NameCensus.

UK surname

Branney

In the 1881 census there were 57 people recorded with the Branney surname, ranking it #25,575 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 262, ranked #16,256, up from #25,575 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Bees, New Luce and Workington (Workington), Clossocks. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Copeland, Lochside and Lincluden and Summerville.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Branney is 279 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 359.6%.

1881 census count

57

Ranked #25,575

Modern count

262

2016, ranked #16,256

Peak year

2010

279 bearers

Map years

5

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Branney had 57 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #25,575 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 262 in 2016, ranked #16,256.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 106 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Branney surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Branney surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Branney 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 20 #29,743
1861 historical 26 #30,677
1881 historical 57 #25,575
1891 historical 106 #23,105
1901 historical 101 #22,726
1911 historical 90 #23,797
1997 modern 241 #15,638
1998 modern 248 #15,772
1999 modern 253 #15,667
2000 modern 263 #15,228
2001 modern 251 #15,483
2002 modern 246 #15,988
2003 modern 246 #15,769
2004 modern 254 #15,540
2005 modern 247 #15,763
2006 modern 260 #15,329
2007 modern 268 #15,172
2008 modern 257 #15,777
2009 modern 270 #15,551
2010 modern 279 #15,529
2011 modern 274 #15,571
2012 modern 250 #16,523
2013 modern 265 #16,138
2014 modern 261 #16,421
2015 modern 256 #16,524
2016 modern 262 #16,256

Geography

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Where Branneys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Bees, New Luce, Workington (Workington), Clossocks, Manchester and Dumfries. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Copeland, Lochside and Lincluden and Summerville. 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 St Bees Cumberland
2 New Luce Wigtown
3 Workington (Workington), Clossocks Cumberland
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Dumfries Dumfries

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Copeland 004 Copeland
2 Copeland 003 Copeland
3 Copeland 006 Copeland
4 Lochside and Lincluden Dumfries and Galloway
5 Summerville Dumfries and Galloway

Forenames

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First names often paired with Branney

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Branney

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Branney surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Branney household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

City Support Workers

Within London, Branney is most associated with areas classed as City Support Workers, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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

Scattered throughout Inner London, these areas house relatively few workers in the most senior roles within organisations, and greater prevalence of administrative roles relative to the Supergroup mean. Residents are less likely to be of Chinese ethnicity and are more likely to have been born in Africa. Relative to the Supergroup average, residents are also more likely to live in social housing and live in overcrowded conditions.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Branney is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Branney falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Branney is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

1881 census detail

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Branney families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Branney 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. Lancashire leads with 15 Branneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.09x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 15 2.09x
Wigtownshire 15 186.80x
Cumberland 8 15.37x
Isle of Man 6 53.43x
Durham 5 2.78x
Essex 5 4.19x
Ayrshire 4 8.84x
Cheshire 2 1.50x
Lincolnshire 2 2.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hulme in Lancashire leads with 11 Branneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 73.43x.

Place Total Index
Hulme 11 73.43x
New Luce 9 6000.00x
Cleator 8 368.66x
Onchan 6 185.76x
Great Warley 5 1851.85x
Seaham 5 757.58x
Ayr 4 186.92x
Stranraer 4 547.95x
Warrington 3 35.25x
Great Grimsby 2 32.57x
Old Luce 2 392.16x
Ashton On Mersey 1 144.93x
Latchford 1 112.36x
Stretford 1 25.32x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 6
James 4
Patrick 4
Hugh 2
Michael 2
William 2
Henry 1
Larry 1
Wm.S. 1

Top occupations

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 Branney households.

FAQ

Branney surname: questions and answers

How common was the Branney surname in 1881?

In 1881, 57 people were recorded with the Branney surname. That placed it at #25,575 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Branney surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 262 in 2016. That gives Branney a modern rank of #16,256.

What does the Branney map show?

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