NameCensus.

UK surname

Orrell

A locational surname derived from a place named Orrell, likely near Wigan, England.

In the 1881 census there were 1,117 people recorded with the Orrell surname, ranking it #3,570 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,094, ranked #5,359, down from #3,570 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wigan, Leigh and Blackburn. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Blackburn with Darwen, Warrington and Sunderland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Orrell is 1,610 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 2.1%.

1881 census count

1,117

Ranked #3,570

Modern count

1,094

2016, ranked #5,359

Peak year

1911

1,610 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Orrell had 1,117 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,570 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,094 in 2016, ranked #5,359.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,610 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Small Town Suburbia.

Orrell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Orrell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Orrell 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 668 #3,891
1861 historical 659 #4,069
1881 historical 1,117 #3,570
1891 historical 1,242 #3,477
1901 historical 1,485 #3,447
1911 historical 1,610 #3,017
1997 modern 1,219 #4,652
1998 modern 1,239 #4,753
1999 modern 1,261 #4,723
2000 modern 1,246 #4,751
2001 modern 1,241 #4,666
2002 modern 1,240 #4,756
2003 modern 1,200 #4,806
2004 modern 1,162 #4,951
2005 modern 1,144 #4,964
2006 modern 1,129 #5,023
2007 modern 1,126 #5,080
2008 modern 1,130 #5,108
2009 modern 1,175 #5,028
2010 modern 1,193 #5,070
2011 modern 1,166 #5,108
2012 modern 1,113 #5,242
2013 modern 1,132 #5,243
2014 modern 1,138 #5,252
2015 modern 1,117 #5,287
2016 modern 1,094 #5,359

Geography

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Where Orrells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wigan, Leigh, Blackburn, Bolton-le-Moors and Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Blackburn with Darwen, Warrington, Sunderland and Wigan. 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 Wigan Lancashire
2 Leigh Lancashire
3 Blackburn Lancashire
4 Bolton-le-Moors Lancashire
5 Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth) Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Blackburn with Darwen 017 Blackburn with Darwen
2 Warrington 001 Warrington
3 Blackburn with Darwen 008 Blackburn with Darwen
4 Sunderland 032 Sunderland
5 Wigan 033 Wigan

Forenames

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First names often paired with Orrell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Orrell

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

Small Town Suburbia

Nationally, the Orrell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Small Town Suburbia, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Orrell 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 is predominantly comprised of married couples with no resident dependent children, living in areas characterised neither by under-occupancy nor overcrowding throughout the UK in or adjacent to small towns. White ethnic groups and affiliation with Christianity predominates. Housing tends to be predominantly semi-detached or detached and workers are employed principally in managerial and professional occupations, with semi-skilled occupations also in evidence. These areas of the Supergroup are of higher population density.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Orrell 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

Orrell is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Orrell 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 Orrell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Orrell

The surname Orrell is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the 13th century in Lancashire, England. The name is believed to be derived from the Old English words "ora" meaning a border or boundary, and "hyll" meaning a hill, suggesting that it may have referred to someone who lived near a boundary hill.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Assize Rolls of Lancashire from 1246, which mention a Richard de Orrell. This indicates that the name was already established in the region at that time.

The name Orrell is also closely associated with the town of Orrell, located near Wigan in Lancashire. It is likely that the surname originated from this place name, which itself is derived from the Old English words mentioned earlier.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a record of landowners and holdings commissioned by William the Conqueror, there is a reference to a place called "Orell" or "Orrelle," which is believed to be the modern-day Orrell.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Orrell. One such person was John Orrell (c. 1511-1561), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Lancashire who served as the Mayor of Preston in 1548.

Another prominent figure was Robert Orrell (1679-1752), an English clergyman and author who wrote several works on theology and religious topics.

In the realm of literature, John Orrell (1923-2003) was a British novelist and poet known for his works exploring the themes of identity and belonging.

A more recent individual with the surname Orrell is Andrew Orrell (born 1952), a British businessman and former chairman of the Manchester United Supporters' Trust.

Furthermore, the name Orrell has also been associated with other variations and spellings, such as Orrell, Orrill, and Orrall, reflecting the natural evolution of language and regional dialects over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Orrell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Orrell 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 956 Orrells recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.41x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 956 7.41x
Yorkshire 47 0.44x
Durham 22 0.68x
Nottinghamshire 20 1.37x
Surrey 16 0.30x
Cheshire 13 0.54x
Derbyshire 9 0.53x
Warwickshire 6 0.22x
Essex 4 0.19x
Gloucestershire 3 0.14x
Hampshire 3 0.13x
Middlesex 3 0.03x
Dorset 2 0.28x
Glamorgan 2 0.11x
Bedfordshire 1 0.18x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.15x
Denbighshire 1 0.24x
Devon 1 0.04x
Flintshire 1 0.34x
Leicestershire 1 0.08x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.40x
Northumberland 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Bolton in Lancashire leads with 112 Orrells recorded in 1881 and an index of 65.57x.

Place Total Index
Great Bolton 112 65.57x
Little Bolton 95 57.30x
Ince In Makerfield 72 120.00x
Tottington Lower End 44 71.80x
Pemberton 32 62.23x
Wigan 30 16.65x
Atherton 23 49.00x
Over Darwen 23 22.33x
Bury 22 14.94x
Everton 19 4.62x
Tonge With Haulgh 19 75.70x
Greasley 18 54.46x
Great Crosby 18 51.19x
Mawdesley 18 520.23x
Walton Le Dale 17 49.06x
Blackburn 15 4.37x
Edgeworth 15 216.45x
Elton 15 33.67x
Great Lever 15 109.65x
Rumworth 13 70.54x
Worsbrough 13 41.20x
North Bierley 12 20.64x
Spotland 12 8.37x
Turton 12 56.85x
Clitheroe 11 28.99x
Moss Side 11 16.21x
Preston 11 3.19x
Walmersley Cum 10 48.54x
Westleigh 10 34.15x
Accrington 9 7.68x
Barrow In Furness 9 5.13x
Bradshaw 9 320.28x
Chorlton On Medlock 9 4.39x
Halliwell 9 19.18x
Penshaw 9 92.69x
Radcliffe 9 14.48x
Wrightington 9 159.86x
Ashton In Makerfield 8 21.79x
Camberwell 8 1.15x
Droylsden 8 19.02x
Farnworth 8 10.35x
Sharples 8 57.18x
Blackley 7 30.96x
Heap 7 10.24x
Kirkdale 7 3.23x
Liverpool 7 0.89x
Livesey 7 30.93x
Pittington 7 77.01x
Aston 6 0.80x
Darcy Lever 6 80.86x
Gorton 6 4.95x
Parbold 6 300.00x
Ryhope 6 26.73x
Altrincham 5 11.93x
Ardwick 5 4.30x
Barugh 5 55.01x
Bradford 5 1.92x
Eccleshill 5 177.94x
Haslingden 5 9.37x
Kearsley 5 18.43x
Manchester 5 0.86x
Openshaw 5 8.28x
Parr 5 10.84x
West Derby 5 1.33x
Worsley 5 6.29x
Battersea 4 1.00x
Bootle Cum Linacre 4 3.91x
Claylane 4 16.91x
Litherland 4 14.84x
Manningham 4 3.02x
Middlesbrough 4 2.85x
Orrell 4 24.95x
Shevington 4 67.80x
Upholland 4 24.21x
Walton On Hill 4 5.73x
Aldershot 3 4.02x
Ashton Under Lyne 3 1.06x
Little Hulton 3 14.05x
Quarlton 3 297.03x
Toxteth Park 3 0.69x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 101
Elizabeth 54
Margaret 37
Sarah 35
Alice 30
Ellen 30
Ann 26
Jane 24
Emma 15
Martha 14
Hannah 13
Eliza 9
Esther 8
Isabella 8
Maria 8
Annie 7
Betsy 7
Ada 6
Agnes 6
Anne 5
Betty 5
Catherine 5
Emily 5
Susannah 5
Edith 4
Harriett 4
Clara 3
Eleanor 3
Harriet 3
Kate 3
Leah 3
Margt. 3
Nancy 3
Caroline 2
Dorothy 2
Elizth. 2
Fanny 2
Frances 2
Gertrude 2
Hettie 2
Louisa 2
Lucy 2
Lydia 2
Matilda 2
Bertha 1
Betsey 1
Eliz. 1
Eliz.Ann 1
Elizh. 1
Zillah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 74
William 65
James 64
Thomas 59
Joseph 41
Richard 24
George 22
Robert 17
Edward 13
Henry 10
Samuel 10
Charles 7
David 7
Isaac 7
Albert 6
Arthur 6
Fred 5
Frederick 5
Herbert 5
Peter 5
Wm. 5
Andrew 4
Edmund 4
Edwin 4
Frank 4
Joshua 4
Ralph 4
Walter 4
Harry 3
Aaron 2
Alfred 2
Ambrose 2
Benjamin 2
Chas. 2
Elias 2
Eliezer 2
Ellis 2
Isiah 2
Saml. 2
Thos. 2
Wright 2
Chas.Edwd. 1
Christopher 1
Daniel 1
Enoch 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Fred. 1
Jus.R. 1
Lambert 1

FAQ

Orrell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Orrell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,117 people were recorded with the Orrell surname. That placed it at #3,570 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Orrell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,094 in 2016. That gives Orrell a modern rank of #5,359.

What does the Orrell surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place named Orrell, likely near Wigan, England.

What does the Orrell map show?

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