NameCensus.

UK surname

Brailey

A habitational surname originating from a location or place bearing that name.

In the 1881 census there were 319 people recorded with the Brailey surname, ranking it #9,326 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 509, ranked #9,860, down from #9,326 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton and Kenn, Ide, Ashton, Exminster. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Doncaster, Cornwall and North Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brailey is 552 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 59.6%.

1881 census count

319

Ranked #9,326

Modern count

509

2016, ranked #9,860

Peak year

2010

552 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brailey had 319 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,326 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 509 in 2016, ranked #9,860.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 494 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Brailey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brailey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Brailey 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 236 #9,174
1861 historical 276 #9,052
1881 historical 319 #9,326
1891 historical 399 #8,898
1901 historical 456 #8,624
1911 historical 494 #7,886
1997 modern 516 #9,095
1998 modern 517 #9,357
1999 modern 530 #9,231
2000 modern 514 #9,424
2001 modern 514 #9,267
2002 modern 528 #9,266
2003 modern 532 #9,067
2004 modern 536 #9,032
2005 modern 539 #8,924
2006 modern 530 #9,074
2007 modern 526 #9,205
2008 modern 524 #9,299
2009 modern 540 #9,294
2010 modern 552 #9,338
2011 modern 530 #9,541
2012 modern 529 #9,461
2013 modern 538 #9,514
2014 modern 528 #9,701
2015 modern 513 #9,836
2016 modern 509 #9,860

Geography

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Where Braileys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton, Kenn, Ide, Ashton, Exminster, Modbury, Bigbury, Ermington, Kingston and Cardiff St John and St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Doncaster, Cornwall, North Devon and Wiltshire. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton Devon
3 Kenn, Ide, Ashton, Exminster Devon
4 Modbury, Bigbury, Ermington, Kingston Devon
5 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Doncaster 034 Doncaster
2 Cornwall 028 Cornwall
3 North Devon 007 North Devon
4 Wiltshire 025 Wiltshire
5 Wiltshire 028 Wiltshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Brailey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Brailey

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Brailey is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Brailey is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Brailey 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 Brailey 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 Brailey, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Brailey

The surname Brailey is of English origin, derived from a habitation name referencing one of the numerous places named Brayley or Brailley in various parts of England. These place names are believed to have originated from the Old English words "bræc" meaning "newly cultivated land" and "leah" meaning "a clearing" or "meadow."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Brailey can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which lists a individual named Radulfus de Braleia, residing in Hertfordshire. This entry suggests that the name was already well-established by the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, historical records mention a Robertus de Brayley, who was a landowner in Berkshire. Around the same time, a Walter de Brailley is documented as residing in Northamptonshire.

The name Brailey has undergone various spelling variations over the centuries, including Brayley, Brayly, Brailley, and Brayleigh. These variations often reflected regional dialects and the preferences of individual scribes.

One notable bearer of the Brailey surname was Edward Brailsford Brailey (1819-1897), a prominent English architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Leeds Town Hall and the Midland Grand Hotel in London.

Another individual of note was Sir Frederick Brailey (1878-1943), a British civil servant and administrator who served as Lieutenant-Governor of the Isle of Man from 1935 to 1940.

In the literary world, Charles Brailey (1817-1882) was an English poet and writer, best known for his collection of poems titled "Lyrical Gleanings."

The name Brailey has also been associated with military figures, such as Lieutenant Colonel John Brailey (1901-1957), a highly decorated British Army officer who served in both World War I and World War II.

Lastly, one cannot overlook the contributions of Sir Norman Brailey (1885-1972), a respected British civil engineer who played a pivotal role in the construction of the Mersey Tunnel and the Tyne Tunnel, among other significant infrastructure projects.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Brailey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brailey 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. Devon leads with 95 Braileys recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.40x.

County Total Index
Devon 95 14.40x
Middlesex 60 1.89x
Somerset 30 5.88x
Nottinghamshire 15 3.51x
Cheshire 14 2.00x
Kent 13 1.20x
Lancashire 12 0.32x
Durham 11 1.17x
Gloucestershire 10 1.61x
Yorkshire 9 0.29x
Hertfordshire 8 3.66x
Leicestershire 8 2.28x
Glamorgan 7 1.27x
Warwickshire 6 0.75x
Berkshire 4 1.68x
Hampshire 4 0.62x
Royal Navy 4 10.59x
Essex 3 0.48x
Oxfordshire 3 1.53x
Surrey 3 0.19x
Channel Islands 2 2.13x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.50x
Cornwall 1 0.28x
Derbyshire 1 0.20x
Monmouthshire 1 0.44x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Exminster in Devon leads with 16 Braileys recorded in 1881 and an index of 675.11x.

Place Total Index
Exminster 16 675.11x
Bedminster 15 31.28x
Ermington 12 500.00x
Nottingham St Mary 10 9.05x
Bromley London 9 12.90x
Wolborough 9 107.91x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 8 27.33x
Bristol St Augustine 8 79.76x
Cheshunt 8 104.71x
Hackney London 7 3.94x
Islington London 7 2.28x
Old Cleeve 7 384.62x
Yeovil 7 67.50x
Cheadle 6 44.88x
Clerkenwell London 6 8.02x
Limehouse London 6 17.24x
Marwood 6 681.82x
Pilton 6 275.23x
St Marylebone London 6 3.54x
Tavistock 6 79.79x
Aston 5 2.27x
Bethnal Green London 5 3.63x
Bishops Tawton 5 242.72x
Exeter St Sidwell 5 33.09x
Latchford 5 107.53x
Leicester St Mary 5 17.61x
Plumstead 5 13.87x
Poplar London 5 8.36x
Snenton 5 29.78x
Toxteth Park 5 3.93x
Bishop Auckland 4 31.62x
Greenham 4 336.13x
Lapford 4 625.00x
Lewisham 4 6.93x
Llantwit Vairdre 4 64.52x
Royal Navy 4 12.39x
Barnstaple 3 28.96x
Chorlton On Medlock 3 5.02x
Exeter Heavitree 3 60.98x
Grindon 3 810.81x
Leicester St Margaret 3 3.50x
Neithrop 3 45.59x
Roath 3 11.97x
St Pancras London 3 1.18x
Warrington 3 6.73x
Acton 2 10.76x
Braunton 2 89.29x
Cadeleigh 2 769.23x
Colchester St Giles 2 32.36x
Conside Knitsley 2 27.29x
Dartford 2 18.08x
Finchley 2 16.46x
Newington 2 1.71x
Northwood 2 21.62x
Plymouth St Andrew 2 3.93x
St Peter Port 2 11.51x
Stockport 2 5.55x
Tudhoe 2 24.24x
Ashburton 1 31.75x
Bermondsey 1 1.06x
Birmingham 1 0.38x
Bow 1 113.64x
Calstock 1 14.20x
Dawlish 1 20.33x
Devonport 1 13.19x
Didsbury 1 20.00x
Dukinfield 1 3.09x
Exeter Allhallows On The 1 92.59x
Exeter Holy Trinity 1 38.61x
Exeter St Stephen 1 294.12x
Heanton Punchardon 1 208.33x
Long Eaton 1 15.27x
Portsea 1 0.79x
Sourton 1 178.57x
St Benedict Cambridge 1 88.50x
Stoke Damerel 1 2.17x
Sundridge 1 55.56x
Trevethin 1 4.62x
Walthamstow 1 4.44x
Whitechapel London 1 3.20x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 28
Elizabeth 15
Sarah 13
Jane 9
Emma 8
Alice 5
Elizth. 4
Ellen 4
Emily 4
Martha 4
Susan 4
Agnes 3
Amelia 3
Ann 3
Anne 3
Florence 3
Maria 3
Annie 2
Edith 2
Eliza 2
Fanny 2
Georgina 2
Grace 2
Harriet 2
Louisa 2
Bertha 1
Bessie 1
Betsy 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Elizth.A. 1
Elliner 1
Florance 1
Francis 1
Gertrude 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Johanna 1
Julia 1
Keziah 1
Lavenia 1
Lucy 1
Margery 1
Maud 1
Melinda 1
Milicent 1
Prudence 1
Ruth 1
Tamsin 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 28
John 12
George 9
Thomas 9
Charles 8
Henry 8
James 8
Joseph 8
Richard 7
Frederick 6
Samuel 5
Walter 5
Edmund 3
Edwin 3
Thos. 3
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Ernest 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Robert 2
Wm. 2
Alexander 1
Alfd. 1
Ambrose 1
Amos 1
Archibald 1
Benjn. 1
Dick 1
Earnest 1
Edward 1
Eli 1
Francis 1
Fredk. 1
Fredric 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Hayman 1
Josh.Richd. 1
Paul 1
Percival 1
Philip 1
Sidney 1
Tom 1
W.Henry 1
Wm.Elias 1

FAQ

Brailey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brailey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 319 people were recorded with the Brailey surname. That placed it at #9,326 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brailey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 509 in 2016. That gives Brailey a modern rank of #9,860.

What does the Brailey surname mean?

A habitational surname originating from a location or place bearing that name.

What does the Brailey map show?

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