UK surname
A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "broad berry" or "broad bury."
In the 1881 census there were 67 people recorded with the Bradbery surname, ranking it #24,104 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 74, ranked #33,441, down from #24,104 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Leonard Shoreditch, Rickmansworth and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bradbery is 119 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 10.4%.
1881 census count
67
Ranked #24,104
Modern count
74
2016, ranked #33,441
Peak year
1851
119 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Bradbery surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Bradbery surname density by area, 1901 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 | 119 | #15,247 |
| 1861 | historical | 109 | #19,693 |
| 1881 | historical | 67 | #24,104 |
| 1891 | historical | 106 | #23,105 |
| 1901 | historical | 106 | #22,076 |
| 1911 | historical | 64 | #26,435 |
| 1997 | modern | 82 | #29,325 |
| 1998 | modern | 80 | #29,966 |
| 1999 | modern | 81 | #30,037 |
| 2000 | modern | 79 | #30,249 |
| 2001 | modern | 74 | #30,600 |
| 2002 | modern | 80 | #30,387 |
| 2003 | modern | 78 | #30,654 |
| 2004 | modern | 76 | #31,125 |
| 2005 | modern | 74 | #31,522 |
| 2006 | modern | 65 | #32,743 |
| 2007 | modern | 68 | #32,760 |
| 2008 | modern | 70 | #32,856 |
| 2009 | modern | 73 | #32,923 |
| 2010 | modern | 77 | #32,927 |
| 2011 | modern | 75 | #33,071 |
| 2012 | modern | 78 | #33,044 |
| 2013 | modern | 77 | #33,275 |
| 2014 | modern | 80 | #33,133 |
| 2015 | modern | 76 | #33,351 |
| 2016 | modern | 74 | #33,441 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Leonard Shoreditch, Rickmansworth, London parishes, Nottingham St Mary and Tottenham. 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 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 2 | Rickmansworth | Hertfordshire |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | Nottingham St Mary | Nottinghamshire |
| 5 | Tottenham | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Bradbery 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 Bradbery, 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 Bradbery surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Bradbery 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, Bradbery 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 Bradbery is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Bradbery, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Bradbery has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. Derived from Old English, it is a locational surname typically associated with a geographical area. The name is thought to mean "broad hill" or "broad fortification" and is combination of the Old English words "brād," meaning broad, and "burh," meaning fort, stronghold, or hill.
The Bradbery surname is believed to have originated in the northern English counties, notably in Yorkshire and Lancashire. Surnames often originated to denote land ownership or residency, and Bradbery would have identified someone who lived near or on a broad hill or who came from a village with such a name.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Bradbery can be traced to the 13th century, in historical manuscripts and tax records. The Hundred Rolls of 1273, a census-like document, mentions a Thomas de Bradebury in the county of Oxfordshire. This indicates that the name was already known and established by this time.
There have also been variations in the spelling of the surname Bradbery over the years, including Bradebury and Bradeberie. These variations are common due to the lack of standardized spelling in medieval England.
One notable figure in history with the surname Bradbery was Sir William Bradbery, born circa 1550, who served as a knight under Queen Elizabeth I. Another significant individual was Elizabeth Bradbery, born in 1632, who was documented during the English Civil War period and is known to have engaged in local charitable efforts in Yorkshire.
The Bradbery name also surfaces in the literary world. John Bradbery, born in 1767 and died in 1838, was known for his pastoral poetry, which captured the essence of rural England during the late 18th century. His works were celebrated for their vivid imagery of the English countryside.
A lesser-known but equally important bearer of the surname was Reverend James Bradbery, born in 1785 and died in 1852, who was a prominent figure in the religious community of Lancashire. His sermons and theological writings were highly influential in the 19th-century Anglican Church.
The surname Bradbery, while not exceedingly common, has a rich history that reflects the geographical and social changes in England over several centuries. Each individual bearing the name has contributed to its legacy, from medieval landholders to influential cultural and religious figures.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bradbery 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. Yorkshire leads with 18 Bradberys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.78x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 18 | 2.78x |
| Buckinghamshire | 15 | 37.97x |
| Middlesex | 12 | 1.84x |
| Devon | 7 | 5.15x |
| Lancashire | 5 | 0.64x |
| Surrey | 5 | 1.57x |
| Warwickshire | 5 | 3.03x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Fulmer in Buckinghamshire leads with 13 Bradberys recorded in 1881 and an index of 13000.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Fulmer | 13 | 13000.00x |
| Stainton Dale | 9 | 18000.00x |
| Tottenham | 8 | 76.85x |
| Stoke Damerel | 7 | 73.53x |
| Nuneaton | 5 | 261.78x |
| Saddleworth | 5 | 100.00x |
| Camberwell | 4 | 9.58x |
| Leeds | 4 | 10.94x |
| Openshaw | 4 | 110.19x |
| Bromley London | 3 | 20.86x |
| Iver | 2 | 392.16x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 1.76x |
| St George Hanover Square | 1 | 8.69x |
| Stretford | 1 | 23.42x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Bradbery 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 Bradbery 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 Bradbery households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 13 |
| Farmers Daughter | 4 |
| Gardener N D | 3 |
| Cordwainer | 2 |
| Dressmaker | 2 |
| Farmers Son | 2 |
| Assistant Manufacturer | 1 |
| Boot Maker | 1 |
| Brush Maker | 1 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Cordwainer Wife | 1 |
| Domestic At Home | 1 |
| Dressmaker & Milliner | 1 |
| Errand Boy | 1 |
| Farmer | 1 |
| Farmers Servant | 1 |
| Farmers Wife | 1 |
| Garden Boy (D) | 1 |
| Gardener | 1 |
| Genl Labourer | 1 |
| Gold Beater | 1 |
| Joiner | 1 |
| Justice Of The Peace For West Riding Of Yorkshr Woollen Manufacturer | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Police Constable | 1 |
| Pupil Teacher | 1 |
| School Teacher | 1 |
| Seaman | 1 |
| Sub Post Master | 1 |
| Wife Of Manufacturer | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 67 people were recorded with the Bradbery surname. That placed it at #24,104 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 74 in 2016. That gives Bradbery a modern rank of #33,441.
A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "broad berry" or "broad bury."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bradbery 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.