UK surname
An English habitational surname derived from any of the various places named Branham, likely meaning "broom homestead."
In the 1881 census there were 81 people recorded with the Branham surname, ranking it #22,082 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 38, ranked #35,537, down from #22,082 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, King's Lynn St Margaret and Saxlingham Thorpe, Saxlingham Nethergate. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Branham is 115 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 53.1%.
1881 census count
81
Ranked #22,082
Modern count
38
2016, ranked #35,537
Peak year
1861
115 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Branham surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Branham 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 | 47 | #24,810 |
| 1861 | historical | 115 | #18,880 |
| 1881 | historical | 81 | #22,082 |
| 1891 | historical | 85 | #26,080 |
| 1901 | historical | 49 | #28,696 |
| 1911 | historical | 50 | #27,806 |
| 1997 | modern | 50 | #32,658 |
| 1998 | modern | 40 | #33,856 |
| 1999 | modern | 44 | #33,601 |
| 2000 | modern | 36 | #34,317 |
| 2001 | modern | 33 | #34,436 |
| 2002 | modern | 39 | #34,219 |
| 2003 | modern | 35 | #34,609 |
| 2004 | modern | 39 | #34,477 |
| 2005 | modern | 45 | #34,160 |
| 2006 | modern | 47 | #34,335 |
| 2007 | modern | 46 | #34,634 |
| 2008 | modern | 44 | #34,865 |
| 2009 | modern | 45 | #34,972 |
| 2010 | modern | 44 | #35,183 |
| 2011 | modern | 47 | #34,989 |
| 2012 | modern | 42 | #35,269 |
| 2013 | modern | 39 | #35,483 |
| 2014 | modern | 39 | #35,493 |
| 2015 | modern | 39 | #35,472 |
| 2016 | modern | 38 | #35,537 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, King's Lynn St Margaret, Saxlingham Thorpe, Saxlingham Nethergate, Bradford and Sheffield. 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 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 2 | King's Lynn St Margaret | Norfolk |
| 3 | Saxlingham Thorpe, Saxlingham Nethergate | Norfolk |
| 4 | Bradford | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 5 | Sheffield | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Branham 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 Branham, 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 Branham surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Branham 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, Branham 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 Branham is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Branham, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Branham has its origins in England and dates back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "bran" and "ham," which together mean "homestead by the burnt clearing." This suggests that the name was initially associated with individuals who lived in or near a settlement established on land that had been cleared by burning.
The earliest known record of the name Branham can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry refers to a place called "Bradenham" in Norfolk, which is likely the source of the surname.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Branham was William de Bradenham, who lived in Essex, England, in the late 13th century. Another notable figure was Sir John Branham, a Member of Parliament for Lincolnshire in the early 15th century.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname Branham underwent various spelling variations, such as Brannam, Brannham, and Brenham. These variations were likely due to regional dialects and the inconsistent nature of record-keeping at the time.
In the 18th century, a prominent individual named John Branham (1677-1754) was a prominent Quaker leader and writer in Pennsylvania, United States. He authored several religious works and played a significant role in the development of the Quaker community in the region.
Another notable figure was William Branham (1909-1965), an American Christian minister and influential figure in the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements. He was known for his claims of divine healing and prophetic visions, and his teachings had a significant impact on various religious movements.
Throughout history, the surname Branham has also been associated with various places and localities. For instance, Branham Park in San Jose, California, and Branham High School in the same city were named after William Branham, a local landowner and farmer in the 19th century.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Branham 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 19 Branhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.43x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 19 | 2.43x |
| Lancashire | 18 | 1.92x |
| Middlesex | 11 | 1.39x |
| Surrey | 9 | 2.34x |
| Kent | 6 | 2.23x |
| Norfolk | 5 | 4.12x |
| Devon | 3 | 1.82x |
| Nottinghamshire | 3 | 2.82x |
| Lincolnshire | 2 | 1.58x |
| Sussex | 2 | 1.50x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.57x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.64x |
| Somerset | 1 | 0.79x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Everton in Lancashire leads with 9 Branhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.13x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Everton | 9 | 30.13x |
| St Luke London | 7 | 55.25x |
| Camberwell | 6 | 11.89x |
| Gillingham | 6 | 107.91x |
| Horton In Bradford | 6 | 49.10x |
| Moss Side | 5 | 101.42x |
| South Lynn | 5 | 364.96x |
| Farnley In Bramley | 4 | 408.16x |
| Leeds | 4 | 9.05x |
| Nottingham St Mary | 3 | 10.89x |
| Stoke Damerel | 3 | 26.06x |
| Bayards Leap | 2 | 1538.46x |
| Kirkdale | 2 | 12.68x |
| Newington | 2 | 6.85x |
| Sheffield | 2 | 8.03x |
| St Giles In Fields London | 2 | 51.55x |
| Corringham | 1 | 833.33x |
| Crowley | 1 | 2000.00x |
| Eastbourne | 1 | 16.31x |
| Holy Trinity St Mary | 1 | 84.03x |
| Hook | 1 | 58.14x |
| Hove | 1 | 17.12x |
| Islington London | 1 | 1.31x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 1.76x |
| Over Darwen | 1 | 13.35x |
| Scagglethorpe | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Southwark St George Martyr | 1 | 6.29x |
| Taunton St James | 1 | 54.05x |
| Westminster St James | 1 | 12.32x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Branham 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 Branham 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 Branham households.
FAQ
In 1881, 81 people were recorded with the Branham surname. That placed it at #22,082 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 38 in 2016. That gives Branham a modern rank of #35,537.
An English habitational surname derived from any of the various places named Branham, likely meaning "broom homestead."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Branham 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.