NameCensus.

UK surname

Burnell

A surname of French origin, derived from the Old French word "brunel," meaning "brown-haired" or "dark-skinned."

In the 1881 census there were 1,783 people recorded with the Burnell surname, ranking it #2,432 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,418, ranked #2,723, down from #2,432 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Newton Nottage and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Isle of Anglesey, South Hams and Bridgend.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Burnell is 2,565 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 35.6%.

1881 census count

1,783

Ranked #2,432

Modern count

2,418

2016, ranked #2,723

Peak year

1999

2,565 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Burnell had 1,783 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,432 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,418 in 2016, ranked #2,723.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,508 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Burnell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Burnell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Burnell 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 1,208 #2,363
1861 historical 1,237 #2,308
1881 historical 1,783 #2,432
1891 historical 1,942 #2,370
1901 historical 2,152 #2,500
1911 historical 2,508 #2,047
1997 modern 2,471 #2,536
1998 modern 2,524 #2,588
1999 modern 2,565 #2,564
2000 modern 2,535 #2,582
2001 modern 2,476 #2,585
2002 modern 2,551 #2,568
2003 modern 2,446 #2,613
2004 modern 2,457 #2,608
2005 modern 2,404 #2,630
2006 modern 2,386 #2,643
2007 modern 2,373 #2,680
2008 modern 2,383 #2,688
2009 modern 2,439 #2,699
2010 modern 2,520 #2,678
2011 modern 2,468 #2,702
2012 modern 2,437 #2,679
2013 modern 2,484 #2,682
2014 modern 2,486 #2,697
2015 modern 2,450 #2,707
2016 modern 2,418 #2,723

Geography

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Where Burnells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Newton Nottage, London parishes, St Philip and Jacob and Cardiff St John and St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Isle of Anglesey, South Hams, Bridgend, Aylesbury Vale and West Somerset. 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 Newton Nottage Glamorganshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Philip and Jacob Gloucestershire
5 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Isle of Anglesey 003 Isle of Anglesey
2 South Hams 004 South Hams
3 Bridgend 008 Bridgend
4 Aylesbury Vale 010 Aylesbury Vale
5 West Somerset 004 West Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Burnell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Burnell

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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, Burnell 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

Burnell 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

Burnell 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 Burnell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Burnell

The surname Burnell originated in England and traces its roots back to the Norman Conquest of 1066. It is derived from the Old French word "burnele," meaning a small stream or brook. This name likely referred to someone who lived near a small brook or stream.

The earliest recorded instance of the Burnell surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Burnell" and "Burnel." This suggests that the name was already well-established in England by the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, the Burnell family held lands in Shropshire and played a prominent role in English politics. Robert Burnell (c. 1239-1292) served as Lord Chancellor of England under King Edward I and was a key advisor during the Welsh Wars.

Another notable figure was Edward Burnell (c. 1349-1415), who was a member of the House of Commons and served as Sheriff of Shropshire in 1403. He was also involved in the suppression of the Owain Glyndŵr rebellion in Wales.

The Burnell surname can also be traced to several place names in England, such as Burnell in Shropshire and Burnell Green in Essex. These place names likely derived from the same Old French root word, further solidifying the name's connection to geographical features.

In the 16th century, the Burnell family expanded their influence, with Richard Burnell (c. 1520-1586) serving as a Member of Parliament for Shropshire and his son, Edward Burnell (c. 1550-1628), holding the position of High Sheriff of Shropshire.

As the Burnell family grew and spread across England, variations in spelling emerged, including Burnill, Burnhill, and Burnhills. Despite these variations, the name's core meaning and connection to small streams or brooks remained consistent.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Burnell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Burnell 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. Yorkshire leads with 330 Burnells recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.90x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 330 1.90x
Somerset 309 10.96x
Middlesex 213 1.22x
Gloucestershire 140 4.08x
Devon 135 3.70x
Glamorgan 104 3.41x
Surrey 81 0.95x
Buckinghamshire 63 5.95x
Kent 42 0.70x
Lancashire 41 0.20x
Cheshire 37 0.96x
Warwickshire 32 0.72x
Hampshire 26 0.72x
Hertfordshire 26 2.15x
Northamptonshire 24 1.46x
Durham 20 0.38x
Essex 15 0.43x
Leicestershire 14 0.72x
Anglesey 13 4.19x
Derbyshire 12 0.44x
Lincolnshire 12 0.43x
Sussex 12 0.41x
Staffordshire 11 0.19x
Channel Islands 10 1.93x
Wiltshire 8 0.52x
Worcestershire 8 0.35x
Carmarthenshire 7 0.95x
Suffolk 7 0.33x
Monmouthshire 6 0.47x
Cornwall 5 0.25x
Herefordshire 4 0.56x
Westmorland 4 1.04x
Bedfordshire 3 0.33x
Dorset 3 0.26x
Royal Navy 3 1.44x
Berkshire 2 0.15x
Kirkcudbrightshire 2 0.79x
Lanarkshire 2 0.04x
Pembrokeshire 2 0.36x
Shropshire 2 0.13x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.14x
Cumberland 1 0.07x
Merionethshire 1 0.31x
Norfolk 1 0.04x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bristol St Philip Jacob in Gloucestershire leads with 50 Burnells recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.46x.

Place Total Index
Bristol St Philip Jacob 50 15.46x
Cannington 44 525.69x
Newton Nottage 40 477.90x
Hunslet 35 12.94x
Leeds 27 2.76x
Bristol St George 25 15.74x
Islington London 25 1.47x
Headingley Cum Burley 21 18.80x
Wootton Courtney 20 1015.23x
Camberwell 19 1.70x
Aldenham 18 163.93x
Bedminster 18 6.80x
Llandaff 18 17.75x
Seacroft 18 218.98x
Shoreditch London 18 2.37x
Rothwell 17 48.50x
Shepton Mallet 17 53.76x
Weston Super Mare 17 23.89x
Croydon 16 3.38x
Minehead 15 140.98x
Portsea 15 2.13x
St Marylebone London 15 1.60x
Bridgewater 14 18.30x
Bromley London 14 3.63x
Combe Florey 14 736.84x
St George Hanover Square 14 4.54x
St Pancras London 14 0.99x
Toxteth Park 14 1.99x
Barnstaple 13 22.72x
Clifford Cum Boston 13 83.33x
Hammersmith London 13 3.01x
Holyhead 13 22.47x
Mile End Old Town London 13 3.49x
Plymouth St Andrew 13 4.63x
Tong 13 38.78x
Tranmere 13 9.15x
Birmingham 12 0.82x
Exton 12 493.83x
Ilkley 12 42.31x
Martinhoe 12 1043.48x
Rawmarsh 12 19.58x
Southam 12 111.84x
Bristol St James St Paul 11 9.61x
Exford 11 402.93x
Weedon 11 423.08x
Wortley In Bramley 11 8.00x
Chatham 10 6.08x
Drighlington 10 39.56x
Exeter Heavitree 10 36.79x
Plymtree 10 383.14x
Wellingborough 10 12.08x
Battersea 9 1.40x
Hardwick 9 703.13x
Holbeck 9 7.83x
Kensington London 9 0.92x
Kingsbury Episcopi 9 98.58x
Loughborough 9 10.22x
Maidstone 9 5.06x
North Petherton 9 39.60x
Paddington London 9 1.40x
Quainton 9 173.41x
Cheltenham 8 3.02x
Clerkenwell London 8 1.94x
Cosgrove 8 209.97x
Ecclesall Bierlow 8 2.27x
Exeter St Edmund 8 101.78x
Guiseley 8 36.00x
High Leigh 8 157.17x
Laleston 8 248.45x
Milverton 8 76.92x
Newall Cum Clifton 8 370.37x
Old Cleeve 8 79.52x
Rugeley 8 18.86x
Caterham 7 18.56x
Godstone 7 45.81x
Llangeinor 7 39.00x
Luxborough 7 278.88x
Marsh Gibbon 7 157.30x
St Giles In Fields London 7 8.15x
York St Mary 7 9.74x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 133
Elizabeth 78
Sarah 67
Ann 51
Jane 40
Eliza 39
Emma 29
Annie 27
Ellen 27
Alice 21
Louisa 20
Emily 19
Harriet 15
Edith 14
Caroline 13
Charlotte 13
Martha 13
Clara 12
Maria 12
Fanny 11
Margaret 11
Florence 10
Catherine 9
Hannah 9
Rebecca 9
Anne 8
Harriett 8
Ada 7
Gertrude 7
Agnes 6
Kate 6
Lucy 6
Esther 5
Rose 5
Amelia 4
Elizth. 4
Helen 4
Henrietta 4
Julia 4
Laura 4
Matilda 4
Minnie 4
Rachel 4
Rosina 4
Amy 3
Beatrice 3
Florance 3
Frances 3
Jessie 3
Lydia 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 117
William 96
George 68
Thomas 49
James 45
Robert 42
Henry 31
Charles 26
Joseph 26
Richard 23
Edward 20
Albert 18
Arthur 17
Alfred 16
Frederick 15
Samuel 15
David 11
Edwin 11
Harry 11
Walter 10
Ernest 8
Isaac 7
Jesse 7
Francis 6
Fred 6
Lewis 5
Sidney 5
Amos 4
Benjamin 4
Frank 4
Herbert 4
Hugh 4
Nicholas 4
Omer 3
Tom 3
Abraham 2
Alexander 2
Benjn. 2
Earnest 2
Edwd.Mark 2
Frances 2
Geo. 2
Geo.W. 2
Hardwick 2
Jonathon 2
Mark 2
Marmaduke 2
Oliver 2
Reuben 2
Stanley 2

FAQ

Burnell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Burnell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,783 people were recorded with the Burnell surname. That placed it at #2,432 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Burnell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,418 in 2016. That gives Burnell a modern rank of #2,723.

What does the Burnell surname mean?

A surname of French origin, derived from the Old French word "brunel," meaning "brown-haired" or "dark-skinned."

What does the Burnell map show?

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