UK surname
A surname likely originating as an occupational name for a brewer or beer maker.
In the 1881 census there were 46 people recorded with the Bracker surname, ranking it #27,188 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 6, ranked #38,110, down from #27,188 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Walthamstow, Low Leyton and St Leonard Shoreditch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bracker is 158 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 87.0%.
1881 census count
46
Ranked #27,188
Modern count
6
2016, ranked #38,110
Peak year
1911
158 bearers
Map years
1
1911 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Bracker surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Bracker surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 39 | #26,319 |
| 1861 | historical | 98 | #21,388 |
| 1881 | historical | 46 | #27,188 |
| 1891 | historical | 89 | #25,542 |
| 1901 | historical | 54 | #28,178 |
| 1911 | historical | 158 | #17,277 |
| 1997 | modern | 3 | #38,317 |
| 1998 | modern | 4 | #38,082 |
| 1999 | modern | 4 | #38,100 |
| 2000 | modern | 4 | #38,004 |
| 2001 | modern | 4 | #37,862 |
| 2002 | modern | 3 | #38,152 |
| 2003 | modern | 5 | #37,750 |
| 2004 | modern | 5 | #37,830 |
| 2005 | modern | 6 | #37,724 |
| 2006 | modern | 7 | #37,634 |
| 2007 | modern | 6 | #37,837 |
| 2008 | modern | 6 | #37,883 |
| 2009 | modern | 6 | #37,953 |
| 2010 | modern | 11 | #37,411 |
| 2011 | modern | 7 | #37,865 |
| 2012 | modern | 7 | #37,854 |
| 2013 | modern | 8 | #37,767 |
| 2014 | modern | 7 | #37,929 |
| 2015 | modern | 6 | #38,076 |
| 2016 | modern | 6 | #38,110 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Walthamstow, Low Leyton, St Leonard Shoreditch and Gillingham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 2 | Walthamstow, Low Leyton | Essex |
| 3 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 4 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 5 | Gillingham | Dorset |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Bracker surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Bracker, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Bracker surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Bracker household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Bracker is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bracker is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Bracker, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Bracker is of German origin, emerging in the late 15th century. It is derived from the Old German word "bracken," meaning to cultivate or till the land. The name likely originated in the rural regions of central and southern Germany, where agricultural communities flourished.
One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Hans Bracker, a farmer from the village of Heidenheim in Württemberg, mentioned in church records dating back to 1482. The Bracker family name also appeared in the Biberach area of Baden-Württemberg, with records indicating a Johannes Bracker residing there in 1509.
In the 16th century, the Bracker name gained prominence as several members of the family became prominent landowners and local officials in the region around Ulm. Notable among them was Matthias Bracker (1522-1588), who served as the mayor of Geislingen an der Steige, a town in the Göppingen district of Baden-Württemberg.
The Brackers were also found in the nearby Bavarian regions, particularly around the town of Ingolstadt. A record from 1642 mentions a Christoph Bracker, a merchant and landowner in the Ingolstadt area. This branch of the family may have been descended from settlers who migrated from the Swabian regions of southern Germany.
As the centuries passed, the Bracker name spread across Germany and into neighboring countries. In the late 18th century, a Johann Bracker (1756-1823) from Saxony gained recognition as a skilled clockmaker and watchmaker, establishing a respected workshop in Dresden.
Another notable figure was Friedrich Bracker (1892-1976), a German-born engineer and inventor who emigrated to the United States in the early 20th century. He held several patents for innovative mechanical designs and worked for companies such as General Electric and Westinghouse.
The Bracker surname has persisted over the centuries, maintaining its roots in the agricultural communities of southern and central Germany. While not among the most common German surnames, it continues to be carried by families across Europe and those of German descent worldwide.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bracker surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 24 Brackers recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.35x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 24 | 5.35x |
| Devon | 7 | 7.49x |
| Glamorgan | 3 | 3.84x |
| Wiltshire | 3 | 7.56x |
| Hampshire | 2 | 2.17x |
| Herefordshire | 2 | 10.87x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 1.01x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 1.14x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.19x |
| Somerset | 1 | 1.38x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.22x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Shoreditch London in Middlesex leads with 9 Brackers recorded in 1881 and an index of 46.27x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Shoreditch London | 9 | 46.27x |
| Bromley London | 7 | 70.92x |
| Plymouth St Andrew | 5 | 69.44x |
| Kensington London | 4 | 16.03x |
| Llandaff | 3 | 115.38x |
| St George Hanover Square | 3 | 37.93x |
| Bradford On Avon | 2 | 157.48x |
| Hereford All Sts | 2 | 238.10x |
| Southampton St Mary | 2 | 34.60x |
| Bedminster | 1 | 14.73x |
| Bredbury | 1 | 175.44x |
| Bristol St Philip Jacob | 1 | 12.06x |
| Exeter St David | 1 | 125.00x |
| Hockworthy | 1 | 2000.00x |
| Lancaster | 1 | 31.55x |
| Scarborough | 1 | 24.75x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 4.17x |
| Teffont Evias | 1 | 5000.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Bracker surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Bracker surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Bracker households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 5 |
| Fur Sewer | 2 |
| Ag Labourer | 1 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Boot Maker | 1 |
| Bootmaker | 1 |
| Butcher | 1 |
| Carpenter & Joiner | 1 |
| Coachman | 1 |
| Cook Domestic | 1 |
| Cooper | 1 |
| Cotton Weaver | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Furrier | 1 |
| Gardener | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| General Servant (Dom) | 1 |
| Guilder | 1 |
| Hat Trimmer | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Infant | 1 |
| Ladys Maid | 1 |
| Laundress Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Nurse | 1 |
| Shoemaker | 1 |
| Stevedores Labourer | 1 |
| Surgeon | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 46 people were recorded with the Bracker surname. That placed it at #27,188 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 6 in 2016. That gives Bracker a modern rank of #38,110.
A surname likely originating as an occupational name for a brewer or beer maker.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bracker bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.