UK surname
A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "broad clearing" or "wide pasture".
In the 1881 census there were 114 people recorded with the Braithwait surname, ranking it #18,324 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 35, ranked #35,703, down from #18,324 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Manchester and Egremont. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Braithwait is 182 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 69.3%.
1881 census count
114
Ranked #18,324
Modern count
35
2016, ranked #35,703
Peak year
1861
182 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Braithwait surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Braithwait surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 115 | #15,634 |
| 1861 | historical | 182 | #12,949 |
| 1881 | historical | 114 | #18,324 |
| 1891 | historical | 110 | #22,557 |
| 1901 | historical | 35 | #30,194 |
| 1911 | historical | 20 | #31,288 |
| 1997 | modern | 19 | #35,928 |
| 1998 | modern | 22 | #35,687 |
| 1999 | modern | 23 | #35,612 |
| 2000 | modern | 24 | #35,498 |
| 2001 | modern | 22 | #35,531 |
| 2002 | modern | 26 | #35,338 |
| 2003 | modern | 25 | #35,471 |
| 2004 | modern | 24 | #35,697 |
| 2005 | modern | 26 | #35,674 |
| 2006 | modern | 26 | #35,822 |
| 2007 | modern | 29 | #35,725 |
| 2008 | modern | 31 | #35,670 |
| 2009 | modern | 35 | #35,545 |
| 2010 | modern | 34 | #35,730 |
| 2011 | modern | 35 | #35,659 |
| 2012 | modern | 32 | #35,820 |
| 2013 | modern | 33 | #35,808 |
| 2014 | modern | 36 | #35,662 |
| 2015 | modern | 38 | #35,526 |
| 2016 | modern | 35 | #35,703 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Manchester, Egremont, Folkton and Hartlepool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 2 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 3 | Egremont | Cumberland |
| 4 | Folkton | Yorkshire, North Riding |
| 5 | Hartlepool | Durham |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Braithwait surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Braithwait, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Braithwait surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Braithwait household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Braithwait is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Braithwait is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Braithwait, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Braithwait originated in England, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "bræd" meaning broad, and "wait" meaning a hunter or watchman, potentially referring to a broad area or path where hunting activities took place.
The name first appeared in the Domesday Book of 1086, recorded as "Bradewaite" and "Braithwait" in various locations across Yorkshire and Lancashire. These early spellings suggest the name may have originated as a place name before becoming a hereditary surname.
In the 13th century, records show individuals bearing the name Braithwait residing in the village of Ambleside, located in the Lake District of Cumbria. One notable example is William de Braithwait, who lived in Ambleside in the year 1279 and held land in the nearby village of Hawkshead.
Over the centuries, the surname has been spelled in various ways, including Braithwaite, Brathwait, Brathwayt, and Braythwaite, reflecting regional variations and changes in spelling conventions.
Several individuals bearing the Braithwait surname have achieved historical significance. One prominent figure was Richard Braithwait (1588-1673), an English poet, writer, and spiritual advisor who authored numerous works, including "The English Gentleman" and "Barnabae Itinerarium." Another notable Braithwait was John Braithwaite (1609-1689), a Quaker minister and influential figure in the early years of the Religious Society of Friends.
In the 18th century, John Braithwaite (1767-1847) was a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and was present at the Battle of Trafalgar. Later, in the 19th century, Joseph Bevan Braithwaite (1818-1905) was a prominent British civil engineer known for his work on railways and harbors.
The Braithwait surname continues to be found predominantly in England, particularly in the northern regions where it originated, but it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Braithwait surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Yorkshire leads with 49 Braithwaits recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.45x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 49 | 4.45x |
| Middlesex | 18 | 1.62x |
| Lancashire | 14 | 1.06x |
| Derbyshire | 6 | 3.45x |
| Surrey | 6 | 1.11x |
| Cumberland | 5 | 5.22x |
| Lincolnshire | 5 | 2.81x |
| Midlothian | 3 | 2.01x |
| Dumfriesshire | 2 | 8.14x |
| Durham | 2 | 0.60x |
| Westmorland | 2 | 8.18x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.26x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.28x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Folkton in Yorkshire leads with 10 Braithwaits recorded in 1881 and an index of 16666.67x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Folkton | 10 | 16666.67x |
| Hunslet | 9 | 52.39x |
| Bethnal Green London | 7 | 14.49x |
| Dishforth | 7 | 6363.64x |
| Ripon | 7 | 273.44x |
| Penge | 6 | 84.51x |
| Prestwich | 6 | 182.37x |
| Hackney London | 5 | 8.02x |
| Islington London | 5 | 4.64x |
| Bradford | 4 | 15.00x |
| Dry Doddington | 4 | 4444.44x |
| Irton With Santon | 4 | 1666.67x |
| Litchurch | 4 | 57.06x |
| Dalton In Furness | 3 | 58.94x |
| South Leith | 3 | 17.90x |
| Baildon | 2 | 96.62x |
| Beetham | 2 | 526.32x |
| Duffield | 2 | 145.99x |
| Everton | 2 | 4.76x |
| Moffat | 2 | 178.57x |
| North Bedburn | 2 | 217.39x |
| Awkley | 1 | 909.09x |
| Barony | 1 | 1.10x |
| Bilton Cum Harrogate | 1 | 26.53x |
| Bowling | 1 | 9.17x |
| Chapel Allerton | 1 | 60.61x |
| Great Driffield | 1 | 44.25x |
| Great Grimsby | 1 | 8.87x |
| Halifax | 1 | 6.18x |
| Holme On Spalding Moor | 1 | 138.89x |
| Howden | 1 | 133.33x |
| Little Clifton | 1 | 625.00x |
| Rainford | 1 | 69.93x |
| Sedbergh | 1 | 243.90x |
| Stone In Tenterden | 1 | 666.67x |
| Wardleworth | 1 | 13.26x |
| West Derby | 1 | 2.59x |
| Westminster St James | 1 | 8.75x |
| Whiston | 1 | 188.68x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Braithwait surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Braithwait surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Braithwait households.
FAQ
In 1881, 114 people were recorded with the Braithwait surname. That placed it at #18,324 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 35 in 2016. That gives Braithwait a modern rank of #35,703.
A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "broad clearing" or "wide pasture".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Braithwait bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.