NameCensus.

UK surname

Ashbrook

A locational surname referring to someone who lived near a brook lined with ash trees.

In the 1881 census there were 266 people recorded with the Ashbrook surname, ranking it #10,589 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 557, ranked #9,196, up from #10,589 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rosthern, Tarvin and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cheshire West and Chester and Flintshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ashbrook is 593 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 109.4%.

1881 census count

266

Ranked #10,589

Modern count

557

2016, ranked #9,196

Peak year

2013

593 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ashbrook had 266 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,589 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 557 in 2016, ranked #9,196.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 418 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Ashbrook surname distribution map

The map shows where the Ashbrook surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Ashbrook surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ashbrook over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 184 #11,120
1861 historical 217 #11,220
1881 historical 266 #10,589
1891 historical 334 #10,198
1901 historical 386 #9,708
1911 historical 418 #9,006
1997 modern 532 #8,887
1998 modern 541 #9,044
1999 modern 566 #8,777
2000 modern 567 #8,733
2001 modern 550 #8,799
2002 modern 581 #8,630
2003 modern 547 #8,872
2004 modern 558 #8,775
2005 modern 543 #8,873
2006 modern 563 #8,677
2007 modern 581 #8,564
2008 modern 581 #8,623
2009 modern 583 #8,773
2010 modern 588 #8,923
2011 modern 586 #8,854
2012 modern 582 #8,793
2013 modern 593 #8,818
2014 modern 583 #8,986
2015 modern 571 #9,045
2016 modern 557 #9,196

Geography

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Where Ashbrooks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rosthern, Tarvin, Manchester, Great Budworth (Witton with Twambrook), Davenham (Leftwich) and Leigh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cheshire West and Chester and Flintshire. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Rosthern Cheshire
2 Tarvin Cheshire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Great Budworth (Witton with Twambrook), Davenham (Leftwich) Cheshire
5 Leigh Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cheshire West and Chester 021 Cheshire West and Chester
2 Cheshire West and Chester 020 Cheshire West and Chester
3 Cheshire West and Chester 018 Cheshire West and Chester
4 Flintshire 009 Flintshire
5 Flintshire 007 Flintshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ashbrook

These lists show first names that appear often with the Ashbrook surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ashbrook

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Ashbrook, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Ashbrook surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Ashbrook household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Ashbrook is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Ashbrook is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ashbrook falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ashbrook is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Ashbrook, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Ashbrook

The surname Ashbrook is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the late medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century. It is believed to have originated as a locational name, describing someone who lived near a stream or brook lined with ash trees.

One of the earliest recorded instances of this surname is found in the Subsidy Rolls of Warwickshire in 1332, where a William de Asshebrok was listed. The prefix "de" in this case signifies "of" or "from," indicating his connection to a place called Ashbrook.

Ashbrook is also thought to be derived from the Old English words "æsc" (ash tree) and "broc" (brook or stream), further reinforcing its locational connotation. In some instances, the name was also spelled as Aschebrok, Asschebrok, or Ayschebrook, reflecting the variations in spelling practices during that time.

The earliest known individual with the surname Ashbrook was Sir Thomas Ashbrook, a knight who lived during the reign of King Henry VI in the 15th century. He is mentioned in several historical records and was known for his military service.

Another notable figure was John Ashbrook, born in 1616, who was a merchant and landowner in Gloucestershire, England. His descendants later emigrated to the American colonies, and the name Ashbrook can be found among early settlers in Virginia and other parts of the United States.

In the 17th century, a branch of the Ashbrook family resided in the town of Ashbrook, Derbyshire, England, further cementing the connection between the surname and the place name.

Henry Ashbrook (1739-1808) was an American soldier who fought in the Revolutionary War and later served as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates.

Another individual of note was William Ashbrook (1808-1868), a prominent industrialist and politician from Ohio, who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1851 to 1855.

While the Ashbrook surname is relatively uncommon, it has been carried by individuals from various walks of life throughout history, from knights and soldiers to merchants and politicians, reflecting the diverse backgrounds associated with this distinctive English name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ashbrook families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ashbrook surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Cheshire leads with 162 Ashbrooks recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.36x.

County Total Index
Cheshire 162 27.36x
Lancashire 77 2.42x
Surrey 10 0.77x
Staffordshire 9 0.99x
Isle of Man 7 14.05x
Yorkshire 3 0.11x
Flintshire 2 2.77x
Middlesex 2 0.07x
Essex 1 0.19x
Royal Navy 1 3.13x
Warwickshire 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Warrington in Lancashire leads with 21 Ashbrooks recorded in 1881 and an index of 55.66x.

Place Total Index
Warrington 21 55.66x
Kelsall 16 2711.86x
Runcorn 14 102.56x
Weaverham Cum Milton 13 828.03x
Tabley Superior 11 2619.05x
Hoole 9 401.79x
Leftwich 9 342.21x
Manchester 8 5.59x
Castleton 7 22.02x
Chester St Martin 7 744.68x
Onchan 7 48.78x
Ashton On Mersey 6 196.08x
Battersea 6 6.08x
Birkenhead 6 12.71x
Cheetham 6 25.27x
Little Neston 6 631.58x
Northwich 6 638.30x
Toxteth Park 6 5.57x
Delamere 5 943.40x
Frodsham 5 218.34x
Great Boughton 5 245.10x
Great Budworth 5 476.19x
Hoose 5 450.45x
Broughton In Salford 4 13.75x
Camberwell 4 2.33x
Castle Church 4 73.53x
Darlaston 4 31.97x
Everton 4 3.94x
Gorton 4 13.37x
Little Leigh 4 952.38x
Liverpool 4 2.07x
Penketh 4 347.83x
Barrow 3 454.55x
Bedford 3 45.05x
Bromborough 3 243.90x
Reddish 3 68.49x
Witton Cum Twambrooks 3 56.93x
Aston By Budworth 2 476.19x
Grappenhall 2 277.78x
Llanasa 2 80.00x
Stockport 2 6.56x
Alvanley 1 333.33x
Appleton 1 74.63x
Birmingham 1 0.44x
Blacon Cum Crabwall 1 454.55x
Bootle Cum Linacre 1 3.96x
Burtonwood 1 85.47x
Clifton In York 1 17.99x
Crowley 1 555.56x
Dukinfield 1 3.66x
Eddisbury 1 434.78x
Frodsham Lordship 1 100.00x
Great Neston 1 51.28x
Kensington London 1 0.67x
Knutsford Nether 1 27.93x
Leeds 1 0.67x
Little Stanney 1 666.67x
Lower Whitley 1 500.00x
Malpas 1 114.94x
Poulton Cum Spital 1 270.27x
Royal Navy 1 3.66x
Stansfield 1 10.22x
Sutton 1 9.37x
Tolleshunt D Arcy 1 133.33x
Tranmere 1 4.60x
Twickenham 1 8.70x
Willenhall 1 5.90x
Willington 1 769.23x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Ashbrook surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Sarah 19
Ann 12
Mary 12
Elizabeth 11
Margaret 8
Martha 6
Emma 4
Frances 4
Jane 4
Alice 3
Catherine 3
Emily 3
Isabella 3
Ada 2
Anne 2
Annie 2
Edith 2
Eliz. 2
Ellen 2
Esther 2
Florence 2
Hannah 2
Amelia 1
Amy 1
Anie 1
Eliza 1
Eva 1
Fanny 1
Harriet 1
Hellen 1
Letitia 1
Lettice 1
Lidia 1
Lillian 1
Lizzie 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Maria 1
Meright 1
Minnie 1
Phoebe 1
Polly 1
Rebecca 1
Seary 1
Selina 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Ashbrook surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 23
John 20
Thomas 14
Joseph 13
Samuel 10
George 9
James 6
Henry 4
Arthur 3
Charles 3
Peter 3
Allen 2
Daniel 2
Frederick 2
Richard 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Cecil 1
Donald 1
Edward 1
Elijah 1
Enoch 1
Enock 1
Ernest 1
Fred 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
Jos. 1
Leonard 1
Matthew 1
Noah 1
Percival 1
Ralph 1
Saml. 1
Sidney 1
Thos. 1
Wm. 1
Wm.Hy. 1

FAQ

Ashbrook surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ashbrook surname in 1881?

In 1881, 266 people were recorded with the Ashbrook surname. That placed it at #10,589 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ashbrook surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 557 in 2016. That gives Ashbrook a modern rank of #9,196.

What does the Ashbrook surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone who lived near a brook lined with ash trees.

What does the Ashbrook map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Ashbrook bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.