NameCensus.

UK surname

Bilbrough

An English locational surname derived from place names meaning "bright brook".

In the 1881 census there were 238 people recorded with the Bilbrough surname, ranking it #11,476 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 166, ranked #22,140, down from #11,476 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Mary Bishopshill Junior, Gateshead and Tadcaster. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Harrogate, Herefordshire and Havering.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bilbrough is 309 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 30.3%.

1881 census count

238

Ranked #11,476

Modern count

166

2016, ranked #22,140

Peak year

1911

309 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bilbrough had 238 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,476 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 166 in 2016, ranked #22,140.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 309 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bilbrough surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bilbrough surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bilbrough 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 172 #11,682
1861 historical 197 #12,166
1881 historical 238 #11,476
1891 historical 244 #12,983
1901 historical 288 #11,973
1911 historical 309 #11,203
1997 modern 165 #19,861
1998 modern 167 #20,258
1999 modern 165 #20,535
2000 modern 166 #20,426
2001 modern 163 #20,372
2002 modern 167 #20,457
2003 modern 162 #20,624
2004 modern 167 #20,367
2005 modern 172 #19,908
2006 modern 168 #20,368
2007 modern 163 #21,050
2008 modern 160 #21,521
2009 modern 165 #21,552
2010 modern 167 #21,835
2011 modern 157 #22,574
2012 modern 165 #21,782
2013 modern 176 #21,237
2014 modern 173 #21,639
2015 modern 167 #22,066
2016 modern 166 #22,140

Geography

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Where Bilbroughs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Mary Bishopshill Junior, Gateshead, Tadcaster, Bradford and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Harrogate, Herefordshire, Havering, Shepway and York. 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 St Mary Bishopshill Junior Yorkshire, East Riding
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Tadcaster Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Harrogate 016 Harrogate
2 Herefordshire 001 Herefordshire, County of
3 Havering 013 Havering
4 Shepway 015 Shepway
5 York 012 York

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bilbrough

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bilbrough

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Bilbrough, 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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Bilbrough surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Bilbrough household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Bilbrough is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Bilbrough 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

Bilbrough falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bilbrough is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Bilbrough

The surname Bilbrough is believed to have originated in England, specifically in the county of Yorkshire, during the medieval period. It is likely derived from a place name, a common practice in the formation of surnames during that era.

One possible origin is the village of Bilbrough, located near the town of York. This place name is thought to come from the Old English words "bil" meaning "bill" or "beak" and "burgh" meaning "fortified town" or "borough." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a prominent hill or ridge in the area.

Alternatively, some sources suggest that the name may be related to the Old English word "bylbyt," which means "dwelling place" or "habitation." If this is the case, the surname could have originated as a descriptor for someone who lived in a particular settlement or homestead.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bilbrough can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and property ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This suggests that the name was already established by the late 11th century.

Over the centuries, various spellings of the name have been documented, including Bilborough, Bilburgh, and Bilburg. These variations likely emerged due to regional dialects, scribal errors, and the evolution of the English language itself.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Bilbrough include:

1. John Bilbrough (c. 1570-1630), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Tewing in Hertfordshire. 2. William Bilbrough (1623-1696), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Knaresborough in the late 17th century. 3. Elizabeth Bilbrough (1768-1843), a British philanthropist and educator who founded several schools for underprivileged children in Yorkshire. 4. Richard Bilbrough (1823-1901), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Albert Hall. 5. Thomas Bilbrough (1867-1936), an English businessman and industrialist who played a significant role in the development of the Yorkshire coal mining industry.

While the surname Bilbrough may not be among the most common in modern times, its historical roots can be traced back to the medieval period in England, where it likely originated as a place name or descriptive reference to a particular location or dwelling.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bilbrough families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bilbrough 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. Yorkshire leads with 209 Bilbroughs recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.05x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 209 9.05x
Middlesex 19 0.82x
Norfolk 5 1.39x
Lancashire 2 0.07x
Surrey 2 0.18x
Devon 1 0.21x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.32x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 54 Bilbroughs recorded in 1881 and an index of 41.40x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 54 41.40x
Bradford 19 33.98x
Holbeck 15 98.04x
Tadcaster West 12 655.74x
Upper Poppleton 11 4782.61x
Hackney London 8 6.12x
Pocklington 8 366.97x
West Ardsley 8 287.77x
Knottingley 6 147.78x
Stutton Cum Hazelwood 6 2142.86x
Conisbrough 5 230.41x
Hammersmith London 5 8.71x
Hethersett 5 549.45x
Murton In York 5 3571.43x
Dewsbury 4 16.88x
Dunnington In York 4 677.97x
Hirst Courtney 4 4444.44x
Hunslet 4 11.10x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 4 48.48x
Wortley In Bramley 4 21.86x
York Holy Trinity 4 200.00x
Castleford 3 35.67x
Clerkenwell London 3 5.45x
Morley 3 24.98x
Tadcaster East 3 1500.00x
Whiston 3 270.27x
Bow London 2 6.74x
Chorlton On Medlock 2 4.55x
Croydon 2 3.17x
Gildersome 2 71.94x
Headingley Cum Burley 2 13.45x
Heworth 2 333.33x
Ryther Cum Ossendyke 2 869.57x
Stillingfleet With 2 689.66x
Sutton In Doncaster 2 2857.14x
Bethnal Green London 1 0.99x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 1 12.66x
Ecclesfield 1 5.90x
Horton In Bradford 1 2.77x
Little Smeaton In 1 434.78x
Radford 1 6.27x
Ripon 1 18.66x
Spofforth 1 312.50x
Stoke Damerel 1 2.94x
Whitwood 1 30.49x
York St Maurice 1 22.99x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 19
Elizabeth 11
Emma 7
Hannah 7
Sarah 7
Martha 6
Annie 5
Ellen 5
Emily 5
Ann 3
Jane 3
Ruth 3
Ada 2
Alice 2
Anne 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Edith 2
Eliza 2
Matilda 2
Agnes 1
Allice 1
Amelia 1
Anna 1
Bridget 1
Dorothy 1
Elsie 1
Eva 1
Eveline 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Florry 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Harriot 1
Helen 1
Julia 1
Lavinia 1
Louisa 1
M.A. 1
Maggie 1
Minnie 1
Rosa 1
Rose 1
Selina 1
Sophia 1
Teresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 20
George 12
Thomas 12
William 12
James 4
Joseph 4
Alfred 3
Charles 3
Richard 3
Enoch 2
Enock 2
Frederick 2
J. 2
Matthew 2
Robert 2
Wm. 2
Arthur 1
Bill 1
Brooks 1
Cranley 1
Daniel 1
Edgar 1
Edward 1
Elizabeth 1
Ernest 1
Fred 1
Geo. 1
Geo.Wm. 1
Granville 1
Harold 1
Henry 1
Ingram 1
Jas. 1
Joe 1
Mark 1
Percy 1
R. 1
Roland 1
Sidney 1
Singleton 1
Tom 1
Willie 1
Wm.P. 1

FAQ

Bilbrough surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bilbrough surname in 1881?

In 1881, 238 people were recorded with the Bilbrough surname. That placed it at #11,476 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bilbrough surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 166 in 2016. That gives Bilbrough a modern rank of #22,140.

What does the Bilbrough surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from place names meaning "bright brook".

What does the Bilbrough map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bilbrough 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.