NameCensus.

UK surname

Verrall

A locational surname likely derived from a place name in Essex.

In the 1881 census there were 585 people recorded with the Verrall surname, ranking it #5,965 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 875, ranked #6,427, down from #5,965 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Tunbridge, Bidborough and Brighton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wealden, Brighton and Hove and Southend-on-Sea.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Verrall is 972 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 49.6%.

1881 census count

585

Ranked #5,965

Modern count

875

2016, ranked #6,427

Peak year

1911

972 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Verrall had 585 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,965 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 875 in 2016, ranked #6,427.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 972 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Verrall surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Verrall surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Verrall 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 373 #6,385
1861 historical 289 #8,711
1881 historical 585 #5,965
1891 historical 662 #5,873
1901 historical 883 #5,208
1911 historical 972 #4,651
1997 modern 921 #5,870
1998 modern 944 #5,938
1999 modern 947 #5,962
2000 modern 937 #5,999
2001 modern 900 #6,089
2002 modern 934 #6,017
2003 modern 865 #6,255
2004 modern 898 #6,097
2005 modern 870 #6,186
2006 modern 884 #6,119
2007 modern 885 #6,163
2008 modern 885 #6,210
2009 modern 926 #6,117
2010 modern 916 #6,307
2011 modern 905 #6,300
2012 modern 894 #6,279
2013 modern 901 #6,336
2014 modern 894 #6,405
2015 modern 872 #6,467
2016 modern 875 #6,427

Geography

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Where Verralls are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Tunbridge, Bidborough, Brighton and Croydon, Battersea (Penge), Sanderstead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wealden, Brighton and Hove and Southend-on-Sea. 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 Tunbridge, Bidborough Kent
3 London parishes London 3
4 Brighton Sussex
5 Croydon, Battersea (Penge), Sanderstead Surrey

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wealden 017 Wealden
2 Brighton and Hove 002 Brighton and Hove
3 Wealden 015 Wealden
4 Wealden 016 Wealden
5 Southend-on-Sea 014 Southend-on-Sea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Verrall

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Verrall

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Verrall is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Verrall is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Verrall

The surname Verrall is of English origin, first appearing in records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old English word "feor," meaning far or distant. This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived far away or came from a distant place.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where a person named Richard Verrall is mentioned. Another early reference is in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1332, which lists a John Verrall.

The name Verrall is also thought to have connections to various place names in England, such as Farleigh or Fairley, which are derived from the Old English words "feor" and "leah," meaning a far or distant clearing or meadow. Some early spellings of the surname include Verall, Verrell, and Ferrell.

In the 16th century, a notable figure with the name was Edward Verrall, a prominent merchant who lived in London from around 1525 to 1590. Another individual of note was John Verrall, a successful landowner and farmer who resided in Somerset during the mid-17th century, from approximately 1620 to 1685.

Moving into the 18th century, there was William Verrall, an English clergyman and author who was born in 1707 and died in 1782. He published several works, including a collection of sermons and a treatise on the Trinity.

In the 19th century, a notable bearer of the name was Charles Verrall, a renowned architect who was active in London from 1825 to 1890. He designed several notable buildings, including churches and public buildings.

Another significant figure was Margaret Verrall, a scholar and psychical researcher who lived from 1857 to 1916. She was a member of the Society for Psychical Research and made contributions to the study of automatic writing and trance phenomena.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Verrall families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Verrall 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. Sussex leads with 310 Verralls recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.22x.

County Total Index
Sussex 310 32.22x
Surrey 120 4.32x
Kent 106 5.44x
Middlesex 30 0.53x
Lancashire 6 0.09x
Northamptonshire 5 0.93x
Hampshire 2 0.17x
Somerset 2 0.22x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.28x
Cornwall 1 0.15x
Gloucestershire 1 0.09x
Staffordshire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Eastbourne in Sussex leads with 93 Verralls recorded in 1881 and an index of 210.07x.

Place Total Index
Eastbourne 93 210.07x
Brighton 66 34.00x
Tonbridge 22 31.33x
Reigate Foreign 21 69.74x
Croydon 18 11.66x
Rotherfield 15 177.10x
Seaford 15 458.72x
Camberwell 13 3.57x
Maidstone 13 22.41x
Barcombe 12 519.48x
Bletchingley 10 275.48x
Lewes St John Southover 10 154.80x
St Lawrence 10 74.68x
Battersea 9 4.29x
Lambeth 9 1.81x
Alciston 8 2105.26x
Boughton Monchelsea 8 372.09x
Chelsfield 8 430.11x
Reigate Borough 8 124.81x
Shoreditch London 8 3.23x
Broadwater 7 31.72x
Dorking 7 37.49x
Hove 7 16.58x
St Marylebone London 7 2.30x
Telscombe 7 3888.89x
Bermondsey 6 3.53x
Hastings St Mary 6 25.06x
Hollington 6 175.44x
Piddinghoe 6 1363.64x
Rochester St Margaret 6 29.23x
Clapham 5 7.01x
Deptford St Paul 5 3.33x
Frant 5 73.31x
Hamsey 5 462.96x
Hawkhurst 5 82.64x
Lewes St Ann 5 152.44x
Northampton All Sts 5 27.46x
Ripe 5 657.89x
Marden 4 87.53x
Patcham 4 232.56x
Sandhurst 4 174.67x
Sutton 4 19.88x
Bethnal Green London 3 1.21x
Frindsbury 3 40.87x
Horsemonden 3 105.63x
Kirkdale 3 2.63x
Lewes St Michael 3 157.07x
Lower Booths 3 24.73x
Penge 3 8.23x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 2.61x
Alfriston 2 175.44x
Bromley 2 6.74x
Bromley London 2 1.59x
East Farleigh 2 61.16x
Harrow 2 22.94x
Hastings St Mary In The 2 9.74x
Icklesham 2 118.34x
Kensington London 2 0.63x
Lewisham 2 1.93x
Lower Beeding 2 78.13x
Newington 2 0.95x
Plumpton 2 219.78x
Preston 2 11.90x
Rainham 2 37.38x
South Bersted 2 24.45x
St George Bloomsbury 2 6.11x
St George Hanover 2 2.68x
Aldershot 1 2.55x
Aylesford 1 18.52x
Berwick 1 294.12x
Chailey 1 33.56x
Hailsham 1 17.18x
Harborne 1 1.62x
Lewes All Sts 1 26.11x
Penshurst 1 30.58x
Ramsgate 1 3.15x
Shipbourne 1 101.01x
St Giles Cambridge 1 21.41x
Westminster St 1 4.75x
Willingdon 1 40.98x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 33
Elizabeth 17
Sarah 15
Harriet 12
Ann 11
Emily 9
Jane 9
Eliza 8
Ellen 8
Emma 7
Lucy 7
Alice 6
Annie 6
Kate 6
Martha 6
Caroline 5
Charlotte 5
Florence 5
Hannah 5
Fanny 4
Frances 4
Harriett 4
Louisa 4
Maria 4
Sophia 4
Catherine 3
Edith 3
Georgina 3
Mercy 3
Rosina 3
Ada 2
Amy 2
Eleanor 2
Laura 2
Lydia 2
Matilda 2
Rosie 2
Ruth 2
Agnes 1
Amelia 1
Charity 1
Elizth. 1
Emilie 1
Emineline 1
Ethel 1
Evalyne 1
Hepzibah 1
Herriott 1
Isabella 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 33
George 22
John 22
James 21
Thomas 21
Henry 17
Charles 16
Alfred 11
Arthur 10
Frederick 10
Walter 10
Richard 8
Edward 7
Harry 6
Ernest 5
Frank 5
Herbert 5
Robert 5
Albert 4
Samuel 4
Horace 3
Joseph 3
Peter 3
Amos 2
Benjamin 2
Francis 2
Fred 2
Mark 2
Reuben 2
Willm. 2
Augustus 1
Chas. 1
Claude 1
Daniel 1
Earnest 1
Edgar 1
Gains 1
Georg 1
Harold 1
Hildred 1
Hugh 1
Luther 1
Matthew 1
Mils 1
Nelly 1
Obediah 1
Percy 1
Robt.T. 1
Sackett 1
Sidney 1

FAQ

Verrall surname: questions and answers

How common was the Verrall surname in 1881?

In 1881, 585 people were recorded with the Verrall surname. That placed it at #5,965 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Verrall surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 875 in 2016. That gives Verrall a modern rank of #6,427.

What does the Verrall surname mean?

A locational surname likely derived from a place name in Essex.

What does the Verrall map show?

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