NameCensus.

UK surname

Brannon

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Ó Braonáin," meaning "descendant of Braonán," a personal name meaning "sorrow" or "sadness."

In the 1881 census there were 833 people recorded with the Brannon surname, ranking it #4,520 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 603, ranked #8,687, down from #4,520 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, St Bees and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Copeland and Wolverhampton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brannon is 833 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 27.6%.

1881 census count

833

Ranked #4,520

Modern count

603

2016, ranked #8,687

Peak year

1881

833 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brannon had 833 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,520 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 603 in 2016, ranked #8,687.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 833 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Brannon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brannon surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Brannon 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 390 #6,155
1861 historical 387 #6,620
1881 historical 833 #4,520
1891 historical 697 #5,622
1901 historical 832 #5,451
1911 historical 705 #6,048
1997 modern 616 #7,999
1998 modern 657 #7,842
1999 modern 648 #7,966
2000 modern 637 #8,054
2001 modern 635 #7,916
2002 modern 645 #7,998
2003 modern 605 #8,270
2004 modern 603 #8,322
2005 modern 612 #8,153
2006 modern 620 #8,082
2007 modern 622 #8,126
2008 modern 629 #8,112
2009 modern 633 #8,240
2010 modern 650 #8,242
2011 modern 645 #8,202
2012 modern 621 #8,359
2013 modern 619 #8,526
2014 modern 615 #8,628
2015 modern 613 #8,592
2016 modern 603 #8,687

Geography

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Where Brannons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, St Bees, Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Copeland and Wolverhampton. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 St Bees Cumberland
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Copeland 005 Copeland
2 Copeland 003 Copeland
3 Copeland 004 Copeland
4 Wolverhampton 005 Wolverhampton
5 Copeland 002 Copeland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Brannon

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Brannon

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

Young Families in Industrial Towns

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Brannon is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Brannon 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

Brannon falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Brannon 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Brannon

The surname Brannon is of Irish origin, deriving from the Gaelic personal name "Bran" or "Brann," which means "raven." This name can be traced back to the early medieval period in Ireland, where it was initially used as a given name.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Brannon can be found in historical records from the 16th and 17th centuries in various Irish counties, such as Armagh, Tyrone, and Fermanagh. During this period, the name was often spelled as "Brannaghan," "Brannaghyn," or "Branaughan," reflecting the variations in spelling that were common at the time.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname Brannon was Patrick Brannagh, a Catholic priest and scholar who lived in the late 16th century. He was known for his writings on Irish history and culture, including a work titled "The Description of Ireland."

In the 17th century, the name Brannon appeared in various records related to the Irish Rebellion of 1641 and the subsequent Cromwellian conquest of Ireland. Some individuals with this surname were involved in the conflict, either as soldiers or supporters of the Irish Confederacy.

As the centuries progressed, the surname Brannon spread beyond Ireland, with many families emigrating to other parts of the British Isles and eventually to the United States and other countries. Some notable individuals with this surname include:

1. John Brannon (1844-1921), an American politician who served as a U.S. Representative from North Carolina. 2. Rachel Brannon (born 1945), an American actress and author known for her work in television and film. 3. William Brannon (1841-1918), a Confederate soldier and farmer from Virginia who served in the American Civil War. 4. Siobhan Brannon (born 1977), an Irish actress and television presenter known for her work on Irish and British television. 5. Michael Brannon (born 1962), an American businessman and entrepreneur who co-founded the technology company Verizon Wireless.

The surname Brannon has also been associated with various place names, particularly in Ireland, where towns and villages such as Brannockstown and Brannonstown bear similarities to the name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Brannon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brannon 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 305 Brannons recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.16x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 305 3.16x
Yorkshire 103 1.28x
Durham 78 3.23x
Cheshire 65 3.62x
Staffordshire 49 1.79x
Warwickshire 43 2.10x
Middlesex 36 0.44x
Cumberland 34 4.86x
Lanarkshire 31 1.18x
Renfrewshire 15 2.38x
Hampshire 9 0.54x
Northumberland 9 0.74x
Perthshire 8 2.19x
Ayrshire 6 0.99x
Devon 6 0.35x
Flintshire 6 2.75x
Glamorgan 6 0.42x
Lincolnshire 5 0.38x
Worcestershire 4 0.38x
Derbyshire 3 0.24x
Anglesey 2 1.39x
Kent 2 0.07x
Surrey 2 0.05x
Argyllshire 1 0.44x
Berkshire 1 0.16x
Essex 1 0.06x
Midlothian 1 0.09x
Northamptonshire 1 0.13x
Shropshire 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Manchester in Lancashire leads with 44 Brannons recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.15x.

Place Total Index
Manchester 44 10.15x
Liverpool 39 6.66x
Birmingham 35 5.12x
Widnes 29 41.70x
Wolstanton 20 24.01x
Walsall Foreign 18 12.70x
Stockport 17 18.42x
Toxteth Park 17 5.21x
Chorley 14 25.87x
Whitehaven 14 37.54x
Blackburn 13 5.07x
Thornaby 13 43.20x
Westoe 13 9.49x
Leeds 12 2.64x
Barony 11 1.65x
Barton Upon Irwell 10 13.78x
Abbey 9 9.37x
Altrincham 9 28.72x
Bothwell 9 12.63x
Dewsbury 9 10.90x
Islington London 9 1.14x
Monks Coppenhall 9 13.30x
Warrington 9 7.87x
Wavertree 9 29.16x
Bishopwearmouth 8 3.86x
Stockton On Tees 8 6.87x
Batley 7 9.15x
Knaresborough 7 55.34x
Normanton 7 28.93x
Northwich 7 245.61x
Oldham 7 2.25x
Tonge With Haulgh 7 37.29x
Whalley 7 49.82x
Wigan 7 5.20x
Auckinleck 6 31.86x
Barnsley 6 7.22x
Birtley 6 60.79x
Brandon Byshottles 6 19.82x
Chester St John Baptist 6 18.61x
Chorlton On Medlock 6 3.92x
Clerkenwell London 6 3.13x
Darlington 6 6.43x
Dukinfield 6 7.24x
Exeter St Sidwell 6 15.49x
Gatcombe 6 952.38x
Glasgow 6 1.29x
Hyde 6 11.34x
St Cuthbert W O 6 17.60x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 6 16.04x
Swansea Town 6 5.17x
West Derby 6 2.13x
York St George 6 94.64x
Bedford 5 24.79x
Crumpsall 5 22.01x
Easingwold 5 87.87x
East Greenock 5 8.41x
Flint 5 40.32x
Hackney London 5 1.10x
Mile End Old Town London 5 2.89x
Richmond 5 39.75x
Salford 5 1.76x
Whiston 5 66.49x
Ardwick 4 4.60x
Aston 4 0.71x
Bradford 4 2.05x
Conside Knitsley 4 21.28x
Everton 4 1.30x
Great Bolton 4 3.13x
Helmington Row 4 35.52x
Hylton 4 93.90x
Kirkby Cum Osgodby 4 384.62x
Redgorton 4 98.77x
Stourbridge 4 14.65x
Uxbridge 4 43.10x
Walsall Borough 4 18.79x
Birkenhead 3 2.10x
Heap 3 5.87x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 3 2.87x
Perth Middle Church 3 21.87x
Whittingham 3 70.59x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 82
Catherine 29
Elizabeth 25
Margaret 22
Bridget 20
Ann 19
Annie 13
Sarah 13
Ellen 11
Jane 10
Rose 8
Alice 6
Margret 6
Maria 6
Anne 4
Emma 4
Hannah 4
Julia 4
Cathrine 3
Eliza 3
Fanny 3
Kate 3
Katherine 3
Maggie 3
Martha 3
Winifred 3
Ada 2
Elizth. 2
Frances 2
Louisa 2
Lucy 2
Margeret 2
Matilda 2
Selina 2
Anna 1
Barbara 1
Bessie 1
Bridgit 1
Caroline 1
Catharine 1
Dorothy 1
Edith 1
Edward 1
Elisabeth 1
Emily 1
Johanna 1
Judith 1
Lavinia 1
Leah 1
Lizzie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 87
James 48
Thomas 48
Michael 32
Patrick 28
William 20
Edward 14
Robert 11
Martin 10
Peter 10
Daniel 7
Joseph 7
George 6
Richard 5
Francis 4
David 3
Hugh 3
Owen 3
Timothy 3
Alfred 2
Anthony 2
Bernard 2
Charles 2
Ed. 2
Frederick 2
Henry 2
Mark 2
Micheal 2
Phillip 2
Andrew 1
Arthur 1
Bartly 1
Denis 1
Geo. 1
Harry 1
Jas.Jos. 1
Leonard 1
Mary 1
Matthew 1
Michel 1
Miles 1
Nicholas 1
Patk. 1
Patsey 1
Patsy 1
Phil. 1
Robt. 1
Sephas 1
Seth 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Brannon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brannon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 833 people were recorded with the Brannon surname. That placed it at #4,520 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brannon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 603 in 2016. That gives Brannon a modern rank of #8,687.

What does the Brannon surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Ó Braonáin," meaning "descendant of Braonán," a personal name meaning "sorrow" or "sadness."

What does the Brannon map show?

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