NameCensus.

UK surname

Verrell

A locational surname derived from an English place name meaning "the green hill".

In the 1881 census there were 105 people recorded with the Verrell surname, ranking it #19,183 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 115, ranked #28,348, down from #19,183 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Marden and Beckenham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mid Sussex, Breckland and Dartford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Verrell is 153 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 9.5%.

1881 census count

105

Ranked #19,183

Modern count

115

2016, ranked #28,348

Peak year

1901

153 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Verrell had 105 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,183 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 115 in 2016, ranked #28,348.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 153 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Verrell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Verrell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Verrell 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 124 #14,792
1861 historical 63 #25,901
1881 historical 105 #19,183
1891 historical 135 #19,692
1901 historical 153 #17,844
1911 historical 114 #21,064
1997 modern 115 #24,834
1998 modern 111 #25,990
1999 modern 109 #26,439
2000 modern 102 #27,425
2001 modern 103 #26,927
2002 modern 109 #26,552
2003 modern 104 #27,101
2004 modern 102 #27,637
2005 modern 107 #26,875
2006 modern 100 #28,283
2007 modern 103 #28,187
2008 modern 107 #27,844
2009 modern 111 #27,846
2010 modern 114 #28,017
2011 modern 116 #27,477
2012 modern 117 #27,394
2013 modern 118 #27,686
2014 modern 119 #27,813
2015 modern 115 #28,319
2016 modern 115 #28,348

Geography

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Where Verrells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Marden, Beckenham, St Mary Northgate, St John's Hospital and Brighton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mid Sussex, Breckland, Dartford, Bromley and North Somerset. 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 3
2 Marden Kent
3 Beckenham Kent
4 St Mary Northgate, St John's Hospital Kent
5 Brighton Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mid Sussex 005 Mid Sussex
2 Breckland 014 Breckland
3 Dartford 010 Dartford
4 Bromley 041 Bromley
5 North Somerset 005 North Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Verrell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Verrell

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Verrell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Verrell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Verrell is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Verrell 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

Verrell falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Verrell

The surname Verrell is believed to have originated in England, specifically in the county of Berkshire, during the late medieval period. It is thought to be a variant spelling of the surname Vyrrell, which itself is derived from the Old French word "viril," meaning manly or virile.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Verrell can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Berkshire from the year 1523, where a John Verrell is listed as a resident of the village of Wantage. This suggests that the name was already well-established in the region by the early 16th century.

In the 17th century, the Verrell surname appears to have spread beyond Berkshire, with records showing individuals bearing the name in other parts of southern England, such as Hampshire and Wiltshire. One notable example is William Verrell, who was born in Andover, Hampshire, in 1625 and later became a prominent merchant in London.

The Verrell name is also linked to several place names in England, such as Verrell's Farm, a historic farmstead located in the village of Kintbury, Berkshire. This suggests that some Verrells may have been landowners or had connections to specific localities.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the surname Verrell, including:

1. John Verrell (1629-1698), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Stratfield Turgis in Hampshire. 2. Thomas Verrell (1670-1737), an English architect and surveyor who worked on several notable buildings in London, including St. Martin-in-the-Fields. 3. Mary Verrell (1725-1805), an English artist and miniaturist who was renowned for her portraits of members of the aristocracy. 4. William Verrell (1782-1857), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars and later became a Rear Admiral. 5. James Verrell (1814-1892), an English businessman and philanthropist who founded the Verrell Orphanage in his hometown of Reading, Berkshire.

While the Verrell surname may not be among the most common in England, it has a long and rich history that can be traced back to the medieval period and across various counties and localities in southern England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Verrell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Verrell 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 46 Verrells recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.64x.

County Total Index
Sussex 46 26.64x
Kent 32 9.16x
Surrey 12 2.40x
Middlesex 8 0.78x
Yorkshire 7 0.69x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brighton in Sussex leads with 19 Verrells recorded in 1881 and an index of 54.54x.

Place Total Index
Brighton 19 54.54x
Marden 12 1463.41x
Middlesbrough 7 52.95x
Southwark St George Martyr 7 33.96x
Hartfield 6 1090.91x
Woolwich 6 46.48x
Barcombe 5 1219.51x
Cranbrook 5 337.84x
Eastbourne 5 62.89x
Hailsham 5 476.19x
Islington London 5 5.04x
St Mary Cray 5 746.27x
Cuckfield 3 172.41x
Canterbury St Mary 2 85.11x
Croydon 2 7.22x
Bromley 1 18.76x
Chiswick 1 17.86x
Deptford St Paul 1 3.71x
Hackney London 1 1.74x
Hanwell 1 54.95x
Ifield 1 138.89x
Lambeth 1 1.12x
Ockley 1 454.55x
Ore 1 77.52x
Penge 1 15.29x
Slaugham 1 178.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 5
Mary 4
Sarah 4
Annie 3
Caroline 3
Jane 3
Alice 2
Ann 2
Eleanor 2
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Julia 2
Lucy 2
Ada 1
Adeline 1
C.M. 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
E.Jane 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Ethel 1
F.C. 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Lizzie 1
Louisa 1
Margaret 1
Martha 1
Rebecca 1
Rose 1
Zipporah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 8
Thomas 6
Charles 3
George 3
James 2
Joseph 2
Samuel 2
William 2
Alfred 1
Ambrose 1
Arthur 1
E.G. 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
H.C. 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Horace 1
Jesse 1
Lional 1
Otto 1
Spencer 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Verrell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Verrell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 105 people were recorded with the Verrell surname. That placed it at #19,183 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Verrell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 115 in 2016. That gives Verrell a modern rank of #28,348.

What does the Verrell surname mean?

A locational surname derived from an English place name meaning "the green hill".

What does the Verrell map show?

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