This surname is derived from a nickname. 'the borel,' originally a term for a kind of coarse cloth. Afterwards used adjectively for a comely man, a peasant, a countryman; v. Historical English Dictionary, s. v. Burel (also v. Burler, ibid). Borel was also used as a personal name.

Johanna, relicta Burel, Oxfordshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Burellus de Rathesnese, Norfolk, ibid.

Emma Burel, Norfolk, ibid.

Willelmus Burell, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

Johannes Borell, 1379: ibid.

William Burel, Somerset, 1 Edward III: Kirby's Quest.

1627. Baptised — Robert, s. William Burrell: St. James, Clerkenwell.

(a) Local, 'of Burrel,' a township in the parish of Bedale, North Riding Yorkshire.

Probably local from Burrill in North Riding of Yorkshire (in 1282 Burel, Burrell 1568). This name is early found upon the Border, particularly in the East Marches. Henry burel witnessed charter of the church of Pencathlan to the Abbey of Kelso c. 1180 (Kelso, 369). William Bwrel attested a document concerning the land of Cnoc in Renfrew, 1234 (RMP., p. 180). William Burel witnessed gift of land in Ayton to William Scot of Coldingham, c. 1250 (Raine, 202). Alan Burell witnessed a charter by Malcolm, fourth earl of Lennox, 1285 (Levenax, p. 87). John Burelle was one of an inquest at Roxburgh, 1357 (Bain, IV, 1). The lands of Swynset and Raynaldstoune in the sheriffdom of Roxburgh, belonging to Robert Bwrelle were forfeited by him and in 1391 were confirmed to William of Laundelis and Jonet his spouse (RMS., I, 813). Henry Burell was witness in Glasgow, 1477 (REG., p. 462), Andrew Burell, chaplain there, 1504 (Simon, 88), and George Burell bailie there, 1536 (LCD., p. 98). John Borelle alias Steward (born in the vill of Morthyngton) had letters of denisation in England, 1482 (Bain, IV, 1473). John Burell, witness in Fife, 1542 (Laing, 464), Thomas Burrale, baxter in Aberdeen, 1544 (CRA., p. 206), and Alexander Burrell was owner of a saltpan in Kirkcaldy 1573 (RPC., II, p. 265). John Burel or Burell, a poet, wrote a description of Anne of Denmark's entry into Edinburgh, 1590, preserved in Watson's Collection. The name is common in sixteenth century Glasgow protocols. Burelle (of Tevydale) 1391, Burl 1488, Burrel 1505. See also Birrel.

(English) One who came from Burrill (hill of the fort), in the North Riding of Yorkshire; one who made, or wore, burel, a coarse brown woolen cloth.

Plain, rude, unpolished. ' Borel-clerks,' lay clerks; ' borel-folks,' laymen. The Franklin in Chaucer says in his prologue —

Borel is used by Chaucer in the sense of lay, as borel—clerhs—lay—clerks. It may be a corruption of Borrail (which see).

Burrell has long been a Lincolnshire name. In Cromwell's time, Sir John Burrell of Dunsby and Redman Burrell, Esq., of Fulbeck, compounded their estates for £687 and £770 respectively (O.). The name is also now found in Norfolk. Burrell was the name of a noted family of Kent and Sussex during the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries, and one of the Burrells of Beckenham, Kent, was high sheriff of Kent in 1722; Northumberland is stated to have been the home of the family in the reign of Edward I. (Hasted's "Kent"). In 1748 Peter Burrell, Esq., of St. John's College, Cambridge, presented a statue of Glory to the University (Cooper's "Cambridge").