UK surname
An English occupational surname for someone who made or sold horse tackle, such as bridles and reins.
In the 1881 census there were 41 people recorded with the Braman surname, ranking it #27,870 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 19, ranked #36,760, down from #27,870 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Hull Holy Trinity, Hendon and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Braman is 229 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 53.7%.
1881 census count
41
Ranked #27,870
Modern count
19
2016, ranked #36,760
Peak year
1861
229 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Braman surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Braman surname density by area, 1891 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 | 87 | #18,695 |
| 1861 | historical | 229 | #10,660 |
| 1881 | historical | 41 | #27,870 |
| 1891 | historical | 175 | #16,467 |
| 1901 | historical | 55 | #28,064 |
| 1911 | historical | 42 | #28,691 |
| 1997 | modern | 13 | #36,672 |
| 1998 | modern | 22 | #35,687 |
| 1999 | modern | 14 | #36,595 |
| 2000 | modern | 15 | #36,425 |
| 2001 | modern | 12 | #36,612 |
| 2002 | modern | 10 | #36,902 |
| 2003 | modern | 12 | #36,715 |
| 2004 | modern | 13 | #36,742 |
| 2005 | modern | 11 | #37,065 |
| 2006 | modern | 6 | #37,788 |
| 2007 | modern | 6 | #37,837 |
| 2008 | modern | 6 | #37,883 |
| 2009 | modern | 6 | #37,953 |
| 2010 | modern | 9 | #37,654 |
| 2011 | modern | 10 | #37,504 |
| 2012 | modern | 13 | #37,169 |
| 2013 | modern | 15 | #37,046 |
| 2014 | modern | 17 | #36,888 |
| 2015 | modern | 18 | #36,809 |
| 2016 | modern | 19 | #36,760 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Hull Holy Trinity, Hendon, Manchester, Liverpool and St Mary Islington. 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 | Hull Holy Trinity | Yorkshire, East Riding |
| 2 | Hendon | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| 5 | St Mary Islington | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Braman 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 Braman, 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 Braman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Braman 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, Braman 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 Braman is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Braman, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Braman originates from England and dates back to the late 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "brom," meaning a bramble bush, and "mann," meaning a man or person. This suggests that the name was likely given to someone who lived near or was associated with bramble bushes.
The earliest known recorded instance of the name Braman can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1196, where it appears as "Ralph Bromeman." This spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time. Another early record is from the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, which mentions "John Bromman."
During the medieval period, the name Braman was predominantly found in the counties of Oxfordshire, Worcestershire, and Gloucestershire in the West Midlands region of England. It is possible that the name originated from a place name containing the word "brom," such as Bromborough in Cheshire or Bromley in Kent.
One notable historical figure with the surname Braman was John Braman, a prominent merchant and Member of Parliament for Preston in Lancashire, who lived from 1549 to 1623. Another was Thomas Braman, a Puritan minister and author who emigrated from England to Boston, Massachusetts in the early 17th century.
In the 16th century, the name appeared in various spellings, including Bremman, Bromman, and Bromeman, before settling on the modern form of Braman. During this time, the name was also found in other parts of England, such as Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.
Other notable individuals with the surname Braman include Benjamin Braman (1588-1662), a Puritan settler in Massachusetts, and Wyllys Braman (1775-1858), a prominent lawyer and judge in New York State. William Braman (1774-1863) was a successful merchant and philanthropist in Boston, while Ebenezer Braman (1793-1869) was a minister and abolitionist in New Hampshire.
While the surname Braman is not as common today as it once was in England, it can still be found in various parts of the United Kingdom and in countries with significant British ancestry, such as the United States, Canada, and Australia.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Braman 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 11 Bramans recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.78x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 11 | 2.78x |
| Middlesex | 7 | 1.75x |
| Cheshire | 4 | 4.53x |
| Renfrewshire | 4 | 12.91x |
| Ayrshire | 3 | 10.02x |
| Lanarkshire | 3 | 2.32x |
| Lancashire | 3 | 0.63x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 1.98x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.84x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 1.87x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.51x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 1.91x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Abbey in Renfrewshire leads with 4 Bramans recorded in 1881 and an index of 84.57x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Abbey | 4 | 84.57x |
| Holy Trinity | 4 | 41.97x |
| Barony | 3 | 9.17x |
| Birkenhead | 3 | 42.61x |
| Islington London | 3 | 7.74x |
| Stevenston | 3 | 384.62x |
| Horton In Bradford | 2 | 32.31x |
| St George Bloomsbury | 2 | 87.34x |
| Aston | 1 | 3.60x |
| Bradford | 1 | 10.43x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 1 | 4.64x |
| Eldersfield | 1 | 1250.00x |
| Hyde | 1 | 38.31x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 4.50x |
| Kirkdale | 1 | 12.53x |
| Leeds | 1 | 4.47x |
| Lower Whitley | 1 | 2000.00x |
| Oversley | 1 | 2000.00x |
| Salford | 1 | 7.16x |
| Skipton | 1 | 80.00x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 4.68x |
| Streatham | 1 | 33.67x |
| Trimdon | 1 | 238.10x |
| Urmston | 1 | 322.58x |
| Wakefield | 1 | 32.89x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Braman 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 Braman 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 Braman households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Confectioner | 3 |
| Charwoman | 2 |
| Laundress | 2 |
| Assistant | 1 |
| Carder Mill Hand (Worsd) | 1 |
| Carrier | 1 |
| Decorator (House) | 1 |
| Farm Labourer | 1 |
| Foreman (Factory | 1 |
| Gen Lab | 1 |
| General Domestic Servant | 1 |
| General Laboror | 1 |
| Grocer | 1 |
| Hawker | 1 |
| Railway Porter | 1 |
| Sawer | 1 |
| Scholar | 1 |
| Ship Carpenter | 1 |
| Shoemaker | 1 |
| Under Nurse Servt | 1 |
| Washerwoman | 1 |
| Wire Weaver | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 41 people were recorded with the Braman surname. That placed it at #27,870 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 19 in 2016. That gives Braman a modern rank of #36,760.
An English occupational surname for someone who made or sold horse tackle, such as bridles and reins.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Braman 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.