UK surname
A surname derived from the French word for castle or fortification, referring to someone who lived near or worked in a fortification.
In the 1881 census there were 166 people recorded with the Burrel surname, ranking it #14,496 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 25, ranked #36,324, down from #14,496 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Earlston, Caistor and Algarkirk (incl. Algarkirk Allotments). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Burrel is 262 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 84.9%.
1881 census count
166
Ranked #14,496
Modern count
25
2016, ranked #36,324
Peak year
1851
262 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1881
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Burrel surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Burrel surname density by area, 1881 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 | 262 | #8,456 |
| 1861 | historical | 184 | #12,856 |
| 1881 | historical | 166 | #14,496 |
| 1891 | historical | 98 | #24,313 |
| 1901 | historical | 87 | #24,386 |
| 1911 | historical | 49 | #27,894 |
| 1997 | modern | 29 | #34,795 |
| 1998 | modern | 20 | #35,885 |
| 1999 | modern | 26 | #35,320 |
| 2000 | modern | 23 | #35,588 |
| 2001 | modern | 19 | #35,866 |
| 2002 | modern | 15 | #36,381 |
| 2003 | modern | 19 | #36,011 |
| 2004 | modern | 21 | #35,969 |
| 2005 | modern | 18 | #36,332 |
| 2006 | modern | 22 | #36,105 |
| 2007 | modern | 19 | #36,450 |
| 2008 | modern | 24 | #36,148 |
| 2009 | modern | 19 | #36,603 |
| 2010 | modern | 18 | #36,774 |
| 2011 | modern | 19 | #36,668 |
| 2012 | modern | 16 | #36,897 |
| 2013 | modern | 18 | #36,787 |
| 2014 | modern | 18 | #36,811 |
| 2015 | modern | 21 | #36,574 |
| 2016 | modern | 25 | #36,324 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Earlston, Caistor, Algarkirk (incl. Algarkirk Allotments), Edinburgh and Penrith. 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 | Earlston | Berwick |
| 2 | Caistor | Lincolnshire |
| 3 | Algarkirk (incl. Algarkirk Allotments) | Lincolnshire |
| 4 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 5 | Penrith | Cumberland |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Burrel 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 Burrel, 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 Burrel surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Burrel 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, Burrel 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 Burrel is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Burrel, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Burrel originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word 'burel', meaning a coarse woollen cloth or a greyish-brown colour. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who worked with this fabric or wore clothing of that colour.
The earliest recorded instances of the Burrel name can be found in various historical records from the 13th century onwards. One notable example is the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which lists a John Burel in Oxfordshire. The Burrel surname also appears in the Calendarium Genealogicum, a compilation of historical documents from the 14th century.
In the 14th century, the Burrel family held lands in Northamptonshire, and the name is associated with the village of Burrell's Field in that county. The surname was also present in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1379, indicating its presence in different parts of England during this time.
One of the earliest known individuals with the Burrel surname was Sir Richard Burrell (c. 1520 - 1585), a prominent politician and landowner from Northamptonshire. He served as a Member of Parliament for Northampton and played a significant role in local affairs.
Another notable figure was Sir Walter Burrell (1542 - 1631), a wealthy merchant and Member of Parliament for Gatton in Surrey. He was involved in trade with the Mediterranean and amassed a considerable fortune, which allowed him to purchase land and properties in various parts of England.
During the 17th century, the Burrell family gained prominence in Ireland. Theophilus Burrell (1615 - 1685) was an English-born lawyer and judge who served as the Lord Chief Justice of Ireland from 1679 to 1685.
In the 18th century, Peter Burrell (1692 - 1756) was a successful merchant and Member of Parliament for Haslemere in Surrey. He acquired the manor of Beckenham in Kent, which remained in the Burrell family for several generations.
Another significant figure was Sir William Burrell (1732 - 1796), a Scottish merchant and philanthropist. He amassed a substantial fortune through his trading activities and was known for his generosity, donating large sums to educational institutions and charitable causes.
Throughout its history, the Burrel surname has been associated with various locations, including Northamptonshire, Yorkshire, Surrey, Kent, and Scotland. While the spelling has remained relatively consistent, variations such as Burrell, Burel, and Burrill have also been documented over time.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Burrel 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. Lincolnshire leads with 24 Burrels recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.27x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lincolnshire | 24 | 9.27x |
| Yorkshire | 14 | 0.87x |
| Middlesex | 13 | 0.80x |
| Durham | 12 | 2.49x |
| Cardiganshire | 11 | 27.85x |
| Northumberland | 11 | 4.57x |
| Essex | 10 | 3.13x |
| Kent | 10 | 1.81x |
| Berwickshire | 9 | 45.90x |
| Lanarkshire | 9 | 1.72x |
| Lancashire | 8 | 0.42x |
| Surrey | 7 | 0.89x |
| Norfolk | 6 | 2.41x |
| Selkirkshire | 3 | 20.48x |
| Worcestershire | 3 | 1.42x |
| Cornwall | 2 | 1.09x |
| Hampshire | 2 | 0.60x |
| Midlothian | 2 | 0.92x |
| Perthshire | 2 | 2.75x |
| Roxburghshire | 2 | 6.82x |
| Stirlingshire | 2 | 3.35x |
| Angus | 1 | 0.67x |
| Dunbartonshire | 1 | 2.30x |
| Northamptonshire | 1 | 0.66x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.37x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Algarkirk in Lincolnshire leads with 14 Burrels recorded in 1881 and an index of 4827.59x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Burrel surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 10 |
| Elizabeth | 7 |
| Ann | 5 |
| Sarah | 5 |
| Jane | 4 |
| Annie | 3 |
| Martha | 3 |
| Betsey | 2 |
| Emma | 2 |
| Harriet | 2 |
| Margaret | 2 |
| Ada | 1 |
| Anne | 1 |
| Charlotte | 1 |
| Clara | 1 |
| Edith | 1 |
| Eliza | 1 |
| Emily | 1 |
| Estelle | 1 |
| Florence | 1 |
| Gertrude | 1 |
| Hannah | 1 |
| Hariet | 1 |
| Harriett | 1 |
| Jessie | 1 |
| Lizzie | 1 |
| Louisa | 1 |
| Lucy | 1 |
| Lydia | 1 |
| Mahala | 1 |
| Margret | 1 |
| Matilda | 1 |
| Minnie | 1 |
| Naomi | 1 |
| Rebecca | 1 |
| Susan | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Burrel 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 Burrel households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 22 |
| Ag Lab | 4 |
| Coal Miner | 4 |
| Cordwainer | 4 |
| Lead Miner | 4 |
| Schoolar | 3 |
| Domestic Servant | 2 |
| Farmer | 2 |
| Labourer | 2 |
| Labourer (Woad) (Man) | 2 |
| Bricklayers Lab | 1 |
| Butler | 1 |
| Butler Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Carrier | 1 |
| Charwoman (Dom) | 1 |
| Child | 1 |
| Clerk | 1 |
| Cook | 1 |
| Dairy Maid (Ag Lab) | 1 |
| Dom Serv (Groom) | 1 |
| Domestic Servant (Cook) | 1 |
| Farmer Of 8 Ac | 1 |
| Farmers Wife | 1 |
| Fishermans Wife | 1 |
| Foreman | 1 |
| Gas Fitter | 1 |
| General Domestic | 1 |
| Governess (P R Y) | 1 |
| Hatters Assistant | 1 |
| House Keeper | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Housekeeper (Dom) | 1 |
| Iron Miner | 1 |
| Ironstone Miner | 1 |
| Joiner | 1 |
| Labour (Woad) (Man) | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Office Cleaner (Super...sor) | 1 |
| Pressman (Artiz) | 1 |
| Quarryman | 1 |
| Retired Manager | 1 |
| Rope Maker | 1 |
| Serv Domestic | 1 |
| Servant | 1 |
| Servant (Domestic) | 1 |
| Stone Mason | 1 |
| Tailoress | 1 |
| Undertaker Assistant | 1 |
| Warder Pentonville Prison | 1 |
| Woad Labourers Daur | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 166 people were recorded with the Burrel surname. That placed it at #14,496 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 25 in 2016. That gives Burrel a modern rank of #36,324.
A surname derived from the French word for castle or fortification, referring to someone who lived near or worked in a fortification.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Burrel 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.