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

Burrell, 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 Burrell surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Burrell in America

Burrell is the 1458th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Burrell surname appeared 24,504 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 8 people would have the surname Burrell.

We can also compare 2010 data for Burrell to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Burrell

The surname Burrell has its origins in the Scottish Borders region, dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "burh", meaning a fortified town or manor house, and the Old French word "rie", meaning a stream or small river. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a fortified dwelling by a stream.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, where a William de Burrell from Berwickshire swore fealty to King Edward I of England. The name also appears in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in the 14th century, with references to individuals named Burrell holding lands in the Borders region.

In the 15th century, the Burrells were prominent landowners in the Scottish Borders, with their family seat at Burrell's Close in Hawick. Sir Walter Burrell (c. 1450-1510) was a notable figure, serving as a diplomat and envoy to England during the reigns of James IV and James V.

The name Burrell has been spelled in various ways throughout history, including Borrell, Burrell, Burrill, and Burwell. Some variations may have been influenced by place names, such as Burwell in Cambridgeshire, England.

Notable individuals with the surname Burrell include:

1. Sir William Burrell (1861-1958), a Scottish shipping magnate and art collector whose collection forms the basis of the Burrell Collection in Glasgow.
2. John Burrell (c. 1580-1627), an English Jesuit priest and martyr who was executed during the reign of Charles I.
3. David Burrell (1785-1868), a Scottish painter known for his landscapes and portraits.
4. Sir Redvers Buller (1839-1908), a British Army officer who served in the Boer War and was famously relieved of his command during the Siege of Ladysmith.
5. Dame Edith Burrell (1907-1979), a British artist and sculptor known for her portraits and public commissions.

The Burrell name has a rich history in the Scottish Borders region, with connections to land ownership, military service, and artistic pursuits. Its origins can be traced back to the 12th century, reflecting the influence of both English and French language on the development of Scottish surnames.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Burrell

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

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 Burrell 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.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Burrell has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

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 Burrell was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!