UK surname
A locational surname originating from a place name in England.
In the 1881 census there were 36 people recorded with the Bradham surname, ranking it #28,559 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2, ranked #38,825, down from #28,559 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Prestbury, Halling and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bradham is 229 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 94.4%.
1881 census count
36
Ranked #28,559
Modern count
2
2016, ranked #38,825
Peak year
1861
229 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Bradham surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Bradham surname density by area, 1891 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 | 29 | #28,082 |
| 1861 | historical | 229 | #10,660 |
| 1881 | historical | 36 | #28,559 |
| 1891 | historical | 112 | #22,291 |
| 1901 | historical | 28 | #30,951 |
| 1911 | historical | 45 | #28,332 |
| 1997 | modern | 2 | #38,557 |
| 1998 | modern | 6 | #37,703 |
| 1999 | modern | 4 | #38,100 |
| 2000 | modern | 3 | #38,248 |
| 2002 | modern | 1 | #38,709 |
| 2003 | modern | 2 | #38,424 |
| 2004 | modern | 1 | #38,771 |
| 2005 | modern | 1 | #38,814 |
| 2006 | modern | 2 | #38,590 |
| 2010 | modern | 1 | #39,020 |
| 2012 | modern | 1 | #38,986 |
| 2013 | modern | 2 | #38,761 |
| 2014 | modern | 2 | #38,791 |
| 2015 | modern | 2 | #38,793 |
| 2016 | modern | 2 | #38,825 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Prestbury, Halling, Manchester, St George, Hanover Square, Buckingham Palace and Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall. 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 | Prestbury | Cheshire |
| 2 | Halling | Kent |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | St George, Hanover Square, Buckingham Palace | London (West Districts) |
| 5 | Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall | Staffordshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Bradham 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 Bradham, 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 Bradham surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Bradham 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, Bradham 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 Bradham is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Bradham, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Bradham originated in England and is derived from the Old English words "brad" meaning "broad" and "ham" meaning "homestead" or "village." This name is thought to have originated in various areas of England, including the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex, where place names such as Bradham and Broadham existed.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Bradeham." This suggests that the name was already established in England by the 11th century.
In the 13th century, a family with the surname Bradham was recorded in the Rotuli Hundredorum, a census-like record of landowners in England. This document mentions a William Bradham residing in the county of Norfolk.
During the 16th century, the name Bradham appeared in various records, including the Parish Registers of Walsham-le-Willows in Suffolk, where a Thomas Bradham was recorded in 1558.
One notable individual with the surname Bradham was John Bradham (1582-1638), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Southwark in the early 17th century.
Another prominent figure was Edward Bradham (1670-1734), an English Baptist minister and author who wrote several theological works, including "A Treatise on the Doctrine of the Scriptures."
In the 18th century, a family of Bradhams resided in the town of Bury St. Edmunds in Suffolk, where they were involved in the textile trade. One member of this family, William Bradham (1737-1819), was a successful wool merchant.
In the 19th century, the name Bradham appeared in various parts of the world due to English migration. One notable individual was Caleb Bradham (1867-1934), an American businessman and inventor from North Carolina, who is credited with creating the popular soft drink Pepsi-Cola.
Another significant figure was William Bradham (1879-1962), an Australian politician and member of the Australian Labor Party who served as a Senator for New South Wales from 1935 to 1962.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bradham 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 15 Bradhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.31x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 15 | 4.31x |
| Middlesex | 13 | 3.70x |
| Bedfordshire | 6 | 33.00x |
| Monmouthshire | 1 | 3.94x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.58x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sculcoates in Yorkshire leads with 11 Bradhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 199.28x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Sculcoates | 11 | 199.28x |
| Lidlington | 6 | 7500.00x |
| Almondbury | 4 | 238.10x |
| Chelsea London | 4 | 37.81x |
| Clerkenwell London | 4 | 48.25x |
| St Pancras London | 4 | 14.15x |
| Southwark St George Martyr | 1 | 14.14x |
| St George Hanover Square | 1 | 16.16x |
| St Woollos | 1 | 35.34x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Bradham 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 Bradham 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 Bradham households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 9 |
| (Blk) Smith | 2 |
| Bricklayer | 2 |
| Accountant Ck | 1 |
| Barmaid (Inn) | 1 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Earthen Wr Porter In Manufactory | 1 |
| Errand Boy At Grocers | 1 |
| Firemans Wife | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Milliner | 1 |
| Packer (Tac Lab) | 1 |
| Paper Seller | 1 |
| Servant Domestic | 1 |
| Toymaker | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 36 people were recorded with the Bradham surname. That placed it at #28,559 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 2 in 2016. That gives Bradham a modern rank of #38,825.
A locational surname originating from a place name in England.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bradham 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.