UK surname
A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "brackeny field".
In the 1881 census there were 79 people recorded with the Brakefield surname, ranking it #22,357 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 23, ranked #36,457, down from #22,357 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Frittenden, Biddenden and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brakefield is 104 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 70.9%.
1881 census count
79
Ranked #22,357
Modern count
23
2016, ranked #36,457
Peak year
1911
104 bearers
Map years
1
1911 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Brakefield surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Brakefield surname density by area, 1911 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 | 56 | #23,235 |
| 1861 | historical | 84 | #23,058 |
| 1881 | historical | 79 | #22,357 |
| 1891 | historical | 87 | #25,802 |
| 1901 | historical | 95 | #23,462 |
| 1911 | historical | 104 | #22,209 |
| 1997 | modern | 22 | #35,584 |
| 1998 | modern | 21 | #35,788 |
| 1999 | modern | 20 | #35,923 |
| 2000 | modern | 20 | #35,915 |
| 2001 | modern | 18 | #35,961 |
| 2002 | modern | 19 | #35,991 |
| 2003 | modern | 22 | #35,740 |
| 2004 | modern | 19 | #36,147 |
| 2005 | modern | 22 | #35,993 |
| 2006 | modern | 22 | #36,105 |
| 2007 | modern | 21 | #36,290 |
| 2008 | modern | 22 | #36,281 |
| 2009 | modern | 21 | #36,470 |
| 2010 | modern | 19 | #36,687 |
| 2011 | modern | 20 | #36,587 |
| 2012 | modern | 20 | #36,570 |
| 2013 | modern | 22 | #36,477 |
| 2014 | modern | 24 | #36,358 |
| 2015 | modern | 24 | #36,364 |
| 2016 | modern | 23 | #36,457 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Frittenden, Biddenden, London parishes, Dartford and Benenden. 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 | Frittenden | Kent |
| 2 | Biddenden | Kent |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | Dartford | Kent |
| 5 | Benenden | Kent |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Brakefield 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 Brakefield, 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 Brakefield surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Brakefield 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, Brakefield 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 Brakefield is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Brakefield, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname BRAKEFIELD is of English origin, originating in the medieval period. It is a locational surname, derived from a place name that referred to an enclosed field or meadow where brakes or ferns grew. The name is composed of the Old English words "brac" meaning fern or bracken, and "feld" meaning field or open land.
One of the earliest recorded instances of this surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, a census-like record from 1273, which mentions a William de Brakefield. This suggests that the name was already established in that region by the late 13th century.
In the 14th century, the surname BRAKEFIELD appeared in various historical records, including the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire from 1379, which listed a John Brakfeld. This variation in spelling was common during that time, as standardized spelling had not yet been established.
During the 16th century, the surname BRAKEFIELD was found in several parish records across England. One notable example is the baptismal record of Thomas Brakefield in 1586, recorded in the parish of St. Mary Redcliffe in Bristol.
Throughout history, there have been several individuals with the surname BRAKEFIELD who have left their mark. In the 17th century, Edward Brakefield (1617-1686) was an English clergyman and author, known for his work "The Banish'd Virgin, or The Compleat Wife" published in 1676.
In the 18th century, John Brakefield (1740-1818) was a British artist and engraver, known for his landscape paintings and engravings of scenic views in England and Wales.
During the 19th century, William Brakefield (1835-1902) was a prominent English industrialist and philanthropist, who founded the Brakefield Manufacturing Company in Birmingham and contributed to the development of the city's industrial infrastructure.
Another notable figure was Mary Brakefield (1865-1938), an American educator and advocate for women's rights, who played a significant role in establishing educational opportunities for women in the southern United States.
Lastly, in the 20th century, Robert Brakefield (1920-1995) was a British author and historian, renowned for his comprehensive work on the history of the English countryside and rural life, published in his book "The English Village" in 1965.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brakefield 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. Kent leads with 70 Brakefields recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.63x.
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Biddenden in Kent leads with 19 Brakefields recorded in 1881 and an index of 5277.78x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Biddenden | 19 | 5277.78x |
| Hawkhurst | 11 | 1341.46x |
| Headcorn | 7 | 1794.87x |
| Goudhurst | 6 | 821.92x |
| Ticehurst | 6 | 759.49x |
| Frindsbury | 5 | 505.05x |
| Marden | 5 | 806.45x |
| Smarden | 5 | 1666.67x |
| Darenth | 4 | 975.61x |
| Strood | 4 | 266.67x |
| Ore | 2 | 206.19x |
| Pluckley | 2 | 833.33x |
| Crundale | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Lewisham | 1 | 7.13x |
| Westminster St Margaret | 1 | 26.88x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Brakefield 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 Brakefield 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 Brakefield households.
FAQ
In 1881, 79 people were recorded with the Brakefield surname. That placed it at #22,357 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 23 in 2016. That gives Brakefield a modern rank of #36,457.
A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "brackeny field".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Brakefield 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.