NameCensus.

UK surname

Drinkall

A surname suggesting an occupation involving excessive alcohol consumption.

In the 1881 census there were 320 people recorded with the Drinkall surname, ranking it #9,298 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 502, ranked #9,961, down from #9,298 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Sutton and Stoneferry, Winterton and West Halton, Burton-on-Stather, Flixborough (Crosby). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kingston upon Hull, Lancaster and Wyre.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Drinkall is 558 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 56.9%.

1881 census count

320

Ranked #9,298

Modern count

502

2016, ranked #9,961

Peak year

1999

558 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Drinkall had 320 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,298 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 502 in 2016, ranked #9,961.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 476 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Drinkall surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Drinkall surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Drinkall 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 152 #12,786
1861 historical 195 #12,263
1881 historical 320 #9,298
1891 historical 362 #9,569
1901 historical 476 #8,356
1911 historical 448 #8,538
1997 modern 536 #8,837
1998 modern 542 #9,028
1999 modern 558 #8,885
2000 modern 552 #8,917
2001 modern 539 #8,936
2002 modern 558 #8,876
2003 modern 558 #8,740
2004 modern 549 #8,878
2005 modern 538 #8,933
2006 modern 525 #9,135
2007 modern 509 #9,443
2008 modern 519 #9,372
2009 modern 543 #9,261
2010 modern 550 #9,368
2011 modern 541 #9,400
2012 modern 511 #9,708
2013 modern 518 #9,755
2014 modern 516 #9,862
2015 modern 505 #9,933
2016 modern 502 #9,961

Geography

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Where Drinkalls are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Sutton and Stoneferry, Winterton, West Halton, Burton-on-Stather, Flixborough (Crosby), Lancaster and Crowle. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kingston upon Hull, Lancaster, Wyre and Ribble Valley. 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 Sutton and Stoneferry Yorkshire, East Riding
2 Winterton Lincolnshire
3 West Halton, Burton-on-Stather, Flixborough (Crosby) Lincolnshire
4 Lancaster Lancashire
5 Crowle Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kingston upon Hull 021 Kingston upon Hull, City of
2 Lancaster 019 Lancaster
3 Wyre 006 Wyre
4 Kingston upon Hull 017 Kingston upon Hull, City of
5 Ribble Valley 001 Ribble Valley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Drinkall

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Drinkall

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Drinkall surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Drinkall household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Drinkall is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Drinkall is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Drinkall falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Drinkall

The surname DRINKALL originated in England, likely during the late medieval period or early modern era. It is believed to be an occupational surname, derived from the old English words "drincan" meaning "to drink" and "eall" meaning "ale." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who worked in the brewing or selling of ale, such as an innkeeper or tavern owner.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the DRINKALL surname can be found in the Hearth Tax Returns of 1674, which lists a John Drinkall residing in Yorkshire. Other early records include a William Drinkall mentioned in the Parish Registers of St. Mary's Church in Beverley, Yorkshire, in 1706.

The DRINKALL surname is closely associated with the county of Yorkshire, particularly the East Riding area. This is evidenced by the presence of several place names containing variations of the surname, such as Drinkall Green and Drinkall Lane, both located near the town of Beverley.

Among notable individuals with the DRINKALL surname, one can mention Sir John Drinkall (1608-1681), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Lincolnshire, who served as Mayor of Grimsby in 1659. Another notable bearer of the name was William Drinkall (1789-1867), a prominent banker and philanthropist from Yorkshire, who founded the Drinkall Charity for the education of poor children in Beverley.

In the 18th century, a branch of the DRINKALL family emigrated to the American colonies, where they settled in Virginia. One of their descendants, Thomas Drinkall (1773-1845), became a prominent farmer and landowner in Loudoun County, Virginia.

Another individual of note was John Drinkall (1814-1891), a renowned architect from Yorkshire, who designed several churches and public buildings in the region, including the prestigious Beverley Guildhall.

Throughout its history, the DRINKALL surname has maintained a strong presence in the counties of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and parts of northern England, reflecting its origins as an occupational name associated with the brewing and selling of ale.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Drinkall families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Drinkall 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. Lancashire leads with 102 Drinkalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.75x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 102 2.75x
Lincolnshire 99 19.84x
Yorkshire 98 3.17x
Durham 6 0.65x
Surrey 6 0.39x
Cumberland 4 1.49x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.71x
Warwickshire 2 0.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Winterton in Lincolnshire leads with 24 Drinkalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 1403.51x.

Place Total Index
Winterton 24 1403.51x
Sculcoates 23 46.90x
Bowling 16 52.22x
Over Wyresdale 14 2545.45x
Crowle 12 394.74x
South Ferriby 12 1518.99x
Ellel 10 523.56x
Holy Trinity 9 12.10x
Tunstal 9 6923.08x
Preston 8 8.07x
Toxteth Park 8 6.38x
Alkborough 7 1627.91x
Cantsfield 7 5833.33x
Crosby West Halton 7 8750.00x
Lancaster 7 31.76x
Bermondsey 6 6.46x
Carnforth 6 295.57x
Laughton En Le Morthen 6 845.07x
Monkwearmouth Shore 6 33.09x
Southcoates 6 34.94x
Bagmore Burton By 5 1470.59x
Dewsbury 5 15.76x
South Kelsey 5 757.58x
Heaton With Oxcliffe 4 2666.67x
Kirton In Lindsey 4 202.02x
Scotforth 4 165.98x
Sheffield 4 4.06x
Barton St Peter 3 131.00x
Eastoft 3 461.54x
Faxfleet 3 1111.11x
Slyne With Hest 3 937.50x
Stanwix 3 137.61x
Sutton In Ashfield 3 32.86x
Worsley 3 13.14x
Aston 2 0.92x
Brindle 2 156.25x
Clee With Weelsby 2 18.30x
Crosby Gunness West 2 769.23x
Great Grimsby 2 6.31x
Hulme 2 2.59x
Louth 2 17.48x
Prestwich 2 21.65x
Sutton Stoneferry 2 22.60x
Swallow 2 800.00x
Upper Lower 2 833.33x
West Derby 2 1.85x
Appleby 1 172.41x
Barton St Mary 1 40.00x
Belton 1 49.26x
Blyton 1 133.33x
Bradford 1 1.34x
Brantingham 1 344.83x
Burton Upon Stather 1 156.25x
Cliff Cum Lund 1 147.06x
Coleby 1 217.39x
Drypool 1 21.10x
East Halton 1 144.93x
Garthorpe 1 166.67x
Gressingham 1 625.00x
Holy Trinity St Mary 1 21.23x
Hotham 1 250.00x
Kilpin 1 277.78x
Kirkland 1 294.12x
Lower Allithwaite 1 112.36x
Markington Cum 1 200.00x
Newstead 1 1666.67x
North Kelsey 1 111.11x
North South Killingholme 1 120.48x
Old Sleaford 1 178.57x
Scunthorpe 1 44.64x
St Mary Within 1 29.76x
St Nicholas Lincoln 1 20.96x
Sutton 1 28.41x
Upper Holker 1 114.94x
West Butterwick With 1 129.87x
Wigan 1 1.93x
Winteringham 1 138.89x
Wrawby 1 74.07x
Wroot 1 263.16x
Yealand Redmayne 1 454.55x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 29
William 26
George 17
Thomas 14
Edward 7
Robert 6
Henry 5
Alfred 4
James 4
Richard 4
Joseph 3
Mark 3
Albert 2
Arthur 2
Frank 2
Fred 2
Frederick 2
Samuel 2
Walter 2
Wm. 2
Wray 2
Andrew 1
Charles 1
Christopher 1
Forrest 1
Fredrick 1
Harry 1
Isaac 1
Jervas 1
Margaret 1
Nathanial 1
Nathaniel 1
Reuben 1
Septimus 1

FAQ

Drinkall surname: questions and answers

How common was the Drinkall surname in 1881?

In 1881, 320 people were recorded with the Drinkall surname. That placed it at #9,298 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Drinkall surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 502 in 2016. That gives Drinkall a modern rank of #9,961.

What does the Drinkall surname mean?

A surname suggesting an occupation involving excessive alcohol consumption.

What does the Drinkall map show?

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