Burchill
A locational surname derived from the Old English words 'burh' and 'hyll', meaning a person from a hill near a fortified town or settlement.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 617 Americans carry the last name Burchill. That puts it at #41,303 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.18 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 555,518 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Burchill surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
617
1 in 555,518
Census rank
#41,303
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
527
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 527 bearers of the surname Burchill in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.18 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 41303rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Burchill, the largest self-reported group is White at 97.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Burchill
The surname Burchill has its origins in England, tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "burh" meaning a fortified town or borough, and "hill" referring to a hill or elevated place. This suggests that the name may have originated from individuals who lived in or near a fortified town situated on a hill.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Burchel" and "Burchill," indicating the surname's presence in England during the Norman conquest. These early spellings also hint at the name's potential Norman-French influence, as many English surnames were adapted or altered during this period.
In the 13th century, the surname appears in various records, such as the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire (1273) and the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire (1275), where it is spelled as "Burchull" and "Burchill," respectively. These early spellings highlight the surname's evolution over time.
Notably, the surname Burchill is associated with several place names in England, including Burchill Hill in Staffordshire and Burchill Wood in Leicestershire. These place names further reinforce the connection between the surname and its geographical origins.
Among the notable individuals bearing the surname Burchill throughout history are:
1. John Burchill (c. 1460 - 1530), an English Member of Parliament for Wilton during the reign of Henry VIII.
2. Richard Burchill (1815 - 1879), a British mathematician and educator who served as the headmaster of the Royal Naval School in London.
3. Julie Burchill (born 1959), a controversial English writer and journalist known for her provocative opinions and commentary.
4. Edward Burchill (1920 - 2005), an Australian politician who served as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council.
5. Garry Burchill (born 1949), an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played for the Parramatta Eels and Western Suburbs Magpies.
While the surname Burchill is not among the most common surnames in England, it has a rich history that spans centuries, reflecting the country's diverse cultural and linguistic influences. The name's evolution from its Old English roots to its various spellings and associations with specific places serves as a testament to the enduring legacy of surnames in tracing the stories and identities of families across generations.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Burchill
Among Census respondents with the surname Burchill, the largest self-reported group is White at 97.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Burchill bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Burchill surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White97.2%
- Unknown or suppressed1.5%
- Hispanic or Latino1.3%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Burchill surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #32,856 | #41,303 | -25.7% |
| Count | 658 | 527 | -19.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.24 | 0.18 | -25.0% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Burchill bearers went from 658 to 527 (-19.9% change). The surname moved down 8,447 positions in the national ranking, going from #32,856 to #41,303.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Burchill
FAQ
Burchill surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Burchill?
The surname Burchill holds position #41,303 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 617 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.18 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Burchill surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Burchill, the largest self-reported group is White at 97.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.3%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.