NameCensus.

UK surname

Burl

A locational surname derived from places named with the Old English word "burh" meaning fortified town or borough.

In the 1881 census there were 60 people recorded with the Burl surname, ranking it #25,133 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 71, ranked #33,633, down from #25,133 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lambeth and St Mary Islington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mid Suffolk, South Cambridgeshire and Dacorum.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Burl is 136 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 18.3%.

1881 census count

60

Ranked #25,133

Modern count

71

2016, ranked #33,633

Peak year

1891

136 bearers

Map years

5

1861 to 1998

Key insights

  • Burl had 60 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #25,133 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 71 in 2016, ranked #33,633.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 136 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Burl surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Burl surname density by area, 1998 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Burl 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 72 #20,720
1861 historical 123 #17,914
1881 historical 60 #25,133
1891 historical 136 #19,601
1901 historical 122 #20,344
1911 historical 121 #20,336
1997 modern 102 #26,638
1998 modern 111 #25,990
1999 modern 107 #26,754
2000 modern 101 #27,555
2001 modern 96 #27,976
2002 modern 94 #28,797
2003 modern 95 #28,536
2004 modern 85 #30,132
2005 modern 77 #31,156
2006 modern 87 #30,292
2007 modern 92 #29,929
2008 modern 91 #30,431
2009 modern 85 #31,717
2010 modern 88 #31,875
2011 modern 87 #31,905
2012 modern 81 #32,796
2013 modern 83 #32,813
2014 modern 79 #33,205
2015 modern 78 #33,210
2016 modern 71 #33,633

Geography

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Where Burls are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Lambeth, St Mary Islington and Chelsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mid Suffolk, South Cambridgeshire, Dacorum and Harrogate. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Lambeth London (South Districts)
4 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)
5 Chelsea London (West Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mid Suffolk 011 Mid Suffolk
2 South Cambridgeshire 014 South Cambridgeshire
3 Mid Suffolk 010 Mid Suffolk
4 Dacorum 018 Dacorum
5 Harrogate 014 Harrogate

Forenames

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First names often paired with Burl

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Burl

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Burl 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

Burl is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Burl falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Burl 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 Burl, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Burl

The surname "Burl" is believed to have originated in England, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "byrel," which means a small ring or hoop. This could potentially indicate that the name was initially associated with a maker or seller of small rings or hoops.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Burl." This survey, commissioned by William the Conqueror, provides a valuable glimpse into the distribution of surnames and their bearers in the 11th century.

During the Middle Ages, the name was primarily concentrated in the counties of Warwickshire and Worcestershire, with some instances also found in neighboring regions. The variations in spelling, such as "Burle," "Burlle," and "Byrle," were common due to the lack of standardized orthography at the time.

In the 14th century, records show a John Burl residing in the town of Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. This suggests a potential connection between the surname and the place name, although the precise nature of this relationship remains uncertain.

Notable individuals bearing the surname "Burl" throughout history include William Burl, a wealthy merchant from Bristol in the late 16th century, and Edward Burl, a renowned clockmaker from London in the 17th century.

Another notable figure was Sir Robert Burl, a prominent lawyer and judge who lived during the reign of King Henry VIII in the early 16th century. He played a significant role in the dissolution of the monasteries and the establishment of the Church of England.

During the 18th century, the name gained further prominence with Thomas Burl, a celebrated landscape architect and garden designer who was responsible for designing several notable estates in the English countryside.

In the 19th century, one of the most famous bearers of the name was the poet and writer Emily Burl, whose works explored themes of nature, love, and the human condition. Her poems, such as "The Daffodils" and "Ode to a Nightingale," have become literary classics.

While the surname "Burl" may have evolved over time and taken on various spellings, its origins can be traced back to the medieval period in England, where it was likely associated with a specific trade or occupation. The name's enduring presence throughout history is a testament to its rich heritage and the diverse individuals who have carried it forward.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Burl families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Burl 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. Middlesex leads with 23 Burls recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.87x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 23 3.87x
Surrey 21 7.25x
Hampshire 11 9.02x
Lancashire 5 0.71x
Norfolk 1 1.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Streatham in Surrey leads with 9 Burls recorded in 1881 and an index of 204.08x.

Place Total Index
Streatham 9 204.08x
East Woodhay 7 2258.06x
Islington London 7 12.14x
Kensington London 6 18.14x
Liverpool 5 11.66x
Christchurch 4 151.52x
Compton 3 3000.00x
Westminster St John 3 41.44x
Worplesdon 3 857.14x
Hammersmith London 2 13.65x
Send Ripley 2 526.32x
Stoke 2 145.99x
Wonersh 2 555.56x
Caistor Next Yarmouth 1 312.50x
Hackney London 1 3.00x
Hampstead London 1 10.80x
Paddington London 1 4.57x
Shadwell London 1 60.24x
Staines 1 106.38x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Top occupations

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 Burl households.

FAQ

Burl surname: questions and answers

How common was the Burl surname in 1881?

In 1881, 60 people were recorded with the Burl surname. That placed it at #25,133 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Burl surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 71 in 2016. That gives Burl a modern rank of #33,633.

What does the Burl surname mean?

A locational surname derived from places named with the Old English word "burh" meaning fortified town or borough.

What does the Burl map show?

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