NameCensus.

UK surname

Sorrell

A surname of French origin referring to someone with reddish hair or a ruddy complexion.

In the 1881 census there were 893 people recorded with the Sorrell surname, ranking it #4,264 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,549, ranked #3,995, up from #4,264 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Waltham, Great and St Mary Stratford-le-Bow. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Dorset, South Holland and Babergh.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sorrell is 1,693 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 73.5%.

1881 census count

893

Ranked #4,264

Modern count

1,549

2016, ranked #3,995

Peak year

1998

1,693 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sorrell had 893 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,264 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,549 in 2016, ranked #3,995.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,319 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Sorrell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sorrell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sorrell 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 575 #4,429
1861 historical 382 #6,698
1881 historical 893 #4,264
1891 historical 967 #4,274
1901 historical 1,169 #4,180
1911 historical 1,319 #3,618
1997 modern 1,649 #3,600
1998 modern 1,693 #3,640
1999 modern 1,665 #3,732
2000 modern 1,631 #3,783
2001 modern 1,587 #3,806
2002 modern 1,617 #3,815
2003 modern 1,593 #3,780
2004 modern 1,563 #3,858
2005 modern 1,496 #3,972
2006 modern 1,485 #3,994
2007 modern 1,515 #3,966
2008 modern 1,514 #3,996
2009 modern 1,527 #4,051
2010 modern 1,549 #4,081
2011 modern 1,559 #4,014
2012 modern 1,557 #3,941
2013 modern 1,595 #3,929
2014 modern 1,588 #3,966
2015 modern 1,562 #3,984
2016 modern 1,549 #3,995

Geography

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Where Sorrells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Waltham, Great, St Mary Stratford-le-Bow and Chelmsford, Broomfield, Writtle, Widford, Chignal St James, Chignal Smealy. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Dorset, South Holland, Babergh, Southend-on-Sea and Mansfield. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Waltham, Great Essex
4 St Mary Stratford-le-Bow London (East Districts)
5 Chelmsford, Broomfield, Writtle, Widford, Chignal St James, Chignal Smealy Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Dorset 007 West Dorset
2 South Holland 001 South Holland
3 Babergh 002 Babergh
4 Southend-on-Sea 009 Southend-on-Sea
5 Mansfield 002 Mansfield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sorrell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sorrell

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Sorrell is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Sorrell 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

Sorrell 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 Sorrell 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 Sorrell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Sorrell

The surname Sorrell originated in England during the medieval period, deriving from the Old French word 'sorel' meaning 'reddish-brown'. It likely referred to someone with reddish-brown hair or complexion. The name first appeared in records in the 12th century, with early spellings including Sorel, Sorrell, and Surrell.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk in 1190, which mention a William Sorel. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also list several individuals bearing the surname Sorrell, indicating its presence in various parts of England at that time.

In the 14th century, the surname Sorrell appears in the Placita de Quo Warranto records of 1346, which document legal proceedings related to land ownership. This suggests that some Sorrell families held property and were of notable status during that era.

The Sorrell name has been associated with several notable figures throughout history. One of the earliest was Sir Ralph Sorrell, a 14th-century knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War and was appointed as a Justice of the Peace in Nottinghamshire in 1382.

In the 16th century, William Sorrell (c. 1535-1598) was a prominent English merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Skinners in London. He served as the company's Master in 1589 and was involved in international trade.

During the English Civil War, Colonel William Sorrell (c. 1610-1677) was a Parliamentarian officer who fought alongside Oliver Cromwell and played a role in the capture of Berkhamsted Castle in 1643.

In the 18th century, Thomas Sorrell (1701-1770) was a renowned English landscape architect and garden designer. He worked on several notable projects, including the gardens at Wrest Park in Bedfordshire.

Another noteworthy bearer of the Sorrell surname was Sir Arthur Sorrell (1871-1960), a British military officer who served in World War I and later became Chief of the Imperial General Staff in the 1930s.

The surname Sorrell has also been linked to various place names in England, such as Sorrell Barn in Hertfordshire and Sorrell's Moor in Northumberland, further highlighting its deep roots in the country.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sorrell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sorrell 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. Middlesex leads with 273 Sorrells recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.13x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 273 3.13x
Essex 239 13.90x
Kent 66 2.22x
Surrey 66 1.55x
Worcestershire 50 4.40x
Sussex 49 3.34x
Warwickshire 33 1.50x
Yorkshire 25 0.29x
Suffolk 13 1.23x
Lancashire 12 0.12x
Oxfordshire 9 1.67x
Berkshire 6 0.92x
Cornwall 6 0.61x
Gloucestershire 6 0.35x
Staffordshire 5 0.17x
Ayrshire 4 0.61x
Hampshire 4 0.22x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.34x
Cambridgeshire 3 0.54x
Channel Islands 3 1.16x
Durham 3 0.12x
Derbyshire 2 0.15x
Dorset 2 0.35x
Northamptonshire 2 0.24x
Cheshire 1 0.05x
Devon 1 0.06x
Leicestershire 1 0.10x
Lincolnshire 1 0.07x
Norfolk 1 0.07x
Shropshire 1 0.13x
Somerset 1 0.07x
Wiltshire 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Mile End Old Town in Middlesex leads with 39 Sorrells recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.36x.

Place Total Index
Mile End Old Town 39 28.36x
Islington London 38 4.50x
Bow London 33 29.76x
Great Waltham 29 414.29x
Hackney London 24 4.91x
Steeple Bumpstead 20 634.92x
West Ham 18 4.74x
Bethnal Green London 17 4.49x
Brighton 17 5.74x
Kensington London 17 3.51x
Chelmsford 14 47.46x
Kings Norton 14 13.73x
Lambeth 14 1.84x
Finchley 12 35.93x
Harvington 12 821.92x
Helion Bumpstead 12 517.24x
Aston 10 1.65x
Battersea 10 3.12x
Croydon 10 4.24x
Hempstead 10 531.91x
Salford Priors 10 408.16x
Tenterden 10 95.42x
Birmingham 9 1.23x
Canewdon 9 420.56x
Chelsea London 9 3.43x
Laughton 8 370.37x
Sittingbourne 8 34.09x
Smarden 8 235.29x
Spitalfields London 8 12.21x
Tendring 8 316.21x
Ticehurst 8 88.99x
Writtle 8 113.80x
Battle 7 70.64x
Knaresborough 7 51.62x
Mountnessing 7 268.20x
Newington 7 2.18x
Rochford 7 140.00x
St James Dukes Place 7 376.34x
Camberwell 6 1.08x
Charlbury 6 99.34x
Dartford 6 19.74x
East Bedfont 6 138.89x
Elmbridge 6 600.00x
Greenwich 6 4.33x
Shoreditch London 6 1.59x
St George Bloomsbury 6 12.00x
St Luke London 6 4.29x
St Marylebone London 6 1.29x
Wix 6 324.32x
Black Notley 5 251.26x
Crayford 5 38.52x
Kirk Hammerton 5 602.41x
Little Bentley 5 531.91x
Little Clacton 5 274.73x
Reading St Giles 5 7.79x
St Pancras London 5 0.71x
Sutton 5 16.28x
Birdbrook 4 231.21x
Bocking 4 38.68x
Bromley 4 8.83x
Clerkenwell London 4 1.95x
Gorran 4 144.40x
Great Dunmow 4 44.64x
Halstead 4 19.94x
Hastings St Mary 4 10.94x
Hill Moor 4 400.00x
Liverpool 4 0.64x
Nottingham St Mary 4 1.32x
Poplar London 4 2.43x
Portsea 4 1.14x
Putney 4 10.08x
South Ockendon 4 112.36x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 2.28x
St Bartholomew Great 4 50.44x
Stoke Prior 4 56.98x
Tipton 4 4.44x
Walthamstow 4 6.46x
Wethersfield 4 92.17x
Witham 4 45.15x
Worcester St Clement 4 55.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 68
John 44
James 37
George 26
Thomas 26
Charles 25
Joseph 20
Henry 19
Alfred 17
Edward 15
Arthur 11
Richard 9
Robert 7
Walter 7
Frederick 6
Harry 6
Herbert 6
Samuel 6
Albert 5
Benjamin 5
Ernest 4
Fredrick 4
Wm. 4
Francis 3
Fredk. 3
Leonard 3
Mark 3
Christopher 2
Earnest 2
Golden 2
Jeremiah 2
Sydney 2
Willie 2
Authur 1
Charley 1
Chas. 1
Clement 1
Eligah 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
G. 1
Jno. 1
Josiah 1
Lewis 1
Mary 1
Maurice 1
Minnie 1
Nathaniel 1
Nimrod 1
Wm.James 1

FAQ

Sorrell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sorrell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 893 people were recorded with the Sorrell surname. That placed it at #4,264 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sorrell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,549 in 2016. That gives Sorrell a modern rank of #3,995.

What does the Sorrell surname mean?

A surname of French origin referring to someone with reddish hair or a ruddy complexion.

What does the Sorrell map show?

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