NameCensus.

UK surname

Terrill

Derived from a French place name meaning "stubble field," likely referring to someone who lived near or owned such a field.

In the 1881 census there were 265 people recorded with the Terrill surname, ranking it #10,612 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 181, ranked #20,955, down from #10,612 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Redruth, Illogan and Southampton St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Winchester, Fareham and Warrington.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Terrill is 377 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 31.7%.

1881 census count

265

Ranked #10,612

Modern count

181

2016, ranked #20,955

Peak year

1901

377 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Terrill had 265 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,612 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 181 in 2016, ranked #20,955.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 377 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Terrill surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Terrill surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Terrill 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 250 #8,788
1861 historical 199 #12,062
1881 historical 265 #10,612
1891 historical 275 #11,847
1901 historical 377 #9,876
1911 historical 276 #12,099
1997 modern 194 #17,978
1998 modern 205 #17,850
1999 modern 204 #18,021
2000 modern 202 #18,094
2001 modern 192 #18,388
2002 modern 197 #18,474
2003 modern 190 #18,683
2004 modern 184 #19,183
2005 modern 183 #19,194
2006 modern 184 #19,254
2007 modern 183 #19,553
2008 modern 187 #19,465
2009 modern 187 #19,868
2010 modern 183 #20,586
2011 modern 193 #19,729
2012 modern 196 #19,463
2013 modern 191 #20,124
2014 modern 191 #20,302
2015 modern 187 #20,502
2016 modern 181 #20,955

Geography

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Where Terrills are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Redruth, Illogan, Southampton St Mary, Camborne and Portsmouth, Portsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Winchester, Fareham, Warrington, Huntingdonshire and Copeland. 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 Redruth Cornwall
2 Illogan Cornwall
3 Southampton St Mary Hampshire
4 Camborne Cornwall
5 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Winchester 004 Winchester
2 Fareham 010 Fareham
3 Warrington 021 Warrington
4 Huntingdonshire 003 Huntingdonshire
5 Copeland 008 Copeland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Terrill

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Terrill

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Terrill surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Terrill household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Terrill 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

Terrill 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

Terrill falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Terrill

The surname Terrill has its origins in England, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "tertre," meaning a small hill or mound. This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals who lived near or on a hill or elevated ground.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of land and property ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror, there is a mention of a place called "Terryll" in Somerset, which could be an early spelling variation of the surname.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Terrill can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, where a person named William Terrill was listed as a landowner. This indicates that the surname was already established and in use during this time period.

In the 14th century, a John Terrill was documented as a member of the parliament in Derbyshire, England, suggesting that the family had gained some prominence and social standing.

During the 16th century, the surname Terrill was found in various records, including those of Thomas Terrill (1520-1580), who was a wealthy merchant and landowner in Gloucestershire, and his son, John Terrill (1550-1615), who served as a Member of Parliament for the same county.

In the 17th century, a notable figure was Sir Samuel Terrill (1615-1676), an English judge and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Stockbridge and later became a justice of the King's Bench.

Another prominent individual with the surname Terrill was Rev. Edward Terrill (1696-1762), an English clergyman and author who published several religious works and served as the rector of various parishes in Hampshire and Wiltshire.

In the 19th century, one of the most famous individuals with the surname Terrill was William Terrill (1834-1862), a Union Army brigadier general during the American Civil War who was killed in action at the Battle of Perryville.

While the surname Terrill has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including North America, Australia, and New Zealand, where individuals with this surname can be found today.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Terrill families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Terrill 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. Cornwall leads with 121 Terrills recorded in 1881 and an index of 41.35x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 121 41.35x
Kent 19 2.15x
Hampshire 17 3.21x
Lancashire 17 0.55x
Devon 16 2.97x
Warwickshire 15 2.30x
Middlesex 13 0.50x
Yorkshire 10 0.39x
Wiltshire 9 3.94x
Glamorgan 7 1.56x
Worcestershire 6 1.78x
Lincolnshire 3 0.73x
Oxfordshire 2 1.25x
Surrey 2 0.16x
Cheshire 1 0.18x
Dorset 1 0.59x
Durham 1 0.13x
Lanarkshire 1 0.12x
Leicestershire 1 0.35x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.29x
Somerset 1 0.24x
Sussex 1 0.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Redruth in Cornwall leads with 49 Terrills recorded in 1881 and an index of 591.79x.

Place Total Index
Redruth 49 591.79x
Camborne 23 190.71x
Calstock 13 226.48x
Birmingham 11 5.06x
Illogan 11 141.94x
Maidstone 11 41.87x
Stoke Damerel 11 29.21x
Balby Cum Hexthorpe 9 294.12x
Habergham Eaves 9 32.11x
Coombe Bissett 8 2500.00x
Cranbrook 8 213.90x
Willesden 8 32.83x
Holdenhurst 7 50.36x
St Austell 7 70.00x
Swansea Town 7 18.97x
Southampton St Mary 6 18.01x
Gwennap 5 90.58x
Kenwyn 5 65.36x
Chorlton On Medlock 4 8.21x
St John Winchester 4 360.36x
Yardley 4 46.30x
Boultham 3 3000.00x
Walton On Hill 3 18.05x
Bodicote 2 327.87x
Exeter St Thomas The 2 36.50x
Kea 2 91.74x
Madron Penzance 2 18.80x
Shotteswell 2 909.09x
St Gluvias Penryn 2 85.47x
Stoke 2 91.74x
Westminster St John 2 6.35x
Whistones 2 81.97x
Barony 1 0.47x
Bedminster 1 2.56x
Clapham 1 3.10x
Clerkenwell London 1 1.64x
Doncaster 1 5.34x
Downton 1 33.44x
Edgbaston 1 4.95x
Everton 1 1.02x
Finchley 1 10.09x
Fowey 1 74.63x
Great Alne 1 263.16x
Great Neston 1 53.19x
Hastings St Mary 1 9.22x
Lambeth 1 0.44x
Leicester St Margaret 1 1.43x
Monkwearmouth Shore 1 6.66x
Nottingham St Mary 1 1.11x
Portland 1 10.96x
St George Hanover 1 2.96x
Tavistock 1 16.31x
Uny Lelant 1 63.29x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 20
Mary 16
Catherine 6
Elizth. 6
Grace 5
Jane 5
Sarah 5
Annie 4
Eliza 4
Emily 4
Fanny 4
Ann 3
Caroline 3
Ellen 3
Minnie 3
Rosina 3
Susan 3
Ada 2
Anne 2
Beatrice 2
Eliz. 2
Emma 2
Florence 2
Kate 2
Katie 2
Linda 2
Louisa 2
Lucy 2
Albena 1
Amy 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Daisy 1
Edith 1
Elizbth. 1
Elizth.Ann 1
Emly 1
Ethilinda 1
Eva 1
Frances 1
Julia 1
Laura 1
Lavinia 1
Leonora 1
Lilian 1
Lilly 1
Lily 1
Lydia 1
Mable 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 21
John 15
Thomas 7
Charles 5
Samuel 5
James 4
Joseph 4
Alfred 3
Arthur 3
Edward 3
Walter 3
Frank 2
George 2
Henry 2
Adrian 1
Albert 1
Alfd. 1
Augustus 1
Benjamin 1
Bertie 1
Chas.H. 1
Colin 1
David 1
Ernest 1
F. 1
Francis 1
Franciss 1
Frederick 1
Geo. 1
Harry 1
Isaac 1
Josephus 1
Mark 1
Richard 1
Richd. 1
Robert 1
Stan. 1
Thos. 1
Thos.J. 1
Willie 1
Willm. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Terrill surname: questions and answers

How common was the Terrill surname in 1881?

In 1881, 265 people were recorded with the Terrill surname. That placed it at #10,612 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Terrill surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 181 in 2016. That gives Terrill a modern rank of #20,955.

What does the Terrill surname mean?

Derived from a French place name meaning "stubble field," likely referring to someone who lived near or owned such a field.

What does the Terrill map show?

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