UK surname
From a wooded slope or hill.
In the 1881 census there were 53 people recorded with the Branden surname, ranking it #26,134 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 8, ranked #37,829, down from #26,134 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Tormoham with Torquay, Frant and St Leonard Shoreditch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Branden is 110 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 84.9%.
1881 census count
53
Ranked #26,134
Modern count
8
2016, ranked #37,829
Peak year
1861
110 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Branden surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Branden surname density by area, 1861 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 | 110 | #19,562 |
| 1881 | historical | 53 | #26,134 |
| 1891 | historical | 56 | #29,638 |
| 1901 | historical | 27 | #31,057 |
| 1911 | historical | 13 | #32,172 |
| 1997 | modern | 9 | #37,214 |
| 1998 | modern | 11 | #36,908 |
| 1999 | modern | 7 | #37,513 |
| 2000 | modern | 8 | #37,264 |
| 2001 | modern | 9 | #36,980 |
| 2002 | modern | 9 | #37,051 |
| 2003 | modern | 6 | #37,586 |
| 2004 | modern | 5 | #37,830 |
| 2005 | modern | 5 | #37,885 |
| 2006 | modern | 5 | #37,956 |
| 2007 | modern | 5 | #38,004 |
| 2008 | modern | 4 | #38,216 |
| 2009 | modern | 7 | #37,816 |
| 2010 | modern | 10 | #37,517 |
| 2011 | modern | 8 | #37,737 |
| 2012 | modern | 8 | #37,740 |
| 2013 | modern | 7 | #37,909 |
| 2014 | modern | 7 | #37,929 |
| 2015 | modern | 8 | #37,797 |
| 2016 | modern | 8 | #37,829 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Tormoham with Torquay, Frant, St Leonard Shoreditch, St John Hackney and Houghton Regis. 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 | Tormoham with Torquay | Devon |
| 2 | Frant | Sussex |
| 3 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 4 | St John Hackney | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Houghton Regis | Bedfordshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Branden 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 Branden, 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 Branden surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Branden 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, Branden 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 Branden is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Branden, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname BRANDEN is an English topographic name derived from the Old English words "brænd" meaning "burnt" and "dun" meaning "hill." It originated in England, likely in the medieval period, and was given to someone who lived near a burnt or scorched hill.
One of the earliest known references to the name BRANDEN can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where a John Branden is mentioned. The name also appears in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1379, listing a Robert Branden.
In the 15th century, the BRANDEN surname was found in various parts of England, including Oxfordshire, where a Thomas Branden was recorded in the Hundred Rolls of 1428. Another early record is from the Essex Feet of Fines in 1480, mentioning a John Branden.
The BRANDEN name has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One such person was William Branden (1599-1674), an English clergyman and author who served as the Bishop of Peterborough.
Another noteworthy figure was Robert Branden (1625-1692), an English mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of comets.
In the 18th century, a prominent bearer of the BRANDEN surname was Samuel Branden (1738-1815), a British politician and Member of Parliament for Aylesbury.
The name BRANDEN has also been linked to certain place names in England, such as Branden Heath in Suffolk, which may have influenced the surname's development.
Other early examples of the BRANDEN surname include John Branden (1555-1625), an English playwright and poet, and Thomas Branden (1670-1730), an English merchant and philanthropist who founded the Branden Hospital in London.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Branden 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. Middlesex leads with 30 Brandens recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.70x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 30 | 5.70x |
| Warwickshire | 6 | 4.52x |
| Surrey | 5 | 1.95x |
| Hampshire | 2 | 1.85x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.32x |
| Aberdeenshire | 1 | 2.05x |
| Banffshire | 1 | 9.15x |
| Channel Islands | 1 | 6.41x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.56x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.59x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 1.42x |
| Perthshire | 1 | 4.23x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.56x |
| Sussex | 1 | 1.13x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bethnal Green London in Middlesex leads with 9 Brandens recorded in 1881 and an index of 39.34x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bethnal Green London | 9 | 39.34x |
| Islington London | 9 | 17.63x |
| Hackney London | 7 | 23.70x |
| Aston | 6 | 16.40x |
| Battersea | 4 | 20.64x |
| St Pancras London | 4 | 9.43x |
| Alverstoke | 1 | 25.58x |
| Camberwell | 1 | 2.97x |
| Caputh | 1 | 270.27x |
| Cullen | 1 | 250.00x |
| Drumblade | 1 | 588.24x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 1 | 3.52x |
| Livesey | 1 | 90.91x |
| New Monkland | 1 | 19.84x |
| Northbourne | 1 | 588.24x |
| Preston | 1 | 64.52x |
| St Helens | 1 | 128.21x |
| St Helier | 1 | 19.69x |
| Stoke Upon Trent | 1 | 5.31x |
| Walton Le Dale | 1 | 59.52x |
| Whitechapel London | 1 | 19.27x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Branden 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 Branden 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 Branden households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 9 |
| Carman | 1 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Cheesemonger | 1 |
| Coachman (Domestic) | 1 |
| Cotton Drawer | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Fitter | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Horsehair Curler | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Machinist | 1 |
| Memb Stock Exchange | 1 |
| Paper Box Maker | 1 |
| Private 2nd Batt 12th Regt | 1 |
| Publican | 1 |
| Shirt Collar Maker | 1 |
| Slate Enameller | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 53 people were recorded with the Branden surname. That placed it at #26,134 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 8 in 2016. That gives Branden a modern rank of #37,829.
From a wooded slope or hill.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Branden 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.