NameCensus.

UK surname

Braine

A locational surname derived from a place named Braine.

In the 1881 census there were 447 people recorded with the Braine surname, ranking it #7,350 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 336, ranked #13,583, down from #7,350 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Greenwich, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northumberland, Kensington and Chelsea and Windsor and Maidenhead.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Braine is 552 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 24.8%.

1881 census count

447

Ranked #7,350

Modern count

336

2016, ranked #13,583

Peak year

1911

552 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Braine had 447 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,350 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 336 in 2016, ranked #13,583.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 552 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Braine surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Braine surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Braine 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 247 #8,868
1861 historical 319 #7,987
1881 historical 447 #7,350
1891 historical 418 #8,561
1901 historical 505 #7,988
1911 historical 552 #7,264
1997 modern 388 #11,255
1998 modern 386 #11,668
1999 modern 384 #11,800
2000 modern 372 #12,020
2001 modern 366 #11,998
2002 modern 357 #12,424
2003 modern 345 #12,549
2004 modern 341 #12,673
2005 modern 338 #12,698
2006 modern 337 #12,810
2007 modern 330 #13,142
2008 modern 337 #13,068
2009 modern 352 #12,918
2010 modern 367 #12,775
2011 modern 358 #12,883
2012 modern 356 #12,784
2013 modern 359 #12,917
2014 modern 349 #13,293
2015 modern 345 #13,312
2016 modern 336 #13,583

Geography

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Where Braines are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Greenwich, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northumberland, Kensington and Chelsea, Windsor and Maidenhead, Stevenage 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 Greenwich London (South Districts)
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northumberland 008 Northumberland
2 Kensington and Chelsea 021 Kensington and Chelsea
3 Windsor and Maidenhead 002 Windsor and Maidenhead
4 Stevenage 005 Stevenage
5 Wiltshire 021 Wiltshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Braine

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Braine

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Braine is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Braine is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Braine

The surname BRAINE is an Anglo-Saxon English name with origins dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old English word "brægen", meaning brain or intellect, suggesting that the name may have been initially used as a nickname for a clever or intelligent person.

The earliest recorded instances of the BRAINE surname can be traced back to the county of Yorkshire in northern England. It is thought that the name first emerged in this region, potentially derived from the village of Braine, located near the town of Keighley.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a record of landowners and tenants in England, there are several entries for individuals bearing variations of the BRAINE surname, such as Bran, Brane, and Brayn. This provides evidence of the name's existence during the Norman conquest of England.

During the 13th century, records show that a Johannes de Braine was a landowner in the village of Braine, Yorkshire. This early documented use of the surname suggests that the name was firmly established in the region by this time.

One notable figure from history who bore the BRAINE surname was Sir Reginald Braine, a prominent English soldier and politician who lived from 1536 to 1617. He served as a Member of Parliament and held several important military positions during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another historical figure of note was Robert Braine, a 17th-century Puritan minister and author born in Yorkshire in 1637. He is known for his religious writings and sermons, which were widely published during his lifetime.

In the 18th century, John Braine, born in 1735, was a renowned English architect who designed several notable buildings in the city of London, including St. Stephen Walbrook Church and the Church of St. Mary Woolnoth.

Emily Braine, born in 1818, was a pioneering English writer and advocate for women's rights. She authored several novels and essays that explored the position of women in Victorian society and campaigned for educational and professional opportunities for women.

George Braine, born in 1891, was a British military officer who served with distinction during World War I and later became a celebrated author, writing several books about his experiences in the trenches and his views on military strategy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Braine families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Braine 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 162 Braines recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.72x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 162 3.72x
Surrey 37 1.75x
Warwickshire 32 2.92x
Somerset 24 3.43x
Gloucestershire 23 2.70x
Yorkshire 23 0.53x
Hertfordshire 19 6.34x
Kent 19 1.28x
Glamorgan 15 1.98x
Oxfordshire 11 4.09x
Angus 10 2.48x
Wiltshire 10 2.60x
Essex 9 1.05x
Sussex 7 0.95x
Dorset 6 2.10x
Lancashire 6 0.12x
Monmouthshire 6 1.91x
Worcestershire 5 0.88x
Perthshire 4 2.05x
Suffolk 4 0.75x
Channel Islands 3 2.33x
Leicestershire 3 0.62x
Lincolnshire 2 0.29x
Staffordshire 2 0.14x
Cornwall 1 0.20x
Devon 1 0.11x
Hampshire 1 0.11x
Shropshire 1 0.27x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 27 Braines recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.40x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 27 6.40x
Hornsey 18 32.72x
Somerton 14 489.51x
Hackney London 13 5.33x
Lambeth 13 3.43x
St Marylebone London 13 5.60x
Limehouse London 12 25.13x
Hampstead London 10 14.76x
Montrose 10 40.93x
Stevenage 10 215.05x
Battersea 9 5.62x
Claverdon 9 1046.51x
Ratcliffe London 9 37.45x
Batley 8 19.53x
Birmingham 8 2.19x
Kensington London 8 3.31x
Merthyr Tydfil 8 10.99x
St Albans St Peter 8 79.05x
Bloxham 7 266.16x
Hammersmith London 7 6.53x
Paddington London 7 4.38x
Ackton 6 566.04x
Bedwas 6 263.16x
Bristol Temple 6 106.76x
Bromley London 6 6.27x
Chingford 6 289.86x
Clifton 6 13.91x
Lee 6 27.84x
Minety 6 560.75x
Neath 6 38.94x
St George Hanover Square 6 7.83x
Tanworth 6 206.90x
Bristol St George 5 12.67x
Camberwell 5 1.80x
Dudley 5 7.24x
Greenwich 5 7.22x
Melcombe Regis 5 42.27x
Oldham 5 3.00x
Poplar London 5 6.09x
Shoreditch London 5 2.65x
Enfield 4 14.02x
Horton In Bradford 4 5.94x
Logie 4 57.06x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 4.57x
St Pancras London 4 1.14x
Trottiscliffe 4 909.09x
Wilnecote 4 126.98x
Bermondsey 3 2.32x
Eastbourne 3 8.89x
Grouville 3 83.57x
Hinckley 3 26.22x
Marksbury 3 882.35x
Martock 3 65.93x
Westbury On Trym 3 10.38x
Bristol St James In 2 15.94x
Chigwell 2 24.66x
Clerkenwell London 2 1.95x
Coventry St Michael 2 5.68x
Harborne 2 4.25x
Huddersfield 2 3.18x
Kirkley 2 45.15x
Oxford St Peter Le Bailey 2 150.38x
Thorndon All Sts 2 210.53x
Walcot 2 5.36x
West Drayton 2 133.33x
Wroughton 2 60.06x
Aston 1 0.33x
Barcheston 1 370.37x
Blaenhonddan 1 28.33x
Blagdon 1 68.03x
Budbrooke 1 89.29x
Christ Church Newgate 1 49.51x
Dewsbury 1 2.26x
Margate St John Baptist 1 3.68x
Moreton In Marsh 1 46.73x
Shawbury 1 69.44x
Speldhurst 1 13.23x
St Anne Soho London 1 4.03x
Streatham 1 3.10x
Sutton St Edmunds 1 102.04x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 20
Elizabeth 15
Alice 11
Sarah 11
Annie 10
Emma 8
Jane 8
Ada 7
Eliza 7
Ellen 7
Louisa 6
Caroline 5
Emily 5
Hannah 5
Lucy 5
Martha 5
Ann 4
Charlotte 4
Edith 4
Fanny 4
Florence 4
Amy 3
Clara 3
Harriett 3
Susan 3
Agnes 2
Anna 2
Catherine 2
Eleanor 2
Ethel 2
Frances 2
Helena 2
Kate 2
Lillian 2
Margaret 2
Matilda 2
Maud 2
Olive 2
Patience 2
Sophia 2
Aviss 1
Bessie 1
Blanche 1
Elizh.M. 1
Elizth.A. 1
Elleanor 1
Ellie 1
Emmeline 1
Janet 1
Jerma? 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 24
George 17
John 15
Thomas 12
Charles 11
Henry 10
Frederick 9
James 8
Arthur 7
Alfred 5
Francis 5
Walter 5
Richard 4
Samuel 4
Albert 3
Benjamin 3
Edward 3
Frank 3
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Evan 2
Fred 2
Thos. 2
Alexandra 1
Alfrid 1
Allyett 1
C. 1
Charls 1
Christopher 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Fredk.D. 1
G.M.H. 1
Geo. 1
Geo.D. 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
Joseph 1
Louis 1
Oliver 1
Oswald 1
Philip 1
Robert 1
Robt 1
Robt. 1
Rubens 1
Sidney 1
Vernon 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Braine surname: questions and answers

How common was the Braine surname in 1881?

In 1881, 447 people were recorded with the Braine surname. That placed it at #7,350 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Braine surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 336 in 2016. That gives Braine a modern rank of #13,583.

What does the Braine surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place named Braine.

What does the Braine map show?

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