NameCensus.

UK surname

Brailsford

A locational surname derived from a place name in Derbyshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 1,055 people recorded with the Brailsford surname, ranking it #3,733 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,728, ranked #3,612, up from #3,733 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Alkmund, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Fulwood and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North East Derbyshire, Amber Valley and Rotherham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brailsford is 1,812 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 63.8%.

1881 census count

1,055

Ranked #3,733

Modern count

1,728

2016, ranked #3,612

Peak year

2010

1,812 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brailsford had 1,055 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,733 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,728 in 2016, ranked #3,612.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,472 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Brailsford surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brailsford surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Brailsford 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 499 #5,010
1861 historical 591 #4,475
1881 historical 1,055 #3,733
1891 historical 1,159 #3,687
1901 historical 1,329 #3,769
1911 historical 1,472 #3,274
1997 modern 1,639 #3,624
1998 modern 1,753 #3,543
1999 modern 1,756 #3,559
2000 modern 1,771 #3,511
2001 modern 1,730 #3,516
2002 modern 1,777 #3,507
2003 modern 1,745 #3,494
2004 modern 1,722 #3,536
2005 modern 1,707 #3,529
2006 modern 1,720 #3,510
2007 modern 1,701 #3,570
2008 modern 1,702 #3,598
2009 modern 1,765 #3,558
2010 modern 1,812 #3,543
2011 modern 1,746 #3,610
2012 modern 1,677 #3,689
2013 modern 1,729 #3,648
2014 modern 1,732 #3,664
2015 modern 1,714 #3,652
2016 modern 1,728 #3,612

Geography

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Where Brailsfords are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Alkmund, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Fulwood, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Nottingham St Mary and Chesterfield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North East Derbyshire, Amber Valley and Rotherham. 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 St Alkmund Derbyshire
2 Sutton-in-Ashfield, Fulwood Nottinghamshire
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire
5 Chesterfield Derbyshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North East Derbyshire 010 North East Derbyshire
2 Amber Valley 017 Amber Valley
3 North East Derbyshire 011 North East Derbyshire
4 Rotherham 013 Rotherham
5 Rotherham 014 Rotherham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Brailsford

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Brailsford

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Brailsford 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

Brailsford is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Brailsford falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Brailsford is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Brailsford

The surname Brailsford has its origins in the county of Derbyshire, England, dating back to the early medieval period. It is a locational name, derived from the place name Brailsford, a village located in the Derbyshire Dales district. The name is thought to come from the Old English words "bræl," meaning "variant of brail" and "ford," meaning a shallow river crossing.

One of the earliest known records of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Brailesford." This historical document provides a detailed survey of landholdings and inhabitants across much of England and parts of Wales, offering valuable insights into the distribution of surnames during that era.

The first recorded individual with the surname Brailsford was William de Brailsford, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Derbyshire in 1199. These rolls were financial records maintained by the Exchequer, a government department responsible for collecting and recording royal revenues.

Another notable figure was Sir John Brailsford, a prominent landowner and knight who lived in the 14th century. He played a role in the Wars of Scottish Independence and was present at the Battle of Halidon Hill in 1333.

During the 16th century, the name was sometimes spelled as "Braylesford," reflecting the variations in spelling that were common before standardization. One individual from this period was Thomas Braylesford, a merchant and alderman in the city of Nottingham, who lived from around 1520 to 1585.

In the 18th century, the Brailsfords were well-established as landowners and gentry in Derbyshire. Notable figures included William Brailsford (1711-1776), a local justice of the peace, and his son, also named William Brailsford (1743-1821), who served as the High Sheriff of Derbyshire in 1789.

Crossing into the 19th century, Henry Neville Brailsford (1839-1928) was a prominent English author and journalist known for his works on social and political issues, particularly his advocacy for socialism and pacifism during the early 20th century.

While the name Brailsford has its roots in Derbyshire, it has since spread to other parts of England and across the globe, reflecting the mobility and migration patterns of families over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Brailsford families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brailsford 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. Derbyshire leads with 312 Brailsfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.35x.

County Total Index
Derbyshire 312 19.35x
Yorkshire 249 2.44x
Nottinghamshire 239 17.21x
Lincolnshire 58 3.52x
Lancashire 56 0.46x
Leicestershire 28 2.45x
Middlesex 26 0.25x
Surrey 21 0.42x
Staffordshire 14 0.40x
Durham 13 0.42x
Cheshire 6 0.26x
Northamptonshire 6 0.62x
Warwickshire 6 0.23x
Cornwall 5 0.43x
Flintshire 4 1.44x
Sussex 4 0.23x
Kent 3 0.09x
Hampshire 2 0.09x
Devon 1 0.05x
Essex 1 0.05x
Hertfordshire 1 0.14x
Royal Navy 1 0.81x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ecclesall Bierlow in Yorkshire leads with 56 Brailsfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.97x.

Place Total Index
Ecclesall Bierlow 56 26.97x
Nottingham St Mary 46 12.81x
Mansfield 41 85.33x
Sutton In Ashfield 38 126.12x
Derby St Werburgh 37 39.73x
Hasland 37 225.34x
Barnsley 33 31.34x
Sheffield 31 9.54x
Kimberworth 30 52.96x
Claylane 28 124.89x
Leicester St Mary 25 27.09x
Radford 25 35.44x
Brampton 21 93.17x
Derby St Alkmund 20 41.38x
Edwinstowe 19 575.76x
Wirksworth 18 122.78x
Brightside Bierlow 14 6.99x
Brimington 13 106.12x
Crich 12 113.96x
Chesterfield 11 18.19x
Skegby 11 129.41x
Worksop 11 26.71x
Worsbrough 11 36.78x
Barlborough 10 167.79x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 9 9.46x
Radcliffe 9 15.27x
Whittington 9 40.34x
Bradfield 8 20.33x
Bradford 8 3.24x
Gainsborough 8 20.60x
Hulme 8 3.13x
Keighley 8 7.35x
Kirkby In Ashfield 8 53.87x
Paddington London 8 2.11x
Stockton On Tees 8 5.42x
Arnold 7 34.53x
Croydon 7 2.51x
Liverpool 7 0.94x
Middletonby Wirksworth 7 440.25x
Pilsley 7 131.58x
Putney 7 14.91x
St Maryle Wigford 7 54.69x
Codnor Park 6 158.73x
Enfield 6 8.88x
Nether Hallam 6 4.34x
Ordsall 6 56.44x
Peterborough 6 8.55x
Shirland 6 49.75x
Walsall Foreign 6 3.34x
Withington 6 15.24x
Breaston 5 175.44x
Bulwell 5 16.56x
Burnley 5 4.86x
Coundon Grange 5 74.40x
Cromford 5 131.93x
Darley 5 76.69x
Doncaster 5 6.70x
East Retford 5 41.49x
Kensington London 5 0.87x
Leyland 5 23.51x
Rawmarsh 5 13.87x
Spittlegate 5 21.95x
St Botolph Lincoln 5 42.23x
St Mary Magdalen Lincoln 5 227.27x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 5 21.58x
Alderwasley 4 294.12x
Armley 4 8.88x
Aston 4 0.56x
Ault Hucknall 4 151.52x
Battle 4 34.13x
Burton Extra 4 20.06x
Denton 4 207.25x
Derby St Peter 4 7.79x
Hathersage 4 88.50x
Illogan 4 12.95x
Manningham 4 3.18x
Monks Coppenhall 4 4.66x
Newark Upon Trent 4 8.02x
St Swithin Lincoln 4 15.44x
Tupton 4 82.47x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 70
Sarah 53
Elizabeth 43
Eliza 26
Ann 24
Alice 21
Ellen 21
Annie 20
Jane 19
Hannah 17
Emma 16
Emily 11
Martha 11
Charlotte 9
Harriet 9
Ada 8
Fanny 8
Catherine 7
Florence 7
Frances 7
Kate 7
Lucy 7
Clara 6
Agnes 5
Caroline 5
Edith 5
Harriett 5
Rebecca 5
Anne 4
Elizth. 4
Lydia 4
Margaret 4
Maria 4
Janet 3
Lilly 3
Rose 3
Susannah 3
Bertha 2
Dorothy 2
E. 2
Eleanor 2
Esther 2
Ethel 2
Eva 2
Grace 2
Harriott 2
Julia 2
Marie 2
Nellie 2
Ruth 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 64
William 63
George 41
James 35
Thomas 33
Henry 28
Joseph 27
Samuel 18
Arthur 13
Harry 11
Charles 10
Frank 10
Robert 9
Wm. 9
Albert 7
Edward 6
Francis 6
Herbert 6
Joshua 6
Frederick 5
Tom 4
Walter 4
Alfred 3
Benjamin 3
Fred 3
Paul 3
Richard 3
Thos. 3
Amos 2
Christopher 2
Ed. 2
Fredrick 2
Willie 2
Charley 1
Daniel 1
Dorcas 1
Enoch 1
Ernest 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
Geo.H. 1
Jas. 1
Jno. 1
Job 1
Joel 1
Lawrence 1
Lionel 1
Luther 1
Wollson 1

FAQ

Brailsford surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brailsford surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,055 people were recorded with the Brailsford surname. That placed it at #3,733 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brailsford surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,728 in 2016. That gives Brailsford a modern rank of #3,612.

What does the Brailsford surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name in Derbyshire, England.

What does the Brailsford map show?

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