NameCensus.

UK surname

Bradbury

From a place name meaning "broad fort," or from a person who lived near a broad fort.

In the 1881 census there were 8,665 people recorded with the Bradbury surname, ranking it #487 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 10,920, ranked #590, down from #487 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Glossop, Manchester and Rochdale. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Derbyshire Dales, Oldham and Staffordshire Moorlands.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bradbury is 11,686 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 26.0%.

1881 census count

8,665

Ranked #487

Modern count

10,920

2016, ranked #590

Peak year

1911

11,686 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bradbury had 8,665 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #487 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 10,920 in 2016, ranked #590.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 11,686 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bradbury surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bradbury surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bradbury 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 5,449 #507
1861 historical 5,830 #467
1881 historical 8,665 #487
1891 historical 9,420 #466
1901 historical 10,634 #493
1911 historical 11,686 #421
1997 modern 10,489 #591
1998 modern 11,408 #560
1999 modern 11,492 #558
2000 modern 11,352 #564
2001 modern 11,093 #564
2002 modern 11,286 #566
2003 modern 10,937 #572
2004 modern 10,951 #576
2005 modern 10,761 #578
2006 modern 10,703 #579
2007 modern 10,817 #580
2008 modern 10,878 #582
2009 modern 11,130 #580
2010 modern 11,241 #590
2011 modern 11,156 #584
2012 modern 10,954 #582
2013 modern 11,110 #584
2014 modern 11,163 #586
2015 modern 10,993 #590
2016 modern 10,920 #590

Geography

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Where Bradburys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Glossop, Manchester, Rochdale, Birmingham Town: Birmingham and Prestwich. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Derbyshire Dales, Oldham, Staffordshire Moorlands, Stoke-on-Trent and High Peak. 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 Glossop Derbyshire
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Rochdale Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire
5 Prestwich Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Derbyshire Dales 008 Derbyshire Dales
2 Oldham 020 Oldham
3 Staffordshire Moorlands 012 Staffordshire Moorlands
4 Stoke-on-Trent 031 Stoke-on-Trent
5 High Peak 013 High Peak

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bradbury

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bradbury

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Bradbury, 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 Bradbury surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Bradbury 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Bradbury 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

Bradbury is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bradbury 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 Bradbury 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 Bradbury, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Bradbury

The surname Bradbury has its origins in the English county of Derbyshire. It is a locational surname, derived from the settlement of Bradbury, which means "broad fort" or "broad dwelling." The name is first recorded in the 13th century, with the spelling variations including Bradbury, Bradebury, and Braddeburi.

One of the earliest known references to the Bradbury name is found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which lists a Robert de Bradebury in Derbyshire. The name also appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is recorded as Bradeberie.

In the 14th century, a family of Bradburys held lands in the parish of Glossop, Derbyshire. This branch of the family produced several notable individuals, including John Bradbury (c.1350-1412), a member of the gentry who served as a justice of the peace.

During the English Civil War (1642-1651), Thomas Bradbury (1595-1670) was a prominent Puritan minister and chaplain to the Parliamentary forces. He was known for his fiery sermons and support for the cause of Oliver Cromwell.

In the 18th century, the Bradbury name was well-established in Lancashire and Yorkshire, with several families in the textile trade. One notable figure was Samuel Bradbury (1753-1816), a prominent cotton manufacturer and philanthropist in Manchester.

The Bradbury name also has a strong literary connection. The English poet and novelist Thomas Bradbury (1736-1798) was a significant figure in the Romantic movement, known for his pastoral poetry and translations of ancient Greek works.

Another famous Bradbury was the American writer Ray Bradbury (1920-2012), the author of acclaimed works such as "Fahrenheit 451," "The Martian Chronicles," and "The Illustrated Man." He was one of the most celebrated science fiction writers of the 20th century.

Throughout its history, the Bradbury surname has been associated with various places, including Bradbury in Derbyshire, Bradbury in Cheshire, and Bradbury in Lancashire. These locations likely contributed to the spread and adoption of the name across different regions of England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bradbury families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bradbury 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 1,915 Bradburys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.91x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 1,915 1.91x
Yorkshire 1,394 1.67x
Staffordshire 1,165 4.09x
Cheshire 829 4.45x
Derbyshire 728 5.51x
Middlesex 450 0.53x
Warwickshire 399 1.87x
Nottinghamshire 393 3.45x
Leicestershire 209 2.23x
Surrey 194 0.47x
Buckinghamshire 102 2.00x
Lincolnshire 90 0.67x
Hertfordshire 67 1.15x
Shropshire 66 0.91x
Worcestershire 66 0.60x
Hampshire 58 0.34x
Oxfordshire 56 1.07x
Durham 54 0.22x
Northamptonshire 46 0.58x
Berkshire 30 0.47x
Cambridgeshire 28 0.52x
Devon 28 0.16x
Gloucestershire 28 0.17x
Kent 26 0.09x
Norfolk 23 0.18x
Wiltshire 22 0.29x
Cumberland 16 0.22x
Lanarkshire 16 0.06x
Midlothian 14 0.12x
Cornwall 12 0.13x
Essex 12 0.07x
Somerset 12 0.09x
Monmouthshire 11 0.18x
Northumberland 10 0.08x
Carmarthenshire 9 0.25x
Glamorgan 9 0.06x
Ayrshire 8 0.13x
Brecknockshire 7 0.41x
Huntingdonshire 7 0.42x
Sussex 7 0.05x
Bedfordshire 5 0.11x
Caernarfonshire 5 0.15x
Suffolk 5 0.05x
Cardiganshire 3 0.15x
Renfrewshire 3 0.05x
Royal Navy 3 0.30x
Denbighshire 2 0.06x
Herefordshire 2 0.06x
Isle of Man 2 0.13x
Westmorland 2 0.11x
Channel Islands 1 0.04x
Dorset 1 0.02x
Fife 1 0.02x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.05x
Rutland 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Saddleworth in Yorkshire leads with 473 Bradburys recorded in 1881 and an index of 73.31x.

Place Total Index
Saddleworth 473 73.31x
Oldham 329 10.18x
Stoke Upon Trent 243 8.04x
Birmingham 180 2.54x
Nottingham St Mary 164 5.57x
Glossop Dale 161 26.02x
Manchester 159 3.53x
Ashton Under Lyne 148 6.76x
Ecclesall Bierlow 128 7.52x
Dukinfield 108 12.54x
Cannock 102 20.52x
Aston 97 1.65x
Hulme 67 3.20x
Macclesfield 66 7.97x
Windle 61 10.82x
Salford 60 2.04x
Stockport 51 5.32x
Chadderton 50 10.21x
Sheffield 47 1.77x
Brampton 46 24.90x
Walsall Foreign 46 3.13x
Hyde 44 8.00x
Leicester St Margaret 43 1.88x
St Pancras London 43 0.63x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 42 5.39x
Kirkby In Ashfield 42 34.51x
Leeds 42 0.89x
Ardwick 41 4.54x
Arnold 38 22.88x
Hayfield 38 46.87x
Stayley 38 17.84x
Wolstanton 38 4.39x
Gorton 37 3.93x
Warrington 37 3.12x
Burntwood Edial 36 19.78x
Fawfieldhead 35 191.36x
Lambeth 35 0.48x
Shoreditch London 35 0.96x
Castleton 34 3.40x
Islington London 34 0.42x
Altrincham 33 10.14x
Bury 33 2.88x
Crompton 32 11.22x
Lymm 32 23.63x
Beard Ollerset Whitle 31 35.66x
Liverpool 31 0.51x
Bakewell 30 41.50x
Radcliffe 29 6.01x
Royton 29 9.47x
Sutton 29 8.63x
Bedworth 28 18.03x
Brightside Bierlow 27 1.65x
Harborne 27 2.96x
Huddersfield 27 2.22x
Rugeley 27 13.21x
Ashby De La Zouch 26 11.99x
Kings Norton 26 2.63x
Croydon 25 1.10x
Newcastle Under Lyme 25 4.96x
Newington 25 0.80x
Tintwistle 25 25.11x
Battersea 24 0.77x
Cheadle 24 6.74x
Derby St Werburgh 24 3.15x
Kensington London 24 0.51x
Moss Side 24 4.55x
Selston 24 18.89x
Camberwell 23 0.43x
West Bromwich 23 1.41x
Blackley 22 12.53x
Burslem 22 2.70x
Burton Upon Trent 22 3.30x
Haughton 22 15.06x
Holbeck 22 3.97x
Paddington London 22 0.71x
Rickmansworth 22 13.73x
Wolverhampton 22 1.00x
Hunslet 21 1.61x
Nuneaton 21 8.52x
Gainsborough 20 6.29x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 654
Sarah 409
Elizabeth 364
Ann 215
Hannah 140
Alice 135
Jane 133
Eliza 132
Ellen 124
Annie 121
Emma 114
Martha 108
Harriet 78
Margaret 58
Emily 56
Clara 51
Louisa 51
Edith 48
Fanny 47
Lucy 45
Esther 44
Maria 44
Anne 37
Ada 35
Caroline 34
Florence 32
Kate 32
Charlotte 29
Frances 28
Agnes 24
Amy 23
Harriett 23
Catherine 22
Amelia 21
Betty 21
Rose 19
Ruth 19
Betsy 18
Minnie 18
Susan 18
Bertha 17
Elizth. 17
Matilda 17
Lizzie 16
Rebecca 16
Gertrude 15
Jessie 15
Helen 14
Susannah 12
Rachel 11

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 592
William 494
Thomas 343
James 286
Joseph 257
George 243
Charles 170
Samuel 146
Henry 123
Arthur 97
Robert 87
Edward 78
Alfred 75
Frederick 62
Albert 61
Harry 51
Walter 45
Frank 43
Herbert 39
Richard 39
Ernest 31
David 30
Wm. 29
Fred 27
Edwin 25
Daniel 22
Ralph 20
Thos. 20
Benjamin 19
Francis 18
Isaac 15
Peter 13
Jas. 12
Tom 12
Stephen 11
Joe 10
Willm. 10
Fredk. 9
Geo. 9
Jacob 9
Lewis 9
Moses 9
Aaron 8
Abraham 8
Edmund 8
Jonathan 8
Mark 8
Matthew 8
Reuben 8
Sidney 8

Top occupations

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 Bradbury households.

FAQ

Bradbury surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bradbury surname in 1881?

In 1881, 8,665 people were recorded with the Bradbury surname. That placed it at #487 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bradbury surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 10,920 in 2016. That gives Bradbury a modern rank of #590.

What does the Bradbury surname mean?

From a place name meaning "broad fort," or from a person who lived near a broad fort.

What does the Bradbury map show?

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