NameCensus.

UK surname

Bran

A Celtic surname derived from the word meaning "raven" or "crow".

In the 1881 census there were 194 people recorded with the Bran surname, ranking it #13,097 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 133, ranked #25,765, down from #13,097 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lymington, Ringwood and Milford with Keyhaven (incl. Efford). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Southampton, New Forest and Carmarthenshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bran is 332 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 31.4%.

1881 census count

194

Ranked #13,097

Modern count

133

2016, ranked #25,765

Peak year

1861

332 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bran had 194 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,097 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 133 in 2016, ranked #25,765.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 332 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Bran surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bran surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bran 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 162 #12,215
1861 historical 332 #7,673
1881 historical 194 #13,097
1891 historical 220 #13,937
1901 historical 189 #15,684
1911 historical 195 #15,197
1997 modern 130 #23,021
1998 modern 133 #23,308
1999 modern 120 #24,960
2000 modern 119 #25,072
2001 modern 112 #25,644
2002 modern 123 #24,735
2003 modern 110 #26,220
2004 modern 105 #27,181
2005 modern 98 #28,325
2006 modern 92 #29,576
2007 modern 99 #28,852
2008 modern 102 #28,664
2009 modern 106 #28,666
2010 modern 109 #28,831
2011 modern 119 #27,063
2012 modern 116 #27,550
2013 modern 121 #27,255
2014 modern 134 #25,711
2015 modern 126 #26,654
2016 modern 133 #25,765

Geography

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Where Brans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lymington, Ringwood, Milford with Keyhaven (incl. Efford), London parishes and Wandsworth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Southampton, New Forest, Carmarthenshire, Hackney and Shropshire. 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 Lymington Hampshire
2 Ringwood Hampshire
3 Milford with Keyhaven (incl. Efford) Hampshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Wandsworth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Southampton 004 Southampton
2 New Forest 003 New Forest
3 Carmarthenshire 008 Carmarthenshire
4 Hackney 010 Hackney
5 Shropshire 029 Shropshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bran

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bran

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Bran, 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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Bran surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Bran household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Bran 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

Bran 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

Bran falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bran is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Bran, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Bran

The surname Bran has its origins in Wales, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Welsh word "bran," meaning "crow" or "raven." This connection to the bird species suggests that the name may have been initially used as a nickname for someone with dark hair or complexion.

In medieval Welsh records, the name is often found spelled as "Bran" or "Brân," reflecting the use of the circumflex accent in the Welsh language. Some early examples of the name can be found in the Peniarth Manuscripts, a collection of Welsh manuscripts dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Bran was Rhys Bran, a Welsh landowner and noble who lived in the late 13th century. He is mentioned in several historical documents related to land disputes and property transactions in the region of Glamorgan, South Wales.

Another notable figure with this surname was Gwilym Bran (c. 1460 – c. 1530), a Welsh poet and bard who composed works in the traditional Welsh poetic styles of the time. His works are preserved in various manuscript collections, including the Red Book of Hergest.

In the 16th century, the name Bran can be found in the records of the College of Arms in London, which documented the heraldic arms and pedigrees of Welsh families. One such entry is for the family of Lewis Bran of Glamorgan, whose coat of arms included a raven or crow, likely a reference to the meaning of their surname.

During the 17th century, the surname Bran appears in parish records and court documents from various parts of Wales, indicating its continued use and spread throughout the country. One notable individual from this period was Edward Bran (1621 – 1691), a Welsh clergyman and author who wrote several religious works.

In the 18th century, the Bran surname is associated with the Welsh botanist and naturalist, William Bran (1742 – 1812), who conducted extensive studies on the flora and fauna of Wales and published several works on the subject.

While the surname Bran has Welsh origins, it has also been adopted by families in other parts of the world, particularly in areas with historical connections to Wales or the British Isles. However, its strongest roots and earliest recorded instances can be traced back to medieval and early modern Wales.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bran families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bran 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. Hampshire leads with 87 Brans recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.02x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 87 23.02x
Kent 17 2.70x
Surrey 17 1.89x
Middlesex 13 0.71x
Lincolnshire 11 3.73x
Denbighshire 7 10.05x
Durham 6 1.09x
Essex 5 1.37x
Sussex 5 1.61x
Midlothian 4 1.62x
Norfolk 4 1.41x
Glamorgan 2 0.62x
Yorkshire 2 0.11x
Bedfordshire 1 1.05x
Dorset 1 0.83x
Dumfriesshire 1 2.46x
Gloucestershire 1 0.28x
Lanarkshire 1 0.17x
Lancashire 1 0.05x
Perthshire 1 1.21x
Stirlingshire 1 1.47x
Warwickshire 1 0.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lymington in Hampshire leads with 67 Brans recorded in 1881 and an index of 2410.07x.

Place Total Index
Lymington 67 2410.07x
Milford 16 1454.55x
Buslingthorpe 9 15000.00x
Battersea 8 11.79x
Wrexham Regis 7 135.40x
Wandsworth 6 33.80x
Hetton Le Hole 5 71.94x
Snodland 5 280.90x
St George In East London 5 28.84x
West Ham 5 6.22x
Bressingham 4 1250.00x
Hove 4 29.33x
Camberwell 2 1.70x
Chalk 2 909.09x
Cwmdu 2 51.15x
Hackney London 2 1.93x
Hammersmith London 2 4.40x
Linwood 2 1666.67x
North Leith 2 17.50x
Ringwood 2 82.64x
St Pancras London 2 1.35x
West Malling 2 140.85x
Aylesford 1 57.47x
Beckley 1 128.21x
Bedford St Paul 1 15.27x
Birmingham 1 0.65x
Boldre 1 74.07x
Bootle Cum Linacre 1 5.76x
Clifton 1 5.47x
Deal 1 18.62x
Dover St Mary Virgin 1 16.42x
Dumfries 1 24.88x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 1.01x
Egerton 1 181.82x
Falkirk 1 6.28x
Glasgow 1 0.94x
Hursley 1 113.64x
Isleworth 1 12.20x
Kensington London 1 0.98x
Kingstone 1 526.32x
Lewisham 1 2.98x
Maidstone 1 5.34x
Monkwearmouth Shore 1 9.34x
Ramsgate 1 9.74x
Rattray 1 51.81x
Ripon 1 23.58x
Rossington 1 454.55x
Sherborne 1 28.09x
South Leith 1 3.60x
Streatham 1 7.31x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 7
Elizabeth 6
Eliza 5
Ellen 4
Ada 3
Ann 3
Edith 3
Emily 3
Emma 3
Fanny 3
Jane 3
Louisa 3
Sarah 3
Annie 2
Charlotte 2
Christana 2
Harriett 2
Kate 2
Maria 2
Susan 2
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Arless 1
Betsey 1
Bridgett 1
Caroline 1
Charnie 1
Clara 1
Constance 1
Eleanor 1
Esther 1
Ewina 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Helen 1
Julia 1
Katherine 1
Laura 1
Lila 1
Lillian 1
Lottie 1
M. 1
Margret 1
Martha 1
Maud 1
Naomi 1
Pauline 1
Phoebe 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 14
John 10
George 7
James 6
Charles 5
Edward 5
Frederick 4
Harry 3
Herbert 3
Joseph 3
Arthur 2
Henry 2
Patrick 2
Samuel 2
Adam 1
Albert 1
Augustus 1
Christopher 1
Daniel 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Fredrick 1
Jno. 1
Louis 1
M. 1
Mark 1
Marks 1
Ralph 1
Robert 1
Tom 1
Walter 1
Zaley 1

FAQ

Bran surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bran surname in 1881?

In 1881, 194 people were recorded with the Bran surname. That placed it at #13,097 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bran surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 133 in 2016. That gives Bran a modern rank of #25,765.

What does the Bran surname mean?

A Celtic surname derived from the word meaning "raven" or "crow".

What does the Bran map show?

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