Find out how popular the last name Burkell is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Burkell.

Burkell, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Burkell surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Burkell in America

Burkell is the 156044th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Burkell surname appeared 104 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Burkell.

The history of the last name Burkell

The surname "BURKELL" has its origins in England, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "burh" meaning a fortified town or dwelling, and "cyll" signifying a small stream or brook. This suggests that the earliest bearers of this name may have resided near a brook within or near a fortified town.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1273, where a certain Robert Burkell is mentioned as a landowner. The Pipe Rolls were medieval financial records maintained by the English Exchequer.

In the 14th century, the surname appears in various spellings such as "Birkyll" and "Birkelle" in records from Lancashire and Cheshire. It is possible that these variations stem from the place name Birkenhead, which shares a similar etymology.

A notable figure bearing this surname was Sir John Burkell (1523-1591), a prominent merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1585. He was involved in the establishment of the Levant Company, which facilitated trade with the Ottoman Empire.

Another individual of historical significance was William Burkell (1670-1732), an Anglican clergyman and author. He wrote several theological treatises and served as the Rector of St. Dunstan's in the East, London.

In the 18th century, the name appears in the records of the Society of Merchant Venturers in Bristol, suggesting that members of the Burkell family were engaged in maritime trade and commerce.

A notable military figure was Colonel James Burkell (1795-1872), who served in the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars and later became the Governor of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, a retirement home for British Army veterans.

The Burkell surname has also been associated with notable figures in the arts and literature. For instance, Elizabeth Burkell (1822-1892) was a prominent English novelist and poet, known for her works exploring social and moral themes of the Victorian era.

While the surname "BURKELL" may not be among the most common in modern times, its historical roots can be traced back to medieval England, with various bearers of this name leaving their mark in fields such as commerce, politics, religion, and the arts over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Burkell

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Burkell.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Burkell was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Burkell was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Burkell, please contact us.

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