NameCensus.

UK surname

Burwell

From the Old English words "burh" and "well," referring to someone who lived near a spring or stream by a fort or castle.

In the 1881 census there were 219 people recorded with the Burwell surname, ranking it #12,122 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 273, ranked #15,800, down from #12,122 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hull Holy Trinity, Normanby and Gainsborough, Paddocks. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cherwell, East Riding of Yorkshire and Leeds.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Burwell is 361 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 24.7%.

1881 census count

219

Ranked #12,122

Modern count

273

2016, ranked #15,800

Peak year

1891

361 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Burwell had 219 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,122 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 273 in 2016, ranked #15,800.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 361 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Burwell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Burwell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Burwell 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 319 #7,273
1861 historical 267 #9,290
1881 historical 219 #12,122
1891 historical 361 #9,589
1901 historical 269 #12,518
1911 historical 312 #11,130
1997 modern 317 #13,053
1998 modern 340 #12,784
1999 modern 354 #12,497
2000 modern 339 #12,857
2001 modern 339 #12,641
2002 modern 342 #12,837
2003 modern 317 #13,328
2004 modern 320 #13,311
2005 modern 321 #13,195
2006 modern 319 #13,318
2007 modern 306 #13,862
2008 modern 305 #13,979
2009 modern 305 #14,257
2010 modern 301 #14,697
2011 modern 297 #14,698
2012 modern 293 #14,742
2013 modern 291 #15,067
2014 modern 287 #15,342
2015 modern 279 #15,527
2016 modern 273 #15,800

Geography

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Where Burwells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hull Holy Trinity, Normanby, Gainsborough, Paddocks, Clipston and Sculcoates. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cherwell, East Riding of Yorkshire, Leeds and Selby. 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 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
2 Normanby Lincolnshire
3 Gainsborough, Paddocks Lincolnshire
4 Clipston Leicestershire
5 Sculcoates Yorkshire, East Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cherwell 010 Cherwell
2 East Riding of Yorkshire 029 East Riding of Yorkshire
3 Leeds 040 Leeds
4 Leeds 075 Leeds
5 Selby 005 Selby

Forenames

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First names often paired with Burwell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Burwell

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Burwell is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Burwell is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Burwell falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Burwell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Burwell

The surname Burwell originates from England and dates back to the 11th century. It is derived from the Old English words "burh" meaning a fortified town or manor, and "well" referring to a spring or stream. The name likely originated from a place name, referring to someone who lived near a well or stream by a fortified town or manor.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Burwell can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a great survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This suggests that the name was already established by the late 11th century.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Burwell was Sir Robert Burwell, who lived in the 13th century and was a prominent landowner in Suffolk, England. Another notable figure was Sir William Burwell, who served as a member of Parliament for Cambridgeshire in the 15th century.

In the 16th century, there was a Thomas Burwell (c.1520-1597) who was a prominent English lawyer and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He served as the Attorney General for the Court of Wards and Liveries.

The Burwell family also had connections to colonial America. Lewis Burwell (c.1620-1658) was a wealthy planter and landowner in Virginia, and his son Lewis Burwell II (1651-1710) was a prominent political figure who served as the President of the Council of Virginia.

Another notable individual with the surname was Sir Redvers Buller (1839-1908), a British Army officer who served in the Second Boer War and was known for his involvement in the Relief of Ladysmith during that conflict.

Over the centuries, the surname Burwell has evolved and taken on various spellings, including Burwall, Borewell, and Borwell, reflecting the regional variations and language changes that occurred over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Burwell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Burwell 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 51 Burwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.49x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 51 2.49x
Lincolnshire 41 12.40x
Middlesex 35 1.69x
Surrey 15 1.49x
Lancashire 13 0.53x
Norfolk 13 4.09x
Caernarfonshire 11 13.15x
Kent 6 0.85x
Oxfordshire 5 3.92x
Sussex 4 1.15x
Derbyshire 3 0.93x
Monmouthshire 3 2.01x
Northamptonshire 3 1.54x
Aberdeenshire 2 1.04x
Essex 2 0.49x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.76x
Lanarkshire 1 0.15x
Leicestershire 1 0.44x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.36x
Suffolk 1 0.40x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 17 Burwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.69x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 17 14.69x
St Pancras London 12 7.21x
Llandudno 11 369.13x
Great Yarmouth 10 37.97x
St Swithin Lincoln 9 173.08x
Battersea 8 10.51x
Bethnal Green London 8 8.90x
Islington London 7 3.49x
Legsby 7 2916.67x
Sculcoates 7 21.55x
St Mary 7 510.95x
Gainsborough 6 76.92x
Sheffield 6 9.20x
Lancaster 5 34.25x
Milton Under Wychwood 5 847.46x
Falsgrave 4 132.45x
Keymer 4 162.60x
Welton 4 833.33x
Chaldon 3 2307.69x
Cowbit 3 666.67x
Hammersmith London 3 5.89x
Litherland 3 58.48x
Mile End Old Town London 3 6.82x
Oulton Cum Woodlesford 3 180.72x
Spalding 3 45.73x
St Woollos 3 17.99x
Unstone 3 236.22x
Woolwich 3 11.51x
Aberdeen Old Machar 2 5.00x
Armley 2 22.12x
Birkdale 2 32.21x
Cottingham 2 45.25x
Dorking 2 29.54x
Dover St Mary Virgin 2 29.28x
Holy Trinity 2 4.06x
Wandsworth 2 10.05x
West Ham 2 2.22x
Wragby 2 555.56x
Barony 1 0.59x
Barrow 1 156.25x
Barton 1 434.78x
Brackley St Peter 1 75.19x
Brightside Bierlow 1 2.49x
East Barkwith 1 416.67x
Gorton 1 4.33x
Great Carlton 1 555.56x
Hazelbeech 1 909.09x
Kensington London 1 0.87x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 1 10.47x
Langton By Wragby 1 476.19x
Leicester St Margaret 1 1.79x
Moulton 1 62.89x
Norwich St Mary In Marsh 1 277.78x
Norwich St Peter Mancroft 1 62.50x
Paddington London 1 1.32x
Rampton 1 400.00x
St Margaret Lincoln 1 333.33x
St Peters 1 30.67x
Sutton St Mary 1 31.95x
Thrapston 1 102.04x
Upper Holker 1 172.41x
Washingborough 1 192.31x
Whittle Le Woods 1 123.46x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Ann 6
Emma 6
Sarah 6
Lucy 5
Charlotte 4
Ellen 4
Betsy 3
Elizabeth 3
Ada 2
Annie 2
Edith 2
Elizth. 2
Hannah 2
Helen 2
Jane 2
Kate 2
Louisa 2
Maria 2
Susanna 2
Alice 1
Anne 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Eliza 1
Elizth 1
Ellin 1
Emela 1
Emily 1
Ether 1
Eva 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Grace 1
Harriet 1
Hetty 1
Isabella 1
Jennett 1
Margaret 1
Martha 1
Maud 1
Mercy 1
Millie 1
Minnie 1
Nellie 1
Rebecca 1
Rosamond 1
Rose 1
Ruth 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 13
George 11
John 11
Henry 10
Thomas 9
James 7
Alfred 6
Arthur 6
Charles 5
Edward 4
Frederick 3
Edmund 2
Fredk. 2
Joseph 2
Tom 2
Albert 1
B. 1
Benjamin 1
Bertie 1
Chas. 1
Edwin 1
Enoch 1
Frank 1
Harrold 1
Herbert 1
Mark 1
Richard 1
Robeert 1
Rowell 1
Thos. 1
Willm.Thos. 1

FAQ

Burwell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Burwell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 219 people were recorded with the Burwell surname. That placed it at #12,122 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Burwell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 273 in 2016. That gives Burwell a modern rank of #15,800.

What does the Burwell surname mean?

From the Old English words "burh" and "well," referring to someone who lived near a spring or stream by a fort or castle.

What does the Burwell map show?

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