NameCensus.

UK surname

Branford

From a place name referring to a broad ford or crossing over a river.

In the 1881 census there were 263 people recorded with the Branford surname, ranking it #10,692 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 387, ranked #12,170, down from #10,692 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Coveney, Manea, Mepal, Downham, Witcham, Witchford, Wentworth, Swainsthorpe and Beccles. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wyre Forest, Selby and Swansea.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Branford is 409 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 47.1%.

1881 census count

263

Ranked #10,692

Modern count

387

2016, ranked #12,170

Peak year

2002

409 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Branford had 263 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,692 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 387 in 2016, ranked #12,170.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 343 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Branford surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Branford surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Branford 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 199 #10,441
1861 historical 272 #9,167
1881 historical 263 #10,692
1891 historical 288 #11,450
1901 historical 339 #10,682
1911 historical 343 #10,416
1997 modern 361 #11,892
1998 modern 386 #11,668
1999 modern 404 #11,361
2000 modern 400 #11,402
2001 modern 396 #11,307
2002 modern 409 #11,250
2003 modern 382 #11,642
2004 modern 382 #11,672
2005 modern 373 #11,794
2006 modern 373 #11,854
2007 modern 370 #12,073
2008 modern 372 #12,123
2009 modern 375 #12,317
2010 modern 375 #12,568
2011 modern 370 #12,576
2012 modern 364 #12,564
2013 modern 382 #12,337
2014 modern 379 #12,483
2015 modern 378 #12,405
2016 modern 387 #12,170

Geography

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Where Branfords are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Coveney, Manea, Mepal, Downham, Witcham, Witchford, Wentworth, Swainsthorpe, Beccles, Kidderminster and Pontefract. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wyre Forest, Selby and Swansea. 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 Coveney, Manea, Mepal, Downham, Witcham, Witchford, Wentworth Cambridgeshire
2 Swainsthorpe Norfolk
3 Beccles Suffolk
4 Kidderminster Worcestershire
5 Pontefract Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wyre Forest 004 Wyre Forest
2 Wyre Forest 008 Wyre Forest
3 Wyre Forest 014 Wyre Forest
4 Selby 010 Selby
5 Swansea 022 Swansea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Branford

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Branford

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Branford surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Branford household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Branford 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

Branford is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Branford falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Branford 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 Branford, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Branford

The surname BRANFORD has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "bran" meaning "burnt" or "brown" and "ford" meaning a shallow river crossing, suggesting that the name may have originated as a descriptive term for someone who lived near a burnt or discolored ford.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in various historical records such as the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Braneford" and "Braneforde" in reference to settlements in Essex and Middlesex. This indicates that the name was already well-established by the late 11th century.

One of the earliest known individuals bearing the surname BRANFORD was Richard de Branford, a landowner mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Hertfordshire in 1194. Another notable figure from the 13th century was William de Branford, who served as a clerk and justice in Kent around 1260.

In the 14th century, the name appears in the form "Branforde" in the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk, suggesting a connection to the village of the same name. During this time, Robert Branforde (c. 1320 - 1390) was a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of London.

The 15th century saw the rise of Thomas Branford (c. 1430 - 1498), a scholar and clergyman who served as the Master of Pembroke College, Cambridge, and later as the Bishop of Worcester. His contemporary, John Branford (c. 1440 - 1510), was a renowned mathematician and astronomer who contributed to the development of the Julian calendar.

As the name spread across England, it also gave rise to various place names, such as Branford in Dorset and Branford in Suffolk, which likely derived from the surname itself. In the 16th century, Sir Edward Branford (c. 1550 - 1628) was a notable figure who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1616.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Branford families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Branford 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. Suffolk leads with 34 Branfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.88x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 34 10.88x
Norfolk 33 8.37x
Yorkshire 24 0.94x
Worcestershire 23 6.87x
Kent 21 2.40x
Staffordshire 17 1.96x
Nottinghamshire 16 4.63x
Shropshire 14 6.32x
Middlesex 13 0.51x
Warwickshire 13 2.01x
Surrey 12 0.96x
Durham 11 1.44x
Midlothian 7 2.04x
Lanarkshire 6 0.72x
Hertfordshire 5 2.83x
Lancashire 3 0.10x
Northumberland 3 0.79x
East Lothian 2 5.89x
Hampshire 2 0.38x
Derbyshire 1 0.25x
Devon 1 0.19x
Sussex 1 0.23x
Wigtownshire 1 2.94x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kidderminster Borough in Worcestershire leads with 19 Branfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 96.89x.

Place Total Index
Kidderminster Borough 19 96.89x
Knottingley 11 246.09x
Aston 10 5.61x
West Bromwich 10 20.17x
Beccles 8 159.05x
Farnham 8 82.30x
Madeley 8 98.40x
Edwinstowe 7 853.66x
Hornsey 7 21.58x
Monks Eleigh 7 1372.55x
Whickham 7 99.72x
Claverley 6 400.00x
Dennington 6 869.57x
Edinburgh St Georges 6 84.15x
Faversham 6 71.86x
Laxton 6 1428.57x
Methley 6 167.60x
Tannington 6 3333.33x
Walmer 6 157.89x
Yaxham 6 1395.35x
Heigham 5 23.62x
Whitby 5 58.34x
Darlington 4 13.57x
Norwich St Augustine 4 251.57x
Swainsthorpe 4 1538.46x
Wingham 4 396.04x
Wolverhampton 4 6.01x
Battersea 3 3.18x
Birmingham 3 1.39x
Cambusnethan 3 16.28x
Higham 3 2000.00x
Kidderminster Foreign 3 63.29x
Little Bolton 3 7.66x
Newcastle On Tyne St 3 15.17x
St George Hanover Square 3 6.64x
Tipton 3 11.31x
Tittleshall 3 666.67x
Watford 3 21.88x
Crondall 2 70.92x
East Dereham 2 40.16x
Folkestone 2 11.78x
Govan 2 0.97x
Haddington 2 39.84x
Hook 2 35.78x
Lakenham 2 35.71x
Norwich St Michael At 2 87.34x
Ordsall 2 75.47x
Stowmarket 2 55.40x
Thorpe Next Norwich 2 47.85x
Tonbridge 2 6.34x
Bestwood Park 1 163.93x
Brighton 1 1.15x
Clapham 1 3.12x
Dartington 1 178.57x
East Kilbride 1 28.17x
Edwardstone 1 263.16x
Foulsham 1 120.48x
Hertford St John 1 37.88x
Horstead With Stanninghall 1 200.00x
Kirknewton 1 101.01x
Norwich St George Colegate 1 69.93x
Oldbury 1 6.07x
Pleasley 1 99.01x
Rochester St Margaret 1 10.83x
St Giles Cripplegate 1 29.33x
St Marylebone London 1 0.73x
Sudbury St Gregory 1 40.00x
Westmill 1 312.50x
Westminster St James 1 3.79x
Whithorn 1 38.46x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 16
William 12
James 8
Benjamin 7
George 7
Thomas 6
Edward 5
Edwin 4
Joseph 4
Richard 4
Robert 4
Alfred 3
Charles 3
Frank 3
Henry 3
Herbert 3
Samuel 3
Daniel 2
Edgar 2
Ernest 2
Fred 2
Harry 2
Walter 2
A. 1
Ben 1
Claude 1
Eric 1
Ezekial 1
Ezra 1
Frederic 1
Harold 1
Jno 1
Josh. 1
Michael 1
Noah 1
Oliver 1
Percy 1
Towning 1
Wm 1
Womack 1

FAQ

Branford surname: questions and answers

How common was the Branford surname in 1881?

In 1881, 263 people were recorded with the Branford surname. That placed it at #10,692 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Branford surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 387 in 2016. That gives Branford a modern rank of #12,170.

What does the Branford surname mean?

From a place name referring to a broad ford or crossing over a river.

What does the Branford map show?

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