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

Sorell, 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 Sorell surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sorell in America

Sorell is the 49914th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sorell surname appeared 420 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 Sorell.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sorell 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 Sorell

The surname Sorell has its origins in the Anglo-Norman culture that was established in Britain following the Norman Conquest of 1066. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "sorel," which means "reddish-brown" or "bright red." This suggests that the name may have initially been a nickname for someone with reddish-brown hair or complexion.

The earliest known record of the name Sorell dates back to the 12th century in Buckinghamshire, England, where it appeared in the form of "Sorel." This spelling variation was likely a result of the Norman influence on the English language during that period. Notably, the name is also found in the Domesday Book of 1086, the earliest surviving public record of England, though the specific spelling is not mentioned.

In the 13th century, the name Sorell started to appear in various records across England, particularly in the counties of Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, and Gloucestershire. During this time, the surname was often associated with certain place names, such as Sorell's Field or Sorell's Manor, indicating that some families may have taken the name from the locations they resided in.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Sorell was Sir John Sorell, a prominent English knight who lived in the late 13th and early 14th centuries. He was known for his participation in the Scottish Wars of Independence and his service under King Edward I of England.

Another notable figure was Sir William Sorell, born around 1435, who served as a Member of Parliament for Buckinghamshire in the late 15th century. He was also a respected landowner and a prominent figure in the local community.

In the 16th century, the surname gained further recognition with the birth of Sir Nicholas Sorell, born in 1542. He was a successful merchant and a member of the Worshipful Company of Grocers in London. His son, Sir Samuel Sorell, born in 1578, became a renowned diplomat and served as an ambassador to various European courts.

The 17th century saw the emergence of John Sorell, born in 1620, who was a prominent Puritan minister and author. He wrote several influential religious texts and played a significant role in the development of Puritan thought in England during that time.

Throughout its history, the surname Sorell has been associated with various notable individuals, from knights and landowners to merchants, diplomats, and religious figures. While the name may have originated as a nickname, it has evolved into a distinct surname with a rich cultural heritage and a significant presence in various parts of England.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sorell

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

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

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Sorell, 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!