NameCensus.

UK surname

Bracken

An English and Irish surname derived from a place of residence near a thicket of bracken ferns.

In the 1881 census there were 493 people recorded with the Bracken surname, ranking it #6,848 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,323, ranked #4,538, up from #6,848 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Sedbergh, St Leonard Shoreditch and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rochdale, St. Helens and South Lakeland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bracken is 1,424 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 168.4%.

1881 census count

493

Ranked #6,848

Modern count

1,323

2016, ranked #4,538

Peak year

1999

1,424 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bracken had 493 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,848 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,323 in 2016, ranked #4,538.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 719 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Bracken surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bracken surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bracken 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 201 #10,364
1861 historical 188 #12,628
1881 historical 493 #6,848
1891 historical 509 #7,323
1901 historical 644 #6,684
1911 historical 719 #5,942
1997 modern 1,356 #4,243
1998 modern 1,399 #4,282
1999 modern 1,424 #4,239
2000 modern 1,409 #4,264
2001 modern 1,351 #4,326
2002 modern 1,394 #4,310
2003 modern 1,334 #4,386
2004 modern 1,327 #4,412
2005 modern 1,307 #4,412
2006 modern 1,305 #4,429
2007 modern 1,318 #4,435
2008 modern 1,346 #4,387
2009 modern 1,376 #4,390
2010 modern 1,411 #4,375
2011 modern 1,363 #4,455
2012 modern 1,315 #4,518
2013 modern 1,363 #4,465
2014 modern 1,373 #4,463
2015 modern 1,348 #4,491
2016 modern 1,323 #4,538

Geography

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Where Brackens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Sedbergh, St Leonard Shoreditch, Manchester, Liverpool and Kirkby Lonsdale. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rochdale, St. Helens, South Lakeland, Liverpool and Bradford. 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 Sedbergh Yorkshire, West Riding
2 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 Kirkby Lonsdale Westmorland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rochdale 018 Rochdale
2 St. Helens 019 St. Helens
3 South Lakeland 009 South Lakeland
4 Liverpool 020 Liverpool
5 Bradford 012 Bradford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bracken

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bracken

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Bracken surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Bracken household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Bracken is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bracken is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bracken falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bracken is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Bracken

The surname Bracken originates from England and dates back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "bracken" which refers to a type of fern commonly found in the countryside. As such, the name was likely adopted as a descriptive surname for someone who lived near a bracken-covered area.

One of the earliest known records of the Bracken name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1185, mentioning a William de Bracken. The Domesday Book, compiled in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname, but it does mention several place names that may be connected, such as Brackenthwaite in Cumberland and Brackenfield in Derbyshire.

In the 13th century, the spelling of the name varied, with forms like Braken, Brakyn, and Brakene appearing in various records. Place names like Brackenrigg in Lancashire and Brackenborough in Lincolnshire also emerged during this period, suggesting the name's geographical spread.

One notable early bearer of the surname was Sir Robert de Bracken, a 14th-century knight who fought in the Scottish Wars of Independence under Edward III. Another was William Bracken, a 15th-century English merchant and landowner from Yorkshire, whose descendants established themselves as gentry.

Among the more famous individuals with the Bracken surname is Reginald Bracken (1905-1986), a British actor known for his roles in films like "The Quatermass Xperiment" and "Peeping Tom." Another is Brendan Bracken (1901-1958), a prominent British politician and close confidant of Winston Churchill during World War II.

In the literary world, Anne Bracken (1670-1743) was an Irish poet and playwright, while Harry M. Bracken (1900-1993) was an American author best known for his Western novels. The name has also been associated with several notable academics, including Edmund Bracken (1834-1897), an Irish mathematician and professor at Queen's University Belfast.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bracken families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bracken 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. Lancashire leads with 155 Brackens recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.71x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 155 2.71x
Yorkshire 84 1.76x
Middlesex 55 1.14x
Westmorland 54 50.99x
Cumberland 19 4.58x
Northumberland 15 2.09x
Lanarkshire 12 0.77x
Devon 11 1.10x
Angus 10 2.24x
Gloucestershire 10 1.06x
Perthshire 9 4.16x
Midlothian 8 1.24x
Warwickshire 8 0.66x
Flintshire 7 5.40x
Surrey 7 0.30x
Hampshire 5 0.51x
Kent 5 0.30x
Cheshire 4 0.38x
Derbyshire 4 0.53x
Durham 3 0.21x
Bedfordshire 2 0.80x
Berkshire 2 0.55x
Clackmannanshire 2 5.03x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.34x
Shropshire 1 0.24x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 25 Brackens recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.20x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 25 7.20x
Sedbergh 25 1420.45x
Shoreditch London 24 11.49x
Salford 17 10.11x
Sedburgh 14 703.52x
Windle 12 37.30x
Killington 11 2682.93x
Bethnal Green London 10 4.78x
Clifton 10 20.93x
Dundee 10 6.00x
Firbank 10 2941.18x
Ingleton 10 371.75x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 10 23.35x
Parr 10 48.88x
West Derby 10 5.98x
Ardwick 9 17.45x
Bowling 9 19.03x
Clitheroe 9 53.48x
Cockermouth 9 103.09x
Lambrigg 9 3214.29x
Preston Patrick 9 1000.00x
Rattray 9 178.93x
Wuerdle Wardle 9 51.84x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 8 3.08x
Glasgow 8 2.89x
Hulme 8 6.70x
Manningham 8 13.60x
New Hutton 8 4000.00x
Flint 7 95.24x
Battersea 6 3.38x
St Pancras London 6 1.55x
Caldewgate 5 22.00x
Hackney London 5 1.85x
Hillam 5 925.93x
Kirkoswald 5 510.20x
Plymouth Charles The 5 11.31x
Plymouth St Andrew 5 6.47x
Royton 5 28.59x
Birmingham 4 0.99x
Bootle Cum Linacre 4 8.81x
Byker 4 11.29x
Chorlton On Medlock 4 4.40x
Farnworth 4 11.68x
Gorton 4 7.44x
Hampstead London 4 5.33x
Midgley 4 78.59x
Barlborough 3 107.53x
Blackburn 3 1.97x
Kirkby Lonsdale 3 104.90x
Lower Bebington 3 47.47x
Monkwearmouth 3 21.87x
Ripon 3 27.08x
Scarborough 3 6.91x
Whittington 3 526.32x
Bedford St Paul 2 11.69x
Coventry Holy Trinity 2 5.51x
Deptford St Paul 2 1.58x
Dillicar 2 1000.00x
Everton 2 1.10x
Habergham Eaves 2 3.83x
Hamilton 2 4.60x
Isleworth 2 9.34x
Manchester 2 0.78x
Southampton St Mary 2 3.22x
Acton Grange 1 384.62x
Barbon 1 222.22x
Barony 1 0.25x
Barton In Preston 1 163.93x
Bradford 1 0.87x
Clackmannan 1 13.30x
Ecclesfield 1 2.86x
Gillingham 1 2.95x
Kirkdale 1 1.04x
Northowram 1 2.99x
Oldham 1 0.54x
Sutton Coldfield 1 7.83x
Tillicoultry 1 11.30x
Tormoham 1 2.36x
Toxteth Park 1 0.52x
Whitechapel London 1 2.11x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 36
Elizabeth 18
Margaret 16
Sarah 14
Agnes 13
Ellen 10
Ann 7
Eliza 7
Jane 7
Bridget 6
Hannah 6
Catherine 5
Emily 5
Harriett 4
Julia 4
Alice 3
Anne 3
Martha 3
Betsy 2
Caroline 2
Charlotte 2
Emma 2
Jessie 2
Kate 2
Annie 1
Arabella 1
Batel 1
Beatrice 1
Cathrine 1
Dorothy 1
Eva 1
Florence 1
Harriet 1
Helen 1
Henrietta 1
Honor 1
Isabella 1
Katherine 1
Lizzie 1
Lousia 1
Lucy 1
Margarett 1
Margreat 1
Margt. 1
Marie 1
Matilda 1
Miriam 1
Mirian 1
Nancy 1
Winfred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 39
Thomas 35
James 23
William 19
Joseph 11
Richard 11
Alfred 6
George 6
Michael 6
Robert 6
Henry 5
Miles 5
Patrick 4
Andrew 3
Arthur 3
Bernard 3
Charles 3
Daniel 3
Edward 3
Francis 3
Albert 2
Christopher 2
Edmund 2
Frederick 2
Herbert 2
Hugh 2
Peter 2
Richd. 2
Walter 2
Andw.S. 1
Barnard 1
Clement 1
Danl. 1
Egbert 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Fredrick 1
Geoffrey 1
Godfrey 1
Harry 1
Jameson 1
Jno. 1
Lancet 1
Matthew 1
Morgan 1
Nicholas 1
R. 1
Roger 1
Rowland 1
Septimas 1

FAQ

Bracken surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bracken surname in 1881?

In 1881, 493 people were recorded with the Bracken surname. That placed it at #6,848 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bracken surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,323 in 2016. That gives Bracken a modern rank of #4,538.

What does the Bracken surname mean?

An English and Irish surname derived from a place of residence near a thicket of bracken ferns.

What does the Bracken map show?

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