NameCensus.

UK surname

Hurrell

Of English origin referring to a heathland or wooded hillock area.

In the 1881 census there were 1,775 people recorded with the Hurrell surname, ranking it #2,440 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,657, ranked #2,514, down from #2,440 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bardwell, London parishes and Great Yarmouth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Hams, Port Glasgow Upper, West and Central and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hurrell is 2,837 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 49.7%.

1881 census count

1,775

Ranked #2,440

Modern count

2,657

2016, ranked #2,514

Peak year

1999

2,837 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hurrell had 1,775 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,440 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,657 in 2016, ranked #2,514.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,644 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hurrell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hurrell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hurrell 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 1,124 #2,505
1861 historical 830 #3,320
1881 historical 1,775 #2,440
1891 historical 1,866 #2,471
1901 historical 2,403 #2,264
1911 historical 2,644 #1,945
1997 modern 2,738 #2,340
1998 modern 2,826 #2,363
1999 modern 2,837 #2,368
2000 modern 2,823 #2,367
2001 modern 2,740 #2,380
2002 modern 2,804 #2,385
2003 modern 2,714 #2,401
2004 modern 2,725 #2,396
2005 modern 2,665 #2,414
2006 modern 2,635 #2,438
2007 modern 2,633 #2,455
2008 modern 2,632 #2,468
2009 modern 2,682 #2,476
2010 modern 2,688 #2,534
2011 modern 2,667 #2,518
2012 modern 2,640 #2,499
2013 modern 2,665 #2,522
2014 modern 2,679 #2,526
2015 modern 2,673 #2,512
2016 modern 2,657 #2,514

Geography

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Where Hurrells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bardwell, London parishes, Great Yarmouth 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 South Hams, Port Glasgow Upper, West and Central 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 Bardwell Suffolk
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Great Yarmouth Norfolk
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 South Hams 012 South Hams
2 Port Glasgow Upper, West and Central Inverclyde
3 South Hams 010 South Hams
4 South Hams 005 South Hams
5 Cornwall 057 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hurrell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hurrell

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Hurrell is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hurrell 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

Hurrell falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Hurrell

The surname Hurrell has its origins in England, emerging during the late medieval period. It is believed to be a locational surname, derived from the Old English words "hyrre" meaning "hire" and "hyll" meaning "hill." This suggests that the name originated from a place named something akin to "Hyrrehyll," likely referring to a hired or rented hill.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1277, where a Thomas de Hyrhill is mentioned. This document serves as a valuable historical reference, providing evidence of the name's existence and its early spelling variations.

The Hurrell surname is also found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where a William Hyrhulle is listed. This record further solidifies the name's presence in different regions of England during the 13th and 14th centuries.

In the 16th century, the Hurrell surname appeared in various forms, such as Hurrell, Hurrill, and Hurryll, reflecting the inconsistencies in spelling common during that era. One notable individual bearing this name was John Hurrell, a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol, who lived from 1525 to 1592.

Moving forward to the 17th century, the Hurrell surname continued to be documented in various records. One notable figure was William Hurrell, a renowned English composer and organist who lived from 1608 to 1663. His contributions to the world of music during this period are widely recognized.

In the 18th century, the Hurrell surname gained further prominence with individuals such as Francis Hurrell, a respected English writer and clergyman who lived from 1720 to 1789. His literary works and religious contributions during this time period were significant.

Another notable figure from the 19th century was John Hurrell, an English artist and engraver who lived from 1812 to 1891. His artistic talents and contributions to the world of art during the Victorian era were widely celebrated.

The Hurrell surname has a rich history spanning several centuries, with its origins rooted in the English landscape and its meaning tied to the concept of a hired or rented hill. While the name has evolved and spread across various regions, it remains a testament to the enduring legacy of English surnames and their ability to withstand the test of time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hurrell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hurrell 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. Suffolk leads with 297 Hurrells recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.04x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 297 14.04x
Devon 295 8.16x
Essex 255 7.44x
Middlesex 252 1.45x
Norfolk 173 6.48x
Kent 81 1.37x
Surrey 76 0.90x
Yorkshire 50 0.29x
Cornwall 46 2.34x
Durham 26 0.50x
Lancashire 22 0.11x
Cambridgeshire 21 1.91x
Hampshire 21 0.59x
Sussex 21 0.72x
Staffordshire 16 0.27x
Derbyshire 15 0.55x
Warwickshire 11 0.25x
Hertfordshire 10 0.84x
Gloucestershire 9 0.26x
Northumberland 9 0.35x
Lincolnshire 8 0.29x
Dorset 7 0.61x
Wiltshire 7 0.46x
Berkshire 6 0.46x
Cumberland 5 0.33x
Northamptonshire 5 0.31x
Worcestershire 5 0.22x
Channel Islands 4 0.78x
Leicestershire 4 0.21x
Royal Navy 4 1.93x
Carmarthenshire 3 0.41x
Cheshire 3 0.08x
Bedfordshire 2 0.22x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.19x
Caernarfonshire 2 0.28x
Fife 2 0.19x
Pembrokeshire 2 0.36x
Glamorgan 1 0.03x
Isle of Man 1 0.31x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.04x
Somerset 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ugborough in Devon leads with 38 Hurrells recorded in 1881 and an index of 434.78x.

Place Total Index
Ugborough 38 434.78x
Plymouth St Andrew 35 12.56x
Wickhambrook 34 427.67x
Gorleston 31 57.66x
Stoke Damerel 27 10.67x
Felstead 26 221.28x
Great Yarmouth 26 11.75x
St Marylebone London 25 2.70x
Whepstead 25 684.93x
Wicklewood 23 528.74x
Barnardiston 22 1746.03x
Kensington London 20 2.07x
Lambeth 20 1.32x
Paddington London 20 3.13x
Woodford 20 51.52x
Bishopwearmouth 18 4.06x
Great Leighs 18 402.68x
Hackney London 18 1.85x
Yealmpton 18 324.32x
Camberwell 17 1.53x
Lawshall 16 336.84x
Maldon St Peter 16 91.59x
Mile End Old Town London 16 4.33x
Bromley London 15 3.92x
Shimpling 15 513.70x
Brighton 14 2.37x
Southminster 14 186.17x
Wattisfield 14 487.80x
Shoreditch London 13 1.73x
Braintree 12 38.97x
Fulham London 12 4.76x
Pennycross 12 396.04x
Portsea 12 1.72x
Shaugh Prior 12 288.46x
St Pancras London 12 0.86x
Bardwell 11 243.90x
Islington London 11 0.65x
Nether Hallam 11 4.72x
Shenfield 11 123.60x
Staveley 11 22.78x
Stradishall 11 484.58x
Bury St Edmunds St James 10 17.69x
Deopham 10 395.26x
Hopton 10 191.20x
Poplar London 10 3.05x
Tormoham 10 6.54x
Bow London 9 4.07x
Churston Ferrers 9 237.47x
Great Baddow 9 73.77x
Hellesdon 9 183.30x
Hunslet 9 3.35x
Malborough 9 62.63x
Plymouth Charles The 9 5.65x
Rotherhithe 9 4.19x
Southill 9 299.00x
Aveton Gifford 8 152.96x
Barking 8 7.97x
Bethnal Green London 8 1.06x
Bexley 8 15.27x
Colchester St Botolph 8 27.43x
Leaveland 8 1038.96x
Lexden 8 58.10x
Limehouse London 8 4.19x
Long Melford 8 40.67x
Rayleigh 8 101.27x
St Luke London 8 2.87x
Watton 8 95.35x
West Ham 8 1.06x
Antony 7 36.86x
Aylesford 7 42.61x
Burnham 7 55.25x
Charlton 7 17.78x
Coventry St Michael 7 4.97x
Croydon 7 1.49x
Field Dalling 7 357.14x
Horton In Bradford 7 2.60x
Latchingdon Snoreham 7 214.72x
Plympton St Mary 7 33.49x
Reedham 7 136.99x
Tewin 7 222.22x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 111
John 83
George 58
Henry 58
James 56
Thomas 43
Charles 42
Robert 29
Arthur 26
Joseph 25
Walter 24
Richard 22
Alfred 17
Frederick 16
Samuel 15
Albert 12
Edward 12
Ernest 12
Herbert 12
David 9
Harry 9
Francis 7
Fredrick 6
Fredk. 5
Wm. 5
Benjamin 4
Chas. 4
Frank 4
Fred 4
Mark 4
Peter 4
Anthony 3
Edmund 3
Geo. 3
Philip 3
Saml. 3
Stephen 3
Sydney 3
Aaron 2
Amos 2
Clement 2
Daniel 2
Douglas 2
Earnest 2
Jeremiah 2
Jonathan 2
Nicholas 2
Paul 2
Ralph 2
Sampson 2

FAQ

Hurrell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hurrell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,775 people were recorded with the Hurrell surname. That placed it at #2,440 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hurrell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,657 in 2016. That gives Hurrell a modern rank of #2,514.

What does the Hurrell surname mean?

Of English origin referring to a heathland or wooded hillock area.

What does the Hurrell map show?

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