NameCensus.

UK surname

Braid

A Scottish surname derived from a word meaning riverbank or braided stream.

In the 1881 census there were 1,086 people recorded with the Braid surname, ranking it #3,663 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,151, ranked #5,129, down from #3,663 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Markinch, Arbroath and St. Vigeans and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Moffat, Lancaster and Solihull.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Braid is 1,333 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 6.0%.

1881 census count

1,086

Ranked #3,663

Modern count

1,151

2016, ranked #5,129

Peak year

1901

1,333 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Braid had 1,086 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,663 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,151 in 2016, ranked #5,129.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,333 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Braid surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Braid surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Braid 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 706 #3,696
1861 historical 795 #3,460
1881 historical 1,086 #3,663
1891 historical 1,139 #3,735
1901 historical 1,333 #3,757
1911 historical 484 #8,026
1997 modern 1,099 #5,072
1998 modern 1,145 #5,083
1999 modern 1,176 #5,014
2000 modern 1,150 #5,077
2001 modern 1,088 #5,218
2002 modern 1,154 #5,082
2003 modern 1,107 #5,154
2004 modern 1,116 #5,127
2005 modern 1,093 #5,156
2006 modern 1,124 #5,048
2007 modern 1,111 #5,143
2008 modern 1,121 #5,138
2009 modern 1,129 #5,204
2010 modern 1,147 #5,258
2011 modern 1,123 #5,282
2012 modern 1,094 #5,315
2013 modern 1,129 #5,261
2014 modern 1,134 #5,270
2015 modern 1,142 #5,192
2016 modern 1,151 #5,129

Geography

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Where Braids are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Markinch, Arbroath and St. Vigeans, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Moffat, Lancaster, Solihull, Anstruther and Markinch and Star. 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 Markinch Fife
2 Arbroath and St. Vigeans Forfar
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Moffat Dumfries and Galloway
2 Lancaster 016 Lancaster
3 Solihull 007 Solihull
4 Anstruther Fife
5 Markinch and Star Fife

Forenames

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First names often paired with Braid

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Braid

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Braid surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Braid household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Braid 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

Braid is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Braid 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 Braid is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Braid

The surname BRAID is of Scottish origin, deriving from the Old English word "braid," meaning a small stream or rivulet. It is believed to have originated in the 13th century as a locational name, referring to a person who lived near a small stream or brook.

In the early historical records, the name appears with various spellings, such as Brade, Braide, and Braid. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which lists individuals who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England after the Wars of Scottish Independence.

BRAID is closely associated with several place names in Scotland, particularly in the regions of Ayrshire and Renfrewshire. The lands of Braid, located near Edinburgh, were once owned by a family bearing the same name. This connection is evident in the early 16th century when a John Braid is mentioned as the proprietor of these lands.

One notable figure bearing the BRAID surname was James Braid (1795-1860), a Scottish civil engineer and inventor. He is credited with pioneering the construction of modern suspension bridges, including the iconic Forth Bridge in Scotland. Another prominent individual was Walter Braid (1857-1924), a Scottish golfer who won the Open Championship in 1901.

In the realm of literature, the name BRAID is associated with Robert Braid (1858-1940), a Scottish poet and writer who published several collections of poetry, including "The Garland of Visions" and "The Morrice Dancers." His works often explored themes of Scottish culture and folklore.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the BRAID surname was also found in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Yorkshire and Northumberland. One notable bearer of the name was William Braid (1747-1832), an English botanist and horticulturist who made significant contributions to the study of plant taxonomy and cultivation.

Throughout history, the BRAID surname has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, ranging from landowners and inventors to poets and botanists, contributing to the rich tapestry of Scottish and British heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Braid families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Braid 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. Fife leads with 296 Braids recorded in 1881 and an index of 46.64x.

County Total Index
Fife 296 46.64x
Angus 113 11.38x
Lancashire 102 0.80x
Midlothian 96 6.68x
Middlesex 70 0.65x
Lanarkshire 58 1.67x
Cheshire 41 1.73x
Essex 38 1.80x
Perthshire 24 4.99x
Durham 22 0.69x
Dunbartonshire 19 6.60x
Surrey 17 0.33x
Renfrewshire 16 1.93x
Warwickshire 16 0.59x
Isle of Man 15 7.53x
Yorkshire 15 0.14x
Sussex 13 0.72x
Kinross-shire 12 44.28x
Staffordshire 12 0.33x
Derbyshire 11 0.66x
Northumberland 10 0.63x
Stirlingshire 10 2.53x
Cambridgeshire 8 1.18x
Cornwall 7 0.58x
Glamorgan 6 0.32x
Kent 6 0.16x
Selkirkshire 6 6.19x
Wigtownshire 5 3.51x
Berwickshire 4 3.08x
Caithness 4 2.73x
Roxburghshire 4 2.06x
Herefordshire 3 0.68x
East Lothian 2 1.41x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.14x
Suffolk 2 0.15x
West Lothian 2 1.24x
Wiltshire 2 0.21x
Argyllshire 1 0.34x
Ayrshire 1 0.12x
Hertfordshire 1 0.14x
Inverness-shire 1 0.31x
Monmouthshire 1 0.13x
Northamptonshire 1 0.10x
Ross-shire 1 0.34x
Royal Navy 1 0.78x
Westmorland 1 0.42x
Worcestershire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edinburgh St Cuthberts in Midlothian leads with 50 Braids recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.65x.

Place Total Index
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 50 8.65x
Markinch 40 185.70x
St Andrews 35 121.19x
Barony 29 3.31x
St Vigeans 29 54.09x
Dysart 25 58.49x
Liverpool 25 3.24x
Kirkcaldy 24 76.24x
Dundee 22 5.93x
Ceres 18 235.91x
Liff Benvie 16 10.61x
Onchan 15 26.16x
Birmingham 14 1.55x
Kirknewton East 14 233.33x
West Ham 14 3.00x
Arbroath 13 39.50x
Crail 13 200.62x
Kilconquhar 12 158.94x
Kinghorn 12 89.09x
Collessie 11 150.48x
Hulme 11 4.14x
Walsall Foreign 11 5.88x
Abbotshall 10 42.18x
Birkenhead 10 5.30x
Glasgow 10 1.62x
South Leith 10 6.19x
Cumbernauld 9 57.00x
Edmonton 9 10.42x
Falkland 9 90.18x
Kingsbarns 9 308.22x
Litchurch 9 13.33x
West Derby 9 2.42x
Auchtertool 8 304.18x
Birkdale 8 24.85x
Brechin 8 20.50x
Ferry Port On Craig 8 76.63x
Forfar 8 14.88x
Fulham London 8 5.15x
Holbeck 8 11.37x
Macclesfield 8 7.61x
Scoonie 8 58.22x
St Pancras London 8 0.93x
Warrington 8 5.30x
Abbey 7 5.52x
Bermondsey 7 2.19x
Blackden 7 1346.15x
Kilsyth 7 27.77x
Leuchars 7 87.17x
Monifieth 7 19.95x
Salford 7 1.87x
St Marylebone London 7 1.22x
Writtle 7 80.92x
Bishopwearmouth 6 2.19x
Blantyre 6 16.62x
Fossoway 6 128.76x
Galashiels 6 16.73x
Inveresk 6 15.43x
Inverkip 6 30.64x
Keymer 6 47.02x
Kinglassie 6 124.22x
Merthyr Tydfil 6 3.34x
Moonzie 6 1111.11x
Newbattle 6 48.86x
Newington 6 1.52x
Tranmere 6 6.90x
Truro St Mary 6 58.82x
Westoe 6 3.32x
Chelsea London 5 1.55x
Dairsie 5 194.55x
Forgan 5 41.12x
Hackney London 5 0.83x
Higher Bebington 5 33.00x
Islington London 5 0.48x
Logie 5 28.97x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 5 5.25x
Old Kilpatrick 5 14.69x
Old Monkland 5 3.63x
Row 5 13.42x
South Weald 5 27.59x
Stranraer 5 38.40x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 35
George 26
William 26
James 19
Thomas 13
Charles 11
Alexander 10
Henry 10
Robert 8
Joseph 6
Arthur 5
Alfred 4
Edward 4
Peter 4
Walter 4
David 3
Richard 3
Albert 2
Archibald 2
Francis 2
Harry 2
Lewis 2
Samuel 2
Alma 1
Arther 1
Earnest 1
Edwin 1
Elex. 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Fredrick 1
Gilbert 1
Hugh 1
Jms. 1
Lennox 1
Lilian 1
Luke 1
Mark 1
Norman 1
Robt.L. 1
Rueben 1
Simon 1
Timothy 1

FAQ

Braid surname: questions and answers

How common was the Braid surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,086 people were recorded with the Braid surname. That placed it at #3,663 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Braid surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,151 in 2016. That gives Braid a modern rank of #5,129.

What does the Braid surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from a word meaning riverbank or braided stream.

What does the Braid map show?

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