NameCensus.

UK surname

Gorrell

A locational surname derived from a place in Lancashire, England, likely referring to a triangular hill or grove.

In the 1881 census there were 95 people recorded with the Gorrell surname, ranking it #20,349 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 154, ranked #23,293, down from #20,349 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Manchester, Trevethin with Pontypool and Bideford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Ribble, Coventry and Cheshire West and Chester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gorrell is 182 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 62.1%.

1881 census count

95

Ranked #20,349

Modern count

154

2016, ranked #23,293

Peak year

1999

182 bearers

Map years

7

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gorrell had 95 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,349 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 154 in 2016, ranked #23,293.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 153 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gorrell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gorrell surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gorrell 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 77 #19,998
1861 historical 103 #20,650
1881 historical 95 #20,349
1891 historical 129 #20,285
1901 historical 152 #17,916
1911 historical 153 #17,633
1997 modern 168 #19,642
1998 modern 179 #19,372
1999 modern 182 #19,317
2000 modern 176 #19,698
2001 modern 170 #19,838
2002 modern 169 #20,307
2003 modern 152 #21,486
2004 modern 165 #20,530
2005 modern 162 #20,716
2006 modern 159 #21,148
2007 modern 164 #20,973
2008 modern 165 #21,056
2009 modern 167 #21,383
2010 modern 167 #21,835
2011 modern 166 #21,745
2012 modern 160 #22,260
2013 modern 153 #23,314
2014 modern 155 #23,333
2015 modern 155 #23,194
2016 modern 154 #23,293

Geography

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Where Gorrells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Manchester, Trevethin with Pontypool, Bideford, Glasgow and Preston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Ribble, Coventry, Cheshire West and Chester, Flintshire and Roystonhill, Blochairn, and Provanmill. 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 Manchester Lancashire
2 Trevethin with Pontypool Monmouthshire
3 Bideford Devon
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Preston Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Ribble 002 South Ribble
2 Coventry 020 Coventry
3 Cheshire West and Chester 027 Cheshire West and Chester
4 Flintshire 015 Flintshire
5 Roystonhill, Blochairn, and Provanmill Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gorrell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gorrell

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Gorrell 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

Gorrell is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gorrell falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gorrell 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Gorrell

The surname Gorrell is of English origin and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old French word "gorrelle," which means "a small deep pool or stream." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who lived near a small body of water or in a low-lying area prone to flooding.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Gorrell can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1176, where it is spelled "Gorhille." This variation in spelling was common during this period, as standardized spelling was not widely adopted until much later.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various records across different regions of England. For example, in the Hundred Rolls of Norfolk from 1273, there is a reference to a "William de Gorhill." This spelling variation indicates that the name may have been influenced by the Old English word "hill," further suggesting a connection to a geographical feature.

Over the centuries, the name has been recorded with various spellings, such as Gorrill, Gorrell, Gorrel, and Gorrell. One notable individual bearing this name was John Gorrell, a 16th-century English merchant and landowner who lived from 1528 to 1594.

In the 17th century, the name Gorrell can be found in the parish records of Gloucestershire, where a family of that name settled in the village of Huntley. One notable member of this family was Richard Gorrell, who was born in 1657 and served as the vicar of Huntley from 1683 until his death in 1718.

Another notable figure with the surname Gorrell was James Gorrell, an English poet and playwright who lived from 1690 to 1762. He is best known for his works "The Tragedy of Belisarius" and "The Loves of Evander and Roxena."

In the 18th century, the name Gorrell was also present in Scotland. One notable Scotsman bearing this name was David Gorrell, who was born in 1746 and served as a minister in the Church of Scotland. He was renowned for his sermons and published several religious works throughout his lifetime.

As the name spread across different regions, it also gave rise to various place names. For example, in Lincolnshire, there is a hamlet called Gorrel, which may have been named after an early resident with the surname Gorrell.

While the surname Gorrell is not among the most common in the English-speaking world, it has left its mark on history through the individuals mentioned above and others who have carried this name over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gorrell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gorrell 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. Devon leads with 37 Gorrells recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.18x.

County Total Index
Devon 37 19.18x
Cheshire 12 5.87x
Lancashire 11 1.00x
Yorkshire 11 1.20x
Lanarkshire 10 3.34x
Cornwall 5 4.77x
Nottinghamshire 5 4.00x
Middlesex 2 0.22x
Monmouthshire 2 2.99x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Northam in Devon leads with 11 Gorrells recorded in 1881 and an index of 780.14x.

Place Total Index
Northam 11 780.14x
Barony 8 10.55x
Wakefield 8 113.48x
Chester St John Baptist 7 190.22x
Bideford 6 289.86x
Abbotsham 5 3333.33x
Monks Coppenhall 5 64.77x
Worksop 5 135.14x
Buckland Brewer 4 1739.13x
Littleham 4 283.69x
Monkleigh 3 1764.71x
Oswaldtwistle 3 77.12x
Stoke Climsland 3 447.76x
Wigan 3 19.52x
Calstock 2 97.09x
Kimberworth 2 39.22x
Liverpool 2 2.99x
Maryhill 2 34.07x
Stoke Damerel 2 14.81x
Teddington London 2 95.24x
Trevethin 2 31.60x
Beverley Parks 1 909.09x
Everton 1 2.85x
Haslingden 1 21.98x
Milton Damerel 1 666.67x
Moss Side 1 17.27x
Sutcombe 1 769.23x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 9
Elizabeth 5
Ann 4
Eliza 2
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Florence 2
Amy 1
Annie 1
Beatrice 1
Belle 1
Bidaz 1
Catherine 1
Flora 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Helen 1
Janmarie 1
Lottie 1
Maria 1
Mercy 1
Minnie 1
Nellie 1
Rosey 1
Salenna 1
Sarah 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Gorrell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gorrell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 95 people were recorded with the Gorrell surname. That placed it at #20,349 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gorrell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 154 in 2016. That gives Gorrell a modern rank of #23,293.

What does the Gorrell surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place in Lancashire, England, likely referring to a triangular hill or grove.

What does the Gorrell map show?

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