Burrill
An English masculine name possibly derived from the Old French "bor" (brown) and "rill" (stream).
Name Census estimates that about 0 living Americans carry the first name Burrill. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Burrill today is around 0 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Burrill births was 1919 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Burrill. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Burrill. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
0
~ - Americans
Peak year
1919
5 babies that year
Average age
-
1922 SSA rank
#4,391
Tracked since 1919
Popularity
Burrill: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Burrill from the 1910s through to the 1920s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 5 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Burrill by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Burrill during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Burrill
The given name Burrill is believed to have its origins in the Old English language, specifically deriving from the words "burh" and "hyll," which collectively translate to "hill fort" or "fortified hill." This suggests that the name may have originated among Anglo-Saxon communities during the early medieval period, potentially carrying a connotation of strength, fortitude, or association with defensive structures.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Burrill can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, which served as a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The Domesday Book mentions individuals bearing the name, indicating its usage during the late 11th century.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the first name Burrill. One such figure was Burrill Banning Crookshank (1803-1888), an American politician who served as a member of the Illinois House of Representatives and played a role in the establishment of the Illinois Central Railroad.
Another prominent figure was Burrill Bernard Crohn (1884-1983), an American gastroenterologist renowned for his groundbreaking work in identifying and describing Crohn's disease, a chronic inflammatory bowel condition. His contributions to the field of gastroenterology have had a lasting impact on medical research and patient care.
In the realm of education, Burrill Atwood Hibbard (1824-1913) made significant contributions as an American educator and administrator. He served as the president of the University of Wisconsin from 1862 to 1874, playing a pivotal role in the institution's growth and development during the post-Civil War era.
The name Burrill also found its way into the world of literature through the works of Burrill Henry Stuart (1856-1933), an American author and journalist. He was known for his novels and short stories, many of which explored themes of adventure and the American frontier.
Lastly, Burrill Bernard Wilkins (1911-1992) was an American botanist and educator who made significant contributions to the field of plant ecology. He served as a professor at the University of Minnesota and authored numerous publications on plant communities and vegetation patterns.
While the name Burrill may have originated from Old English roots, it has transcended its linguistic origins and been embraced by individuals from various cultural backgrounds, each leaving their mark on history through their respective fields and accomplishments.
People
Burrill + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Burrill as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with B
Other first names starting with B with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Burrill: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Burrill?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 0 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Burrill going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about - US residents.
Is Burrill a common name?
We classify Burrill as "Very Rare". It ranks above 2.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 10 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Burrill most popular?
The single biggest year for Burrill was 1919, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Burrill is about 0 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Burrill in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Burrill a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Burrill in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Burrill still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Burrill in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Burrill can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people share the name Burrill?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.