NameCensus.

UK surname

Braidwood

A place name for someone from a town or village known for broad woods.

In the 1881 census there were 431 people recorded with the Braidwood surname, ranking it #7,555 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 616, ranked #8,530, down from #7,555 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Larbert, Govan Combination and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gretna, Falkirk - Bantaskin and Keppochhill.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Braidwood is 616 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 42.9%.

1881 census count

431

Ranked #7,555

Modern count

616

2016, ranked #8,530

Peak year

2016

616 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Braidwood had 431 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,555 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 616 in 2016, ranked #8,530.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 585 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Braidwood surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Braidwood surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Braidwood 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 269 #8,303
1861 historical 342 #7,460
1881 historical 431 #7,555
1891 historical 510 #7,307
1901 historical 585 #7,209
1911 historical 204 #14,784
1997 modern 575 #8,388
1998 modern 575 #8,622
1999 modern 599 #8,453
2000 modern 601 #8,412
2001 modern 580 #8,485
2002 modern 587 #8,571
2003 modern 579 #8,530
2004 modern 557 #8,783
2005 modern 565 #8,633
2006 modern 555 #8,752
2007 modern 554 #8,854
2008 modern 558 #8,864
2009 modern 576 #8,851
2010 modern 587 #8,936
2011 modern 586 #8,854
2012 modern 587 #8,746
2013 modern 598 #8,775
2014 modern 603 #8,769
2015 modern 612 #8,606
2016 modern 616 #8,530

Geography

Back to top

Where Braidwoods are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Larbert, Govan Combination, London parishes, Edinburgh and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Gretna, Falkirk - Bantaskin, Keppochhill, Possil Park and Annan East. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Larbert Stirling
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 London parishes London 3
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Gretna Dumfries and Galloway
2 Falkirk - Bantaskin Falkirk
3 Keppochhill Glasgow City
4 Possil Park Glasgow City
5 Annan East Dumfries and Galloway

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Braidwood

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Braidwood

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Braidwood surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Braidwood household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Braidwood is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Braidwood is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Braidwood falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Braidwood

The surname Braidwood has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from a place name referring to a broad or expansive wood, with the Old English words "brad" meaning broad and "wudu" meaning wood or forest.

The earliest known record of the name appears in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historical document containing pledges of allegiance to King Edward I of England. Here, the name is spelled as "Braydwod." Over the centuries, various spellings such as Braydwode, Braidwode, and Braidwood emerged.

Braidwood is closely associated with the Scottish Borders region, particularly the village of Braidwood in Lanarkshire. The name likely originated from a family or individual who hailed from or owned lands near this area. In the 16th century, records show a John Braidwood as the owner of the lands of Braidwoodshiel in Lanarkshire.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname was Sir James Braidwood (1700-1768), a Scottish landowner and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Lanarkshire from 1741 to 1768. Another notable figure was James Braidwood (1800-1861), a Scottish fire engineer who founded the world's first municipal fire service in Edinburgh in 1824.

Thomas Braidwood (1715-1806) was a renowned Scottish horticulturist and nurseryman who introduced many new plant species to Britain from North America. His son, James Braidwood (1757-1824), followed in his footsteps and established the Braidwood Nursery in Edinburgh.

In the late 18th century, the Braidwood family played a significant role in the development of the manual alphabet for deaf communication, later known as the British Sign Language. John Braidwood (1711-1806) and his grandson, John Braidwood (1768-1818), established schools for the deaf in Edinburgh and London, respectively.

While the name has Scottish roots, over time, it has spread to other parts of the world, including England, Ireland, and North America, as families emigrated and settled in new regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Braidwood families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Braidwood 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. Lanarkshire leads with 151 Braidwoods recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.16x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 151 11.16x
Midlothian 77 13.74x
Renfrewshire 33 10.18x
Cheshire 26 2.81x
Middlesex 20 0.48x
Lancashire 18 0.36x
Stirlingshire 16 10.37x
Essex 14 1.69x
Surrey 11 0.54x
Ayrshire 10 3.19x
Kent 9 0.63x
Perthshire 9 4.79x
Berwickshire 8 15.79x
Dumfriesshire 6 6.49x
Anglesey 5 6.74x
Dunbartonshire 4 3.56x
Northumberland 4 0.64x
East Lothian 2 3.61x
Wigtownshire 2 3.60x
Banffshire 1 1.15x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.40x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 1.65x
Peeblesshire 1 5.08x

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 43 Braidwoods recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.07x.

Place Total Index
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 43 19.07x
Govan 23 6.87x
Cambusnethan 22 73.19x
Glasgow 21 8.74x
Barony 17 4.96x
Neilston 16 98.28x
Carluke 14 113.91x
Walthamstow 14 47.09x
Abbey 13 26.27x
Larbert 13 140.85x
Birkenhead 12 16.30x
Monks Coppenhall 12 34.42x
North Leith 12 46.26x
Lanark 11 101.01x
Southwark St George Martyr 11 13.06x
Edinburgh New North 10 204.92x
Islington London 9 2.22x
Logie 9 133.53x
Carstairs 8 285.71x
Glassford 8 382.78x
Greenwich 8 12.01x
Blackburn 6 4.54x
Kirkmichael 6 210.53x
Bothwell 5 13.62x
Bunkle Preston 5 480.77x
Crawford 5 197.63x
Holyhead 5 36.15x
Lesmahagow 5 34.94x
Morton 5 162.87x
Covington 4 625.00x
Edinburgh Greenside S 4 197.04x
Elswick 4 8.05x
Oldham 4 2.50x
Chelsea London 3 2.38x
Edmonton 3 8.90x
Edrom 3 138.25x
Everton 3 1.90x
Hackney London 3 1.28x
Hamilton 3 7.95x
Carrington 2 227.27x
Douglas 2 51.28x
East Greenock 2 6.53x
Falkirk 2 5.54x
Glencorse 2 93.02x
Kirkdale 2 2.39x
Liscard 2 12.02x
New Kilpatrick 2 18.69x
Newton On Ayr 2 21.32x
South Leith 2 3.17x
Stranraer 2 39.37x
Ardwick 1 2.23x
Balmaclellan 1 74.07x
Campsie 1 11.81x
Carmichael 1 89.29x
Cathcart 1 5.70x
Currie 1 29.15x
Dumbarton 1 6.39x
Edinburgh Canongate 1 7.01x
Fishwick 1 32.57x
Gamrie 1 10.32x
Garston 1 6.83x
Kensington London 1 0.43x
Kilmalcolm 1 25.71x
Kilmarnock 1 2.68x
Lee 1 4.82x
New Monkland 1 2.50x
Roseneath 1 46.30x
Sanquhar 1 30.77x
Skirling 1 250.00x
Spott 1 120.48x
St Quivox 1 9.44x
Stoke Newington London 1 3.07x
Walston 1 204.08x
Wavendon 1 71.43x
Whittinghame 1 108.70x

Top female names

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

Name Count
George 9
James 8
John 8
William 4
Alexander 3
Thomas 3
Peter 2
Alasandra 1
Alfred 1
Benjamin 1
Bruce 1
Edward 1
Henry 1
Jas.J. 1
Jas.W. 1
Maurice 1
Norman 1
Robert 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Braidwood surname: questions and answers

How common was the Braidwood surname in 1881?

In 1881, 431 people were recorded with the Braidwood surname. That placed it at #7,555 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Braidwood surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 616 in 2016. That gives Braidwood a modern rank of #8,530.

What does the Braidwood surname mean?

A place name for someone from a town or village known for broad woods.

What does the Braidwood map show?

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