UK surname
A French surname thought to derive from the word "ceriel" meaning "cherry tree".
In the 1881 census there were 73 people recorded with the Serrell surname, ranking it #23,220 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 85, ranked #32,637, down from #23,220 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Leek, St Pancras and Much Cowarne, Stoke Lacy. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Serrell is 144 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 16.4%.
1881 census count
73
Ranked #23,220
Modern count
85
2016, ranked #32,637
Peak year
1891
144 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Serrell surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Serrell surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 67 | #21,440 |
| 1861 | historical | 139 | #16,263 |
| 1881 | historical | 73 | #23,220 |
| 1891 | historical | 144 | #18,842 |
| 1901 | historical | 75 | #25,852 |
| 1911 | historical | 95 | #23,294 |
| 1997 | modern | 77 | #29,874 |
| 1998 | modern | 84 | #29,537 |
| 1999 | modern | 82 | #29,933 |
| 2000 | modern | 91 | #28,952 |
| 2001 | modern | 85 | #29,396 |
| 2002 | modern | 91 | #29,181 |
| 2003 | modern | 92 | #28,974 |
| 2004 | modern | 86 | #30,019 |
| 2005 | modern | 88 | #29,831 |
| 2006 | modern | 92 | #29,576 |
| 2007 | modern | 88 | #30,515 |
| 2008 | modern | 90 | #30,567 |
| 2009 | modern | 91 | #30,944 |
| 2010 | modern | 92 | #31,366 |
| 2011 | modern | 97 | #30,552 |
| 2012 | modern | 94 | #31,258 |
| 2013 | modern | 88 | #32,349 |
| 2014 | modern | 94 | #31,909 |
| 2015 | modern | 89 | #32,325 |
| 2016 | modern | 85 | #32,637 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Leek, St Pancras, Much Cowarne, Stoke Lacy, Rushock and Birmingham Town: Aston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leek | Staffordshire |
| 2 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 3 | Much Cowarne, Stoke Lacy | Herefordshire |
| 4 | Rushock | Worcestershire |
| 5 | Birmingham Town: Aston | Warwickshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Serrell surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Serrell, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Serrell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Serrell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Serrell is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Serrell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Serrell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname SERRELL is of Anglo-Saxon origin and can be traced back to the 11th century in England. It is derived from the Old English words "seorr" meaning "willow" and "hyll" meaning "hill" or "ridge". The name likely referred to someone who lived near a willow-covered hill or ridge.
The earliest recorded instance of the name SERRELL appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled as "Seorhyll". This entry indicates that a person or family with this name held lands in Wiltshire at the time of the Norman Conquest.
In the 13th century, records show the name spelled as "Serrhill" and "Serrehull", reflecting the evolution of the English language. These spellings suggest the name originated from a place name, possibly a location now lost or absorbed into a larger town or village.
One notable bearer of the SERRELL name was Sir John Serrell (c. 1360-1435), a knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War and was awarded lands in Somerset for his service to the English Crown. His descendants continued to hold these lands for several generations.
Another prominent figure was William Serrell (1575-1655), a merchant and member of the Virginia Company. He played a role in the early colonization efforts of the British in North America.
In the 18th century, the SERRELL surname can be found in parish records from various counties in southern England, including Dorset, Hampshire, and Sussex. This suggests the name had spread from its likely origins in the southwest region.
One famous bearer from this period was Samuel Serrell (1715-1793), a English Baptist minister and author who wrote extensively on religious topics and served as the pastor of several congregations in London.
As the Industrial Revolution took hold, many SERRELL families migrated from rural areas to cities in search of work. By the 19th century, the name could be found in urban centers like Birmingham and Manchester.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Serrell surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Somerset leads with 14 Serrells recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.22x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Somerset | 14 | 12.22x |
| Essex | 9 | 6.40x |
| Middlesex | 8 | 1.12x |
| Durham | 6 | 2.83x |
| Worcestershire | 6 | 6.45x |
| Yorkshire | 6 | 0.85x |
| Hampshire | 5 | 3.43x |
| Surrey | 5 | 1.44x |
| Wiltshire | 5 | 7.94x |
| Warwickshire | 4 | 2.23x |
| Dorset | 3 | 6.42x |
| Cumberland | 1 | 1.63x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 0.90x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Ham in Essex leads with 9 Serrells recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| West Ham | 9 | 29.00x |
| St Pancras London | 8 | 13.96x |
| Guisbrough | 6 | 389.61x |
| Tibberton | 6 | 7500.00x |
| Darlington | 5 | 61.12x |
| Northwood | 5 | 240.38x |
| Stourton | 5 | 3571.43x |
| Aston | 4 | 8.09x |
| Richmond | 4 | 82.30x |
| Walcot | 4 | 65.57x |
| South Petherton | 3 | 508.47x |
| St Decumans Watchet | 3 | 1034.48x |
| Caundle Stourton | 2 | 2222.22x |
| Horsington | 2 | 1111.11x |
| Battersea | 1 | 3.82x |
| Henstridge | 1 | 312.50x |
| Langton Matravers | 1 | 454.55x |
| Mappleton | 1 | 2000.00x |
| Mungrisdale | 1 | 2500.00x |
| Sedgefield | 1 | 133.33x |
| Wincanton | 1 | 169.49x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Serrell surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Serrell surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Serrell households.
FAQ
In 1881, 73 people were recorded with the Serrell surname. That placed it at #23,220 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 85 in 2016. That gives Serrell a modern rank of #32,637.
A French surname thought to derive from the word "ceriel" meaning "cherry tree".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Serrell bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.