NameCensus.

UK surname

Braham

An English surname derived from the Old English word for broom or bramble, referring to someone who lived near such plants.

In the 1881 census there were 401 people recorded with the Braham surname, ranking it #7,959 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 890, ranked #6,353, up from #7,959 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Garforth, West. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Dudley, Wolverhampton and Bradford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Braham is 950 in 2012. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 121.9%.

1881 census count

401

Ranked #7,959

Modern count

890

2016, ranked #6,353

Peak year

2012

950 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Braham had 401 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,959 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 890 in 2016, ranked #6,353.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 657 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Braham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Braham surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Braham 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 300 #7,650
1861 historical 384 #6,667
1881 historical 401 #7,959
1891 historical 488 #7,581
1901 historical 584 #7,219
1911 historical 657 #6,393
1997 modern 900 #5,963
1998 modern 908 #6,116
1999 modern 898 #6,210
2000 modern 926 #6,050
2001 modern 897 #6,106
2002 modern 920 #6,100
2003 modern 882 #6,179
2004 modern 875 #6,228
2005 modern 876 #6,149
2006 modern 866 #6,221
2007 modern 866 #6,287
2008 modern 879 #6,248
2009 modern 908 #6,216
2010 modern 925 #6,245
2011 modern 911 #6,270
2012 modern 950 #5,981
2013 modern 949 #6,084
2014 modern 931 #6,225
2015 modern 916 #6,246
2016 modern 890 #6,353

Geography

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Where Brahams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Garforth, West 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 Dudley, Wolverhampton and Bradford. 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 Garforth, West Yorkshire, West Riding
5 St Marylebone London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Dudley 010 Dudley
2 Wolverhampton 015 Wolverhampton
3 Bradford 002 Bradford
4 Dudley 011 Dudley
5 Dudley 009 Dudley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Braham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Braham

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Braham, 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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Braham surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Braham household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Braham 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

Braham is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

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

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Braham falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Braham is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Braham, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Braham

The surname Braham has its origins in England, and it is derived from the Old English words "brom" and "ham," which together mean "homestead by the broom plant." This name originated in the medieval period, around the 12th or 13th century, when it was common for people to be identified by the location of their homestead or village.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Braham can be found in various medieval records, such as the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, which lists a Richard de Bromham in Wiltshire. Additionally, the Domesday Book of 1086 mentions several places with similar names, like Bromham in Bedfordshire and Bromham in Wiltshire, suggesting that the name Braham likely emerged from these locations.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Braham was Sir John Braham, a 14th-century English knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War against France. Another notable figure was John Braham, an English tenor and composer who lived from 1774 to 1856 and was renowned for his performances in operas and oratorios.

In the 16th century, there was a prominent family of Brahams in Lincolnshire, including William Braham, who was born in 1542 and served as a justice of the peace. The Braham family also had connections to the village of Braham in Yorkshire, which may have contributed to the spelling variations of the surname over time.

Another historical figure with the surname Braham was Algernon Braham, an English actor and playwright who lived from 1844 to 1916. He was known for his performances in London's West End theaters and for writing several successful plays.

It is worth noting that the surname Braham has also been associated with various place names, such as Bramham in Yorkshire, Bramham in Bedfordshire, and Bromham in Wiltshire, further reinforcing its connection to geographical locations and the Old English roots of the name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Braham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Braham 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 139 Brahams recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.52x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 139 3.52x
Yorkshire 81 2.07x
Surrey 48 2.49x
Lincolnshire 28 4.43x
Suffolk 28 5.82x
Lancashire 25 0.53x
Essex 10 1.28x
Northumberland 10 1.70x
Hampshire 8 0.99x
Kent 4 0.30x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.75x
Sussex 3 0.45x
Cheshire 2 0.23x
Isle of Man 2 2.73x
Somerset 2 0.31x
Warwickshire 2 0.20x
Berkshire 1 0.34x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.40x
Durham 1 0.09x
Fife 1 0.43x
Hertfordshire 1 0.37x
Royal Navy 1 2.12x
Staffordshire 1 0.08x
Wiltshire 1 0.29x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bethnal Green London in Middlesex leads with 31 Brahams recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.06x.

Place Total Index
Bethnal Green London 31 18.06x
Garforth 24 800.00x
Lambeth 16 4.64x
Islington London 15 3.92x
St Marylebone London 12 5.69x
Westminster St John 12 24.94x
Bromley London 10 11.50x
St Pancras London 10 3.14x
Woodbridge 10 162.60x
Great Grimsby 9 22.45x
Marske In Guisbrough 8 115.11x
Tankersley 8 273.97x
Burgh In Marsh 7 454.55x
Farnham 7 46.76x
Leeds 7 3.17x
Liverpool 7 2.46x
Newington 7 4.80x
Tottenham 7 11.13x
Battersea 6 4.13x
Hadleigh 6 128.48x
Chorlton On Medlock 5 6.71x
Heckmondwike 5 39.71x
Mile End Old Town London 5 5.95x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 5 35.77x
Soothill 5 35.36x
St George In East London 5 13.46x
Anwick 4 851.06x
Brentwood 4 84.21x
Camberwell 4 1.59x
Hackney London 4 1.81x
Hampstead London 4 6.50x
Kensington London 4 1.82x
Newmarket St Mary 4 108.40x
Nottingham St Mary 4 2.90x
Southwark Christchurch 4 21.61x
St George Hanover Square 4 5.75x
St James Dukes Place 4 476.19x
St Luke London 4 6.31x
Ventnor 4 51.95x
Wath On Dearne 4 51.22x
West Ham 4 2.32x
Westgate 4 10.99x
Ecclesfield 3 10.45x
Elswick 3 6.40x
Hulme 3 3.07x
Ipswich St Peter 3 46.30x
Lofthouse Cum Carlton 3 62.89x
Shoreditch London 3 1.75x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 3.77x
St Faith Winchester 3 79.58x
Birmingham 2 0.60x
Clee With Weelsby 2 14.46x
Grantham 2 24.30x
Great Bealings 2 512.82x
Hogsthorpe 2 204.08x
Hook 2 23.23x
Hunslet 2 3.28x
Newton In Makerfield 2 13.94x
Onchan 2 9.47x
Sculcoates 2 3.22x
Stoke Newington London 2 6.50x
Thornton In Fylde 2 19.49x
Walcot 2 5.90x
Walton On Hill 2 7.88x
Ardwick 1 2.37x
Brighton 1 0.74x
Chipping Barnet 1 21.01x
East Grinstead 1 10.60x
Holdenhurst 1 4.71x
Holy Trinity 1 1.06x
Jesmond 1 12.09x
Lavington West 1 400.00x
Lewisham 1 1.39x
Liscard 1 6.37x
Minster In Sheppey 1 4.48x
Newmarket All Sts 1 54.05x
Oldham 1 0.66x
Paddington London 1 0.69x
Toxteth Park 1 0.63x
Whitechapel London 1 2.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 16
Sarah 13
Louisa 11
Annie 10
Mary 10
Emma 9
Alice 7
Caroline 7
Amelia 5
Kate 5
Margaret 5
Clara 4
Edith 4
Eliza 4
Emily 4
Martha 4
Sophia 4
Florence 3
Georgina 3
Gertrude 3
Hannah 3
Harriet 3
Jane 3
Rebecca 3
Beatrice 2
Christiana 2
Dorothy 2
Ellen 2
Frances 2
Julia 2
Laura 2
Lizzie 2
Rachel 2
Selina 2
Susannah 2
Ann 1
Anne 1
Betsey 1
Bridge 1
Carrie 1
Elizbth. 1
Elizth. 1
Elsa 1
Emelie 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Isabella 1
Levinia 1
Lilian 1
Thomasina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 22
George 16
John 11
Joseph 10
Henry 9
Thomas 9
Edward 7
Samuel 7
James 6
Alfred 5
Arthur 5
Charles 5
Frederick 5
Benjamin 3
David 3
Harry 3
Sydney 3
Albert 2
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Fred 2
Louis 2
Mark 2
Nathaniel 2
Philip 2
Richard 2
Walter 2
Beddingfield 1
Charlie 1
Chas 1
Corney 1
Danial 1
Edwin 1
Emanuel 1
Felix 1
Francis 1
Geo. 1
Geo.Schofield 1
H.Johnson 1
Josh. 1
Laurence 1
Leighton 1
Leslie 1
Lewis 1
Matthew 1
Morris 1
Octavius 1
Patrick 1
Percy 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Braham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Braham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 401 people were recorded with the Braham surname. That placed it at #7,959 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Braham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 890 in 2016. That gives Braham a modern rank of #6,353.

What does the Braham surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Old English word for broom or bramble, referring to someone who lived near such plants.

What does the Braham map show?

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