of fabric.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire from 1197, where a Robert Burell is mentioned. The Pipe Rolls were a series of financial records maintained by the English Exchequer, making them an important source for historical names and occupations.
In the 13th century, the name appears in several other records, such as the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1272, which mentions a William Burell. The Assize Rolls were legal records documenting court proceedings, providing further evidence of the name's presence in medieval England.
The Burells were also recorded in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1279, a survey of landowners and their holdings. This suggests that by this time, the family had established themselves as landowners, potentially indicating a rise in social status from their earlier occupational roots.
One notable figure bearing the Burell surname was Walter Burell, a member of the English Parliament who represented Huntingdonshire in 1376. His presence in Parliament highlights the family's growing influence and standing during the 14th century.
In the 16th century, the name appears in the records of the College of Arms, the official repository of genealogical and heraldic records in England. The Burell family was granted a coat of arms in 1585, further solidifying their status as a respected lineage.
Another prominent individual with the Burell surname was Sir John Burell, a wealthy merchant and philanthropist who lived in the 17th century (1625-1696). He was a prominent figure in the City of London and endowed a school in West Sussex, which still bears his name today.
As the name spread throughout England, variations in spelling emerged, such as Burrell, Burrill, and Burwell. These variants likely arose due to regional dialects and the inconsistencies in spelling practices during earlier periods of English history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Burell 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. Durham leads with 23 Burells recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.18x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Durham | 23 | 16.18x |
| Yorkshire | 11 | 2.32x |
| Surrey | 4 | 1.72x |
| Warwickshire | 4 | 3.32x |
| Essex | 3 | 3.18x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.61x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.18x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 1.31x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 1.41x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bridlington in Yorkshire leads with 8 Burells recorded in 1881 and an index of 740.74x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bridlington | 8 | 740.74x |
| Monkwearmouth Shore | 8 | 287.77x |
| Heworth | 6 | 214.29x |
| Westoe | 6 | 74.44x |
| Birmingham | 4 | 9.96x |
| Shadforth | 3 | 1071.43x |
| Battersea | 2 | 11.37x |
| Leeds | 2 | 7.48x |
| Romford | 2 | 134.23x |
| Barton Upon Irwell | 1 | 23.42x |
| Great Grimsby | 1 | 20.62x |
| Kimberworth | 1 | 38.02x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 2.40x |
| Manningtree | 1 | 666.67x |
| Reigate Foreign | 1 | 39.68x |
| Wallsend | 1 | 44.25x |
| Woolwich | 1 | 16.61x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Burell 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 Burell 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 Burell households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 5 |
| Child | 2 |
| Cl Miner | 2 |
| Domestic Servant | 2 |
| Engine Driver | 2 |
| Circular Sawyer | 1 |
| Engineer Fitter At Works | 1 |
| Farmer & Machine Owner | 1 |
| Farmer Wife | 1 |
| Farmers Son | 1 |
| House Serv (Dom) | 1 |
| Indian Merchant | 1 |
| Iron Dresser | 1 |
| Iron Dresser Wife | 1 |
| Labourer In Iron Works | 1 |
| Lodger | 1 |
| Mate | 1 |
| Miner (Coal) | 1 |
| Plate Layer | 1 |
| Pointsman Railway Shunter | 1 |
| Refreshment House Keeper | 1 |
| Servt | 1 |
| Soldiers Wife | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 51 people were recorded with the Burell surname. That placed it at #26,428 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 4 in 2016. That gives Burell a modern rank of #38,419.
A locational surname derived from places in England called Burrellin.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Burell 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.