NameCensus.

UK surname

Burrell

An English occupational surname referring to a butler or servant in charge of the wine cellar.

In the 1881 census there were 3,887 people recorded with the Burrell surname, ranking it #1,171 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,249, ranked #1,288, down from #1,171 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Gateshead and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Breckland, Horsham and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Burrell is 5,552 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 35.0%.

1881 census count

3,887

Ranked #1,171

Modern count

5,249

2016, ranked #1,288

Peak year

2010

5,552 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Burrell had 3,887 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,171 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,249 in 2016, ranked #1,288.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,962 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Burrell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Burrell surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Burrell 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 2,307 #1,285
1861 historical 1,962 #1,487
1881 historical 3,887 #1,171
1891 historical 3,923 #1,225
1901 historical 4,718 #1,197
1911 historical 4,962 #1,054
1997 modern 5,274 #1,234
1998 modern 5,447 #1,245
1999 modern 5,450 #1,257
2000 modern 5,467 #1,250
2001 modern 5,348 #1,242
2002 modern 5,534 #1,231
2003 modern 5,338 #1,245
2004 modern 5,306 #1,248
2005 modern 5,252 #1,243
2006 modern 5,301 #1,234
2007 modern 5,260 #1,249
2008 modern 5,269 #1,260
2009 modern 5,355 #1,273
2010 modern 5,552 #1,249
2011 modern 5,385 #1,274
2012 modern 5,266 #1,273
2013 modern 5,358 #1,274
2014 modern 5,380 #1,279
2015 modern 5,278 #1,290
2016 modern 5,249 #1,288

Geography

Back to top

Where Burrells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Gateshead, Edinburgh and Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Breckland, Horsham, County Durham and Cornwall. 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 Gateshead Durham
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Breckland 006 Breckland
2 Breckland 003 Breckland
3 Horsham 010 Horsham
4 County Durham 034 County Durham
5 Cornwall 054 Cornwall

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Burrell

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Burrell

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Burrell, 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 Burrell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Burrell 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, Burrell 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

Burrell 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

Burrell falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Burrell

The surname Burrell has its origins in the Scottish Borders region, dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "burh", meaning a fortified town or manor house, and the Old French word "rie", meaning a stream or small river. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a fortified dwelling by a stream.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, where a William de Burrell from Berwickshire swore fealty to King Edward I of England. The name also appears in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in the 14th century, with references to individuals named Burrell holding lands in the Borders region.

In the 15th century, the Burrells were prominent landowners in the Scottish Borders, with their family seat at Burrell's Close in Hawick. Sir Walter Burrell (c. 1450-1510) was a notable figure, serving as a diplomat and envoy to England during the reigns of James IV and James V.

The name Burrell has been spelled in various ways throughout history, including Borrell, Burrell, Burrill, and Burwell. Some variations may have been influenced by place names, such as Burwell in Cambridgeshire, England.

Notable individuals with the surname Burrell include:

1. Sir William Burrell (1861-1958), a Scottish shipping magnate and art collector whose collection forms the basis of the Burrell Collection in Glasgow. 2. John Burrell (c. 1580-1627), an English Jesuit priest and martyr who was executed during the reign of Charles I. 3. David Burrell (1785-1868), a Scottish painter known for his landscapes and portraits. 4. Sir Redvers Buller (1839-1908), a British Army officer who served in the Boer War and was famously relieved of his command during the Siege of Ladysmith. 5. Dame Edith Burrell (1907-1979), a British artist and sculptor known for her portraits and public commissions.

The Burrell name has a rich history in the Scottish Borders region, with connections to land ownership, military service, and artistic pursuits. Its origins can be traced back to the 12th century, reflecting the influence of both English and French language on the development of Scottish surnames.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Burrell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Burrell 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 519 Burrells recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.38x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 519 1.38x
Middlesex 453 1.19x
Norfolk 400 6.83x
Durham 290 2.56x
Essex 264 3.51x
Lincolnshire 258 4.24x
Surrey 239 1.29x
Lancashire 179 0.40x
Kent 145 1.12x
Northumberland 128 2.26x
Suffolk 93 2.01x
Midlothian 84 1.65x
Sussex 83 1.29x
Hampshire 67 0.86x
Cambridgeshire 66 2.74x
Hertfordshire 54 2.06x
Cornwall 41 0.95x
Lanarkshire 41 0.33x
Northamptonshire 32 0.89x
Cardiganshire 28 3.02x
Cheshire 27 0.32x
Cumberland 27 0.82x
Nottinghamshire 27 0.53x
Somerset 27 0.44x
Derbyshire 26 0.44x
Leicestershire 24 0.57x
Berwickshire 20 4.34x
Roxburghshire 19 2.76x
Warwickshire 18 0.19x
Worcestershire 17 0.34x
Buckinghamshire 16 0.70x
Selkirkshire 16 4.65x
Staffordshire 16 0.12x
Gloucestershire 15 0.20x
Glamorgan 14 0.21x
Monmouthshire 12 0.44x
Argyllshire 11 1.04x
Westmorland 11 1.31x
Angus 10 0.28x
Dunbartonshire 9 0.88x
Berkshire 8 0.28x
Channel Islands 8 0.71x
Herefordshire 8 0.51x
Renfrewshire 7 0.24x
Devon 6 0.08x
Isle of Man 5 0.71x
Royal Navy 5 1.10x
Buteshire 4 1.73x
Oxfordshire 4 0.17x
Fife 3 0.13x
Bedfordshire 2 0.10x
Brecknockshire 2 0.26x
Inverness-shire 2 0.18x
Merionethshire 2 0.29x
Stirlingshire 2 0.14x
Wiltshire 2 0.06x
Anglesey 1 0.15x
Dorset 1 0.04x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.12x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.13x
Perthshire 1 0.06x
Rutland 1 0.36x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Ham in Essex leads with 91 Burrells recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.49x.

Place Total Index
West Ham 91 5.49x
Leeds 80 3.76x
Heigham 72 22.92x
Lambeth 55 1.66x
Bishopwearmouth 48 4.94x
Islington London 44 1.19x
Hackney London 41 1.92x
Shoreditch London 35 2.12x
Camberwell 34 1.40x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 33 1.61x
Sheffield 33 2.75x
Kensington London 30 1.42x
St Andrewthe Less 30 10.89x
Llanfihangel Y Croyddyn 28 85.81x
Norwich St Martin At Oak 28 78.65x
Paddington London 28 2.00x
Watford 28 13.77x
Penrith 26 21.48x
Wortley In Bramley 26 8.70x
Great Yarmouth 25 5.16x
Habergham Eaves 25 6.06x
St Pancras London 25 0.82x
Poplar London 24 3.34x
Brightside Bierlow 23 3.11x
Newington 23 1.64x
Greenwich 22 3.63x
Lewisham 21 3.03x
Stockton On Tees 21 3.85x
Holy Trinity 20 2.20x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 20 11.38x
Bedlington 19 10.05x
Glasgow 18 0.82x
Gosberton 18 66.57x
Battersea 17 1.21x
Brighton 17 1.31x
Great Burstead 17 62.16x
Stranton 17 4.46x
Bicker 16 169.85x
Darlington 16 3.66x
Ecclesall Bierlow 16 2.09x
Gainsborough 16 11.15x
Galashiels 16 12.57x
Hornchurch 16 43.44x
St Marylebone London 16 0.79x
Blyton 15 163.04x
Evenwood Barony 15 38.96x
Gateshead 15 1.77x
Ipswich St Peter 15 24.03x
St Gluvias Penryn 15 43.44x
St Ives 15 17.79x
Westminster St James 15 3.83x
Barony 14 0.45x
Bury 14 2.71x
Dawdon 14 10.05x
Headingley Cum Burley 14 5.77x
Portsea 14 0.92x
Stamford All Sts 14 41.09x
Bardney 13 71.63x
Bethnal Green London 13 0.79x
Chiswick 13 6.25x
Marske In Guisbrough 13 19.41x
Newington 13 12.52x
Winlaton 13 11.97x
Accrington 12 2.92x
Aldborough In Great 12 180.18x
Bedminster 12 2.08x
Clapham 12 2.52x
Edmonton 12 3.91x
Great Kelk 12 510.64x
Harborne 12 2.91x
Heacham 12 92.17x
Leicester St Margaret 12 1.17x
St George In East London 12 3.35x
Stow 12 45.77x
Stretford 12 4.83x
Wouldham 12 72.64x
York St Mary 12 7.68x
Batley 11 3.07x
Liverpool 11 0.40x
Winton 11 337.42x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 237
Elizabeth 135
Sarah 119
Jane 86
Eliza 62
Emma 57
Ann 52
Annie 49
Emily 49
Margaret 47
Ellen 45
Alice 44
Hannah 38
Charlotte 36
Martha 33
Fanny 30
Edith 28
Maria 28
Louisa 26
Caroline 23
Ada 22
Florence 19
Frances 19
Harriet 18
Lucy 18
Isabella 17
Kate 17
Agnes 16
Harriett 15
Susan 15
Esther 13
Julia 13
Rebecca 13
Rose 12
Anne 11
Clara 11
Catherine 10
Eleanor 10
Maud 10
Gertrude 9
Beatrice 8
Matilda 8
May 8
Minnie 8
Amy 7
Rachel 7
Ruth 7
Amelia 6
Ethel 6
Helen 6

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 214
John 196
George 141
James 122
Thomas 116
Charles 82
Henry 67
Joseph 67
Robert 63
Edward 44
Arthur 42
Walter 37
Frederick 25
Richard 25
Samuel 25
Alfred 24
Albert 20
Harry 20
Ernest 19
Frank 18
Herbert 16
Wm. 16
Benjamin 14
Francis 12
Percy 12
Edwin 11
David 8
Thos. 8
Chas. 7
Philip 7
Fred 6
Fredk. 5
Fredrick 5
Geo. 5
Jonathan 5
Leonard 5
Matthew 5
Peter 5
Sidney 5
Willm. 5
Christopher 4
Daniel 4
Isaac 4
J. 4
Alexander 3
Horace 3
Jesse 3
Richd. 3
Robinson 3
Robt. 3

FAQ

Burrell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Burrell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,887 people were recorded with the Burrell surname. That placed it at #1,171 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Burrell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,249 in 2016. That gives Burrell a modern rank of #1,288.

What does the Burrell surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a butler or servant in charge of the wine cellar.

What does the Burrell map show?

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