UK surname
A variant spelling of the German surname Bremner, meaning "burner of fuel" or "charcoal maker".
In the 1881 census there were 36 people recorded with the Branner surname, ranking it #28,559 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4, ranked #38,419, down from #28,559 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Newcastle All Saints, Margate and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Branner is 114 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 88.9%.
1881 census count
36
Ranked #28,559
Modern count
4
2016, ranked #38,419
Peak year
1891
114 bearers
Map years
3
1861 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Branner surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Branner surname density by area, 1901 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 | 40 | #26,118 |
| 1861 | historical | 105 | #20,298 |
| 1881 | historical | 36 | #28,559 |
| 1891 | historical | 114 | #22,006 |
| 1901 | historical | 106 | #22,076 |
| 1911 | historical | 91 | #23,684 |
| 1997 | modern | 5 | #37,891 |
| 1998 | modern | 7 | #37,533 |
| 1999 | modern | 9 | #37,217 |
| 2000 | modern | 6 | #37,624 |
| 2001 | modern | 6 | #37,456 |
| 2002 | modern | 6 | #37,532 |
| 2003 | modern | 7 | #37,397 |
| 2004 | modern | 5 | #37,830 |
| 2005 | modern | 4 | #38,078 |
| 2006 | modern | 5 | #37,956 |
| 2007 | modern | 6 | #37,837 |
| 2008 | modern | 8 | #37,597 |
| 2009 | modern | 7 | #37,816 |
| 2010 | modern | 9 | #37,654 |
| 2011 | modern | 6 | #38,016 |
| 2012 | modern | 6 | #38,008 |
| 2013 | modern | 6 | #38,049 |
| 2014 | modern | 6 | #38,077 |
| 2015 | modern | 4 | #38,392 |
| 2016 | modern | 4 | #38,419 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Newcastle All Saints, Margate, Manchester, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Rochdale. 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 | Newcastle All Saints | Northumberland |
| 2 | Margate | Kent |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry | Forfar |
| 5 | Rochdale | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Branner 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 Branner, 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 Branner surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Branner 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, Branner 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 Branner is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Branner, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname BRANNER is believed to have originated in Germany, with the earliest records dating back to the 16th century. It is thought to be derived from the German word "Branne," which means a wooded area or a small forest clearing. This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived near or worked in such an area.
One of the earliest known references to the BRANNER name can be found in the records of the city of Görlitz, located in the modern-day German state of Saxony. In 1587, a man named Hans BRANNER is listed as a resident of the city. This provides evidence that the name was already in use by that time.
The BRANNER surname can also be traced to the regions of Bavaria and Württemberg in southern Germany. In the 17th century, several families bearing this name were recorded in the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, which is situated in the northern part of Bavaria.
A notable figure with the BRANNER surname was Johann Christoph BRANNER (1658-1728), a German architect and builder who was responsible for the construction of several churches and public buildings in the city of Stuttgart, the capital of Württemberg.
Another prominent individual was Johann Gottlieb BRANNER (1766-1837), a German theologian and philosopher who served as a professor at the University of Heidelberg. He was known for his works on ethics and moral philosophy.
In the 19th century, the BRANNER name gained some recognition with the birth of Johann Nepomuk BRANNER (1829-1891), an Austrian painter and lithographer. He is best known for his landscapes and genre scenes depicting rural life in Austria.
The surname also made its way to other parts of Europe, including Switzerland and Austria. In the early 20th century, Hans BRANNER (1879-1949) was a Swiss architect who designed several notable buildings in Zurich, including the Tonhalle concert hall.
Lastly, it is worth mentioning Wilhelm BRANNER (1908-1992), an Austrian-American geologist and professor who spent much of his career teaching at Stanford University in California. He made significant contributions to the study of tectonic processes and the formation of mountain ranges.
These examples demonstrate the presence of the BRANNER surname across various regions of Europe and its association with individuals who made notable contributions in fields such as architecture, art, theology, and geology over several centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Branner 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. Midlothian leads with 6 Branners recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.76x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Midlothian | 6 | 12.76x |
| Angus | 5 | 15.37x |
| Lancashire | 4 | 0.96x |
| Middlesex | 4 | 1.14x |
| Selkirkshire | 4 | 125.79x |
| Cumberland | 3 | 9.92x |
| Shropshire | 2 | 6.59x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.57x |
| Aberdeenshire | 1 | 3.08x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 1.39x |
| Morayshire | 1 | 18.32x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 2.11x |
| Perthshire | 1 | 6.35x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 1.13x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edinburgh Greenside S in Midlothian leads with 6 Branners recorded in 1881 and an index of 3529.41x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Edinburgh Greenside S | 6 | 3529.41x |
| Dundee | 5 | 41.19x |
| Galashiels | 4 | 341.88x |
| Whitechapel London | 3 | 86.71x |
| Whitehaven | 3 | 186.34x |
| Brampton Bierlow | 2 | 444.44x |
| Madeley | 2 | 180.18x |
| Aberdeen St Nicholas | 1 | 16.45x |
| Aldershot | 1 | 41.49x |
| Basford | 1 | 45.87x |
| Birmingham | 1 | 3.39x |
| Chorlton On Medlock | 1 | 15.11x |
| Elgin | 1 | 94.34x |
| Logie | 1 | 175.44x |
| Oldham | 1 | 7.43x |
| Shoreditch London | 1 | 6.57x |
| Toxteth Park | 1 | 7.09x |
| Wardleworth | 1 | 42.02x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Branner 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 Branner 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 Branner households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Hawker | 2 |
| Scholar | 2 |
| Bobbin Maker | 1 |
| Boiler Maker | 1 |
| Bolt Pointer | 1 |
| Cotton Weaver | 1 |
| Doctor Of Philosophy (Proff Prague) | 1 |
| Grocer | 1 |
| Soldier | 1 |
| Stone Mason | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
| Tailoress | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 36 people were recorded with the Branner surname. That placed it at #28,559 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 4 in 2016. That gives Branner a modern rank of #38,419.
A variant spelling of the German surname Bremner, meaning "burner of fuel" or "charcoal maker".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Branner 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.