Surname Burrill - Meaning and Origin
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Burrill: What does the surname Burrill mean?
The last name Burrill is of English origin. The name is derived from the Old English words 'beorum' and 'hril', meaning a 'rushing stream'. This likely refers to someone who lived near a stream or river, or perhaps someone who's occupation was related to water.
The Burrill name is an occupational name for a person who worked as a miller, a job that requires the constant use of water. Millers lived in an area close to a river or a pond, as they used this natural power source to rotate their millstones. This was a very common job in Medieval England.
Over time, the Burrill surname may have also become occupational for anyone who lived near, or worked near, a body of water such as a harbor, lake, estuary or shoreline. Given the rich aquatic landscape of the British Isles, this may have been quite common.
The Burrill surname is relatively rare today and there have been no major figures to bear this name. Nevertheless, the name carries with it historical associations and points to an interesting and important part of the family's past.
Order DNA origin analysisBurrill: Where does the name Burrill come from?
The last name Burrill is very common in the United States and Canada today. It is mainly found in the Northeast and Great Lakes regions of the USA and in coastal regions in Canada.
In the USA, the most heavily populated states with the Burrill surname are Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Ohio. Burrill is also frequent in Maine, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Michigan, and Indiana; while in other states, the number of Burrill individuals is lower but still present.
In Canada, Burrill is mostly concentrated in Ontario and British Columbia, with some presence in Quebec, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island.
The Burrill name is thought to be of English and French origin, likely derived from a placename in England or France. It can also be a form of Berrill or Berrall; a name which stems from old French words meaning 'bright', 'illustrious', or 'renowned'.
In the past, the Burrill surname was associated with many notable figures including botanist Samuel B. Burrill, naturalist Cornelia B. A. Burrill, and statistician Richard W. Burrill.
Now, there are a great number of Burrill's living around the world who may or may not be related. Despite this, each individual of the Burrill name is a representation and further extension of this history.
Variations of the surname Burrill
The surname Burrill, is of English and Irish origin, and is derived from the Old English pre 7th Century personal name "Buriheal", composed of the elements "burh", meaning a fortificiation, and "hal", a hero or champion. Variations of the family Burrill surname include Burrall, Burrel, Burrell, Burkhill and Burkehill.
There are also a variety of spellings of the Burrill name that have been found in records. These spellings include: Burale, Burall, Burrill, Burrel, Burrall, Burrell, Burrul, Buryal, Buryall, Buryl, Burhil and Burkhill.
Surnames and variants of the same origin include Borrell, Byrall, Correll, Durrell, Farrel, Farrell, Gorrell, Harrell, Jarrel, Marrell, Morrell, Murrell, O’Farrell, Orrell, Perrell, Rorrell, Tarrel and Warrell.
Other related surnames include Berrill, Burell, Burrill, Burrel, Burrows and Burrowes, as well as Borrol, Corral, Orrill, Darroll, Harrill and Karrill, all of which came from Burrill in some form or another.
It is also possible to trace the lineage of the Burrill surname through locales such as Blathea in County Clare, Ireland; Bosveny in Cornwall, England; and from the ancient toponymy of Borreleigh in Leicestershire, England.
It is estimated that there are more than one thousand people in Great Britain and Ireland with the Burrill surname today.
Famous people with the name Burrill
- Nick Burrill: American painter and abstract artist
- Dwight Burrill: New England photographer and filmmaker
- John Burrill: Navy sailor, sailor and sailor
- Justin Burrill: member of the band The Hunchback
- Joseph Burrill: American politician
- Joseph Burrill II: son of Joseph Burrill, American politician
- Colleen Burrill: former field hockey player
- Rob Burrill: professional poker player
- Warren Burrill: writer and poet
- Jason Burrill: English actor
- Louise Burrill: Australian actress
- Matthew Burrill: Australian ice hockey player
- Blair Burrill: American surfer
- Caleb Burrill: American painter
- Kay Burrill: American banker and lawyer
- Kenton Burrill: American actor
- Patricia Burrill: British actress
- anything Burrill: Actor and musician
- Amy Burrill: Canadian figure skater
- Bill Burrill: former Wisconsin mayor