NameCensus.

UK surname

Braithwaite

From the Old English words "bræþ" and "þweit," meaning a person who lived on a broad clearing.

In the 1881 census there were 3,461 people recorded with the Braithwaite surname, ranking it #1,317 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,175, ranked #1,303, up from #1,317 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lytham and Bradford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Eden, South Lakeland and Fylde.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Braithwaite is 5,438 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 49.5%.

1881 census count

3,461

Ranked #1,317

Modern count

5,175

2016, ranked #1,303

Peak year

2000

5,438 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Braithwaite had 3,461 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,317 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,175 in 2016, ranked #1,303.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,540 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Braithwaite surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Braithwaite surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Braithwaite 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 2,129 #1,368
1861 historical 2,173 #1,348
1881 historical 3,461 #1,317
1891 historical 3,782 #1,270
1901 historical 4,540 #1,254
1911 historical 4,429 #1,161
1997 modern 5,217 #1,250
1998 modern 5,368 #1,271
1999 modern 5,409 #1,269
2000 modern 5,438 #1,255
2001 modern 5,278 #1,260
2002 modern 5,363 #1,264
2003 modern 5,220 #1,267
2004 modern 5,198 #1,265
2005 modern 5,106 #1,278
2006 modern 5,087 #1,287
2007 modern 5,095 #1,297
2008 modern 5,130 #1,297
2009 modern 5,252 #1,298
2010 modern 5,397 #1,292
2011 modern 5,280 #1,300
2012 modern 5,147 #1,303
2013 modern 5,278 #1,296
2014 modern 5,306 #1,295
2015 modern 5,239 #1,297
2016 modern 5,175 #1,303

Geography

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Where Braithwaites are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Lytham, Bradford and Ulverstone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Eden, South Lakeland, Fylde and East Riding of Yorkshire. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Lytham Lancashire
3 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Ulverstone Lancashire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Eden 007 Eden
2 South Lakeland 008 South Lakeland
3 Eden 003 Eden
4 Fylde 007 Fylde
5 East Riding of Yorkshire 045 East Riding of Yorkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Braithwaite

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Braithwaite

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

Braithwaite is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Braithwaite

The surname Braithwaite has its origins in the northern English counties of Cumberland and Westmorland, which are now part of the modern county of Cumbria. It dates back to the 12th century and is derived from the Old Norse words "breidr" meaning broad and "vath" meaning ford, referring to a location where a wide, shallow river crossing could be found.

The earliest known record of the name appears in the Feet of Fines for Yorkshire in 1208 as "Bredwath." Over time, the spelling evolved to reflect local dialects, appearing in various forms such as Braythwayt, Braithwaite, and Brathwait.

One of the earliest documented individuals with this surname was John de Braythewayt, who is mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Westmorland in 1292. In the 14th century, the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Cumberland, indicating its prevalence in the region.

The Braithwaite family held lands in the Manor of Brackenthwaite in Cumberland, and the name is associated with several place names in the area, such as Braithwaite near Keswick and Braithwaite How, a fell in the Lake District.

Notable bearers of the surname Braithwaite include:

1. Richard Braithwait (1588-1673), an English poet, and writer who published several works, including "The English Gentleman" and "Drunken Barnaby's Four Journeys."

2. John Braithwaite (1609-1689), an English Quaker leader and early advocate of pacifism, who played a significant role in the Quaker movement's development.

3. William Braithwaite (1778-1855), an English civil engineer and builder, best known for his work on the Holyhead Road and the Menai Suspension Bridge.

4. Joseph Bevan Braithwaite (1818-1905), an English lawyer and author, who wrote extensively on the history and genealogy of Quaker families.

5. William Stanley Braithwaite (1878-1962), an American poet, critic, and editor, who played a significant role in the Harlem Renaissance literary movement.

The Braithwaite surname has a rich history, deeply rooted in the rugged landscapes of northern England, and has been carried by individuals who have made notable contributions in various fields over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Braithwaite families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Braithwaite 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. Yorkshire leads with 1,193 Braithwaites recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.55x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 1,193 3.55x
Lancashire 733 1.82x
Westmorland 278 37.32x
Cumberland 229 7.85x
Middlesex 220 0.65x
Durham 181 1.79x
Nottinghamshire 80 1.75x
Surrey 77 0.47x
Cheshire 65 0.87x
Leicestershire 65 1.73x
Derbyshire 49 0.92x
Staffordshire 33 0.29x
Northumberland 29 0.58x
Warwickshire 23 0.27x
Kent 19 0.16x
Worcestershire 18 0.41x
West Lothian 17 3.33x
Devon 16 0.23x
Shropshire 16 0.55x
Lincolnshire 15 0.28x
Northamptonshire 11 0.35x
Channel Islands 10 1.00x
Flintshire 10 1.10x
Anglesey 8 1.33x
Essex 8 0.12x
Suffolk 8 0.19x
Cambridgeshire 7 0.33x
Somerset 7 0.13x
Hampshire 5 0.07x
Midlothian 5 0.11x
Norfolk 5 0.10x
Dumfriesshire 4 0.53x
Royal Navy 4 0.99x
Sussex 4 0.07x
Angus 3 0.10x
Brecknockshire 3 0.44x
Glamorgan 3 0.05x
Dunbartonshire 2 0.22x
Gloucestershire 2 0.03x
Lanarkshire 2 0.02x
Ayrshire 1 0.04x
Berkshire 1 0.04x
Cornwall 1 0.03x
Dorset 1 0.04x
Hertfordshire 1 0.04x
Monmouthshire 1 0.04x
Perthshire 1 0.07x
Roxburghshire 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kendal in Westmorland leads with 97 Braithwaites recorded in 1881 and an index of 71.12x.

Place Total Index
Kendal 97 71.12x
Leeds 70 3.69x
Barrow In Furness 50 9.14x
Layton With Warbreck 45 30.49x
Ulverston 45 38.41x
Marton 42 157.01x
Egremont 41 58.92x
Whitby 40 35.34x
Hunslet 33 6.30x
Preston 32 2.97x
Islington London 29 0.88x
Wooldale 29 50.90x
Horton In Bradford 27 5.15x
West Derby 27 2.29x
Bishop Auckland 26 19.22x
Idle 26 16.69x
Bradford 24 2.95x
Liverpool 24 0.98x
Stathern 24 382.78x
Darton 23 66.86x
Rawdon 23 58.14x
Toxteth Park 23 1.69x
Blackburn 22 2.06x
Halifax 22 4.46x
Kirkdale 22 3.25x
Whitehaven 22 14.14x
Armley 21 14.17x
Everton 21 1.64x
Stockton On Tees 21 4.32x
Ashton Under Lyne 20 2.28x
Horsforth 20 27.16x
Scarborough 20 6.55x
Hackney London 19 1.00x
Hammersmith London 19 2.28x
Holbeck 19 8.54x
Limehouse London 19 5.11x
Litchurch 19 8.90x
Salford 19 1.61x
Sculcoates 19 3.57x
Bishopwearmouth 18 2.08x
Camberwell 18 0.83x
Manchester 18 1.00x
Applethwaite 17 76.51x
Bentham 17 66.41x
Birmingham 17 0.60x
Linlithgow 17 25.97x
Millom 17 19.01x
Nottingham St Mary 17 1.44x
Hulme 16 1.91x
Sedburgh 16 114.37x
Sheffield 16 1.50x
Stranton 16 4.71x
Belper 15 14.58x
Crook 15 461.54x
Dodworth 15 42.99x
Ebberston 15 218.34x
Lambeth 15 0.51x
St Marylebone London 15 0.83x
Wolsingham 15 16.32x
Aiskew 14 145.23x
Kirkby Stephen 14 72.46x
Lytham 14 22.80x
Poplar London 14 2.19x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 13 4.15x
Barwick In Elmet 13 50.51x
Gateshead 13 1.72x
Great Harwood 13 17.88x
Selby 13 18.52x
St George Hanover Square 13 2.18x
Weeton With Preece 13 262.63x
Wortley In Bramley 13 4.89x
Bow London 12 2.78x
Catton 12 774.19x
Crook Billy Row 12 9.29x
Darlington 12 3.08x
Gosforth 12 84.33x
Great Driffield 12 17.41x
Headingley Cum Burley 12 5.55x
Kirkby Ireleth 12 59.82x
Southcoates 12 6.44x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 266
Elizabeth 170
Sarah 117
Jane 95
Ann 90
Annie 64
Margaret 57
Hannah 49
Alice 46
Eliza 37
Ellen 35
Emma 33
Emily 31
Ada 26
Harriet 25
Martha 25
Agnes 24
Isabella 22
Eleanor 20
Frances 19
Maria 19
Edith 18
Lucy 17
Anne 16
Louisa 16
Florence 14
Catherine 12
Fanny 10
Susannah 10
Charlotte 9
Clara 9
Elizth. 9
Kate 9
Amelia 8
Gertrude 8
Amy 7
Ruth 7
Dorothy 6
Ethel 6
Grace 6
Jessie 6
Nancy 6
Sophia 6
Betty 5
Caroline 5
Dinah 5
Esther 5
Margret 5
Matilda 5
Rachel 5

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 262
William 196
Thomas 149
George 99
James 99
Joseph 61
Robert 60
Charles 53
Henry 53
Edward 41
Richard 34
Alfred 28
Arthur 25
Samuel 21
Walter 21
Benjamin 20
Frederick 20
Harry 16
Albert 15
Christopher 15
Matthew 12
Wm. 12
Frank 11
Philip 11
Thos. 11
Francis 9
Herbert 9
Jonathan 9
David 7
Edwin 7
Geo. 7
Isaac 7
Robt. 7
Daniel 6
Saml. 6
Tom 6
Ernest 5
Jno. 5
Ralph 5
Stephen 5
Fred 4
Hartley 4
Jas. 4
Percy 4
Sidney 4
Willm. 4
Joe 3
Jonas 3
Jos. 3
Roger 3

FAQ

Braithwaite surname: questions and answers

How common was the Braithwaite surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,461 people were recorded with the Braithwaite surname. That placed it at #1,317 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Braithwaite surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,175 in 2016. That gives Braithwaite a modern rank of #1,303.

What does the Braithwaite surname mean?

From the Old English words "bræþ" and "þweit," meaning a person who lived on a broad clearing.

What does the Braithwaite map show?

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