NameCensus.

UK surname

Bradfield

A locational surname referring to someone from any of the various places called Bradfield in England.

In the 1881 census there were 951 people recorded with the Bradfield surname, ranking it #4,065 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,054, ranked #5,534, down from #4,065 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Reading St Giles, Shinfield (East and West Side, Hartley Dammer), Sonning (Early),. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lewes, Caerphilly and Rhondda Cynon Taf.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bradfield is 1,320 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 10.8%.

1881 census count

951

Ranked #4,065

Modern count

1,054

2016, ranked #5,534

Peak year

1911

1,320 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bradfield had 951 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,065 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,054 in 2016, ranked #5,534.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,320 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bradfield surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bradfield surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bradfield 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 738 #3,569
1861 historical 695 #3,885
1881 historical 951 #4,065
1891 historical 1,084 #3,893
1901 historical 1,238 #4,002
1911 historical 1,320 #3,614
1997 modern 1,155 #4,874
1998 modern 1,188 #4,929
1999 modern 1,190 #4,966
2000 modern 1,157 #5,059
2001 modern 1,115 #5,107
2002 modern 1,138 #5,135
2003 modern 1,110 #5,136
2004 modern 1,099 #5,187
2005 modern 1,060 #5,295
2006 modern 1,062 #5,286
2007 modern 1,086 #5,237
2008 modern 1,086 #5,277
2009 modern 1,109 #5,293
2010 modern 1,107 #5,404
2011 modern 1,077 #5,468
2012 modern 1,071 #5,404
2013 modern 1,084 #5,441
2014 modern 1,086 #5,464
2015 modern 1,066 #5,504
2016 modern 1,054 #5,534

Geography

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Where Bradfields are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Reading St Giles, Shinfield (East and West Side, Hartley Dammer), Sonning (Early), and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Lewes, Caerphilly, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Cannock Chase. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Reading St Giles, Shinfield (East and West Side, Hartley Dammer), Sonning (Early), Berkshire
5 St Marylebone London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Lewes 003 Lewes
2 Caerphilly 015 Caerphilly
3 Rhondda Cynon Taf 017 Rhondda Cynon Taf
4 Cannock Chase 003 Cannock Chase
5 Caerphilly 003 Caerphilly

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bradfield

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bradfield

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Bradfield is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Bradfield is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bradfield falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bradfield 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 Bradfield, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Bradfield

The surname Bradfield is of English origin and dates back to the medieval era. It is a locational name derived from the place name Bradfield, which is found in several counties across England, including Berkshire, Essex, and Yorkshire. The name is believed to have originated from the Old English words "brad" and "feld," meaning "broad field."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Bradfield surname can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was mentioned as "Bradefeld." This historical document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, served as a comprehensive survey of landholdings and property ownership across England.

In the 13th century, records show a family named Bradfield residing in the village of Bradfield, near Sheffield, Yorkshire. This area is believed to be the epicenter of the surname's origins. The name is also found in various historical documents from this period, including the Pipe Rolls and the Hundred Rolls.

Notable individuals bearing the Bradfield surname throughout history include:

1. Thomas Bradfield (c. 1495 - 1547), an English clergyman and academic who served as the President of Corpus Christi College, Oxford.

2. John Bradfield (1604 - 1659), an English clergyman and author known for his work "The Resolving of Conscience upon this Question: Whether the King or Parliament Ought to be Obeyed in Case of a Contrary Command."

3. Robert Holgate Bradfield (1758 - 1833), an English architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London, including the East India College in Hertford.

4. John Bradfield (1801 - 1876), a British civil engineer responsible for the construction of the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia.

5. John Philip Bradfield (1868 - 1942), an English-born Canadian politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

It's worth noting that the Bradfield surname has also been associated with various place names across England, such as Bradfield St. George in Suffolk, Bradfield St. Clare in Suffolk, and Bradfield Combust in Suffolk, among others. These place names likely contributed to the formation and spread of the surname throughout different regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bradfield families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bradfield 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. Middlesex leads with 156 Bradfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.68x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 156 1.68x
Norfolk 154 10.81x
Wiltshire 111 13.54x
Berkshire 92 13.23x
Surrey 80 1.77x
Somerset 50 3.35x
Gloucestershire 45 2.48x
Hampshire 31 1.63x
Nottinghamshire 22 1.76x
Essex 20 1.09x
Lancashire 19 0.17x
Oxfordshire 16 2.80x
Suffolk 16 1.42x
Sussex 14 0.90x
Lincolnshire 13 0.88x
Monmouthshire 13 1.94x
Buckinghamshire 11 1.96x
Yorkshire 11 0.12x
Devon 9 0.47x
Hertfordshire 9 1.41x
Northumberland 9 0.65x
Kent 8 0.25x
Worcestershire 8 0.66x
Durham 7 0.25x
Warwickshire 7 0.30x
Northamptonshire 6 0.69x
Staffordshire 5 0.16x
Glamorgan 2 0.12x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.17x
Cornwall 1 0.10x
Dorset 1 0.16x
Lanarkshire 1 0.03x
Leicestershire 1 0.10x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.34x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hackney London in Middlesex leads with 22 Bradfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.23x.

Place Total Index
Hackney London 22 4.23x
Camberwell 16 2.70x
St Marylebone London 16 3.23x
West Ham 16 3.96x
Box 15 214.59x
Bridgewater 15 37.04x
Hampstead London 15 10.39x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 15 35.06x
Shinfield 15 366.75x
St Pancras London 15 2.01x
Wimbledon 15 29.59x
Lyncombe Widcombe 14 35.84x
Chippenham 13 75.63x
Nottingham St Mary 13 4.02x
North Elmham 12 346.82x
Battersea 11 3.23x
Calne 10 59.28x
Holme 10 1176.47x
Lambeth 10 1.24x
Mildenhall 10 83.40x
Milton 10 769.23x
Monkton Farleigh 10 751.88x
Reading St Giles 10 14.65x
Weston Longville 10 769.23x
Bremhill 9 243.90x
Brighton 9 2.86x
Highway 9 3214.29x
Marcham 9 360.00x
Prestbury 9 200.00x
Westbury On Trym 9 14.62x
Bermondsey 8 2.90x
Drayton 8 406.09x
Everton 8 2.28x
Highworth 8 76.34x
Paddington London 8 2.35x
Streatley 8 388.35x
Street 8 99.13x
Walcot 8 10.07x
Bromley London 7 3.43x
Chelsea London 7 2.51x
Chipping Barnet 7 288.07x
Clee With Weelsby 7 21.58x
Great Marlow 7 46.30x
Heacham 7 220.82x
Hendon 7 21.00x
Ormesby St Margaret W 7 196.08x
Upwell 7 105.58x
Westminster St James 7 7.35x
Basford 6 10.42x
Beeching Stoke 6 1132.08x
Clerkenwell London 6 2.74x
Compton Bassett 6 504.20x
Cromer 6 118.34x
Elswick 6 5.45x
Great Yarmouth 6 5.08x
Heigham 6 7.85x
Kingsclere 6 69.12x
Newington 6 1.75x
Oxford St Giles 6 21.98x
Shaw Cum Donnington 6 269.06x
St George Hanover Square 6 3.67x
Warminster 6 33.41x
Bilston 5 8.25x
Bradford On Avon 5 19.05x
Bromsgrove 5 12.28x
Broxbourne 5 39.49x
Ealing 5 6.04x
Habergham Eaves 5 4.97x
Hempton 5 277.78x
Islington London 5 0.56x
Kingston On Thames 5 4.61x
Llanover 5 21.85x
North Walsham 5 48.69x
Norwich St John Sepulchre 5 54.05x
Preston 5 574.71x
Bristol St George 4 4.76x
Foulsham 4 132.89x
Oxford St Ebbe 4 23.75x
Walmer 4 29.09x
Wells Next Sea 4 48.13x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 62
Elizabeth 46
Sarah 30
Eliza 19
Ellen 15
Ann 11
Emily 11
Annie 10
Emma 10
Kate 10
Martha 10
Jane 9
Susan 9
Alice 8
Louisa 8
Edith 7
Fanny 7
Margaret 7
Clara 6
Hannah 6
Maria 6
Charlotte 5
Frances 5
Matilda 5
Ada 4
Agnes 4
Eleanor 4
Elizth. 4
Lucy 4
May 4
Amy 3
Anna 3
Anne 3
Caroline 3
Catherine 3
Florence 3
Gertrude 3
Harriet 3
Rebecca 3
Ruth 3
Bertha 2
Bessie 2
E. 2
Esther 2
Harriett 2
Isabella 2
Mabel 2
Maude 2
Minnie 2
Rose 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 56
George 44
John 38
Thomas 32
Charles 27
James 25
Henry 24
Alfred 13
Arthur 13
Robert 12
Edward 11
Frank 10
Walter 10
Frederick 9
Samuel 9
Benjamin 8
Ernest 8
Francis 8
Harry 8
Joseph 8
Albert 7
Richard 6
David 5
Fredk. 5
Wm. 5
Tom 4
Bertie 3
Chas. 3
Elijah 3
Andrew 2
Daniel 2
Edwin 2
Enos 2
Fred 2
Horace 2
Jacob 2
Jesse 2
Job 2
Peter 2
Willm. 2
Amos 1
Benjm. 1
Benjn 1
Clement 1
Earnest 1
Eddie 1
Edwd. 1
Herbert 1
Hercules 1
Wm.Chas. 1

FAQ

Bradfield surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bradfield surname in 1881?

In 1881, 951 people were recorded with the Bradfield surname. That placed it at #4,065 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bradfield surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,054 in 2016. That gives Bradfield a modern rank of #5,534.

What does the Bradfield surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from any of the various places called Bradfield in England.

What does the Bradfield map show?

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