NameCensus.

UK surname

Brash

A surname denoting someone who is overbearing, loud, or tactless in manner.

In the 1881 census there were 532 people recorded with the Brash surname, ranking it #6,457 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 731, ranked #7,448, down from #6,457 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to New Monkland, Lancaster Borough and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tweeddale West Area, South Tyneside and West Calder and Polbeth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brash is 767 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 37.4%.

1881 census count

532

Ranked #6,457

Modern count

731

2016, ranked #7,448

Peak year

2013

767 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brash had 532 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,457 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 731 in 2016, ranked #7,448.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 638 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Brash surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brash surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Brash 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 415 #5,850
1861 historical 427 #6,020
1881 historical 532 #6,457
1891 historical 631 #6,133
1901 historical 638 #6,740
1911 historical 278 #12,038
1997 modern 706 #7,201
1998 modern 727 #7,270
1999 modern 732 #7,274
2000 modern 728 #7,279
2001 modern 707 #7,314
2002 modern 734 #7,228
2003 modern 713 #7,268
2004 modern 702 #7,380
2005 modern 703 #7,324
2006 modern 717 #7,226
2007 modern 728 #7,230
2008 modern 729 #7,260
2009 modern 741 #7,319
2010 modern 756 #7,340
2011 modern 748 #7,322
2012 modern 749 #7,236
2013 modern 767 #7,209
2014 modern 745 #7,420
2015 modern 743 #7,354
2016 modern 731 #7,448

Geography

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Where Brashs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around New Monkland, Lancaster Borough, Govan Combination, West Calder and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Tweeddale West Area, South Tyneside, West Calder and Polbeth, Broxburn Kirkhill and IZ07. 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 New Monkland Lanark
2 Lancaster Borough Lancashire
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 West Calder Edinburgh
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tweeddale West Area Scottish Borders
2 South Tyneside 011 South Tyneside
3 West Calder and Polbeth West Lothian
4 Broxburn Kirkhill West Lothian
5 IZ07 East Lothian

Forenames

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First names often paired with Brash

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Brash

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Brash, 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 Brash surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Brash 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Brash is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Brash 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

Brash 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 Brash is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Brash

The surname Brash originated in England during the late medieval period, derived from the Middle English word 'bras' meaning 'brass'. It likely referred to someone who worked with brass as an occupation, such as a brass maker or seller.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the 1327 Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire, which mention a Thomas Brasse. The name is also found in various other historical records from the 14th and 15th centuries, with spellings like Bras, Brasse, and Brashe.

The Brash surname is believed to have roots in several regions of England, including Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Staffordshire. It was particularly prevalent in areas with a strong metalworking industry, where brass was commonly used for household goods and decorative items.

Notable individuals with the Brash surname include Sir Reginald Brash (1556-1624), a prominent English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1603. Another early bearer of the name was John Brash (c. 1680-1755), an English architect and surveyor who worked on several notable buildings in London.

In Scotland, the Brash name can be traced back to the 16th century, with records showing a Thomas Brashe residing in Ayrshire in 1548. One of the earliest Scottish individuals of note with this surname was James Brash (1778-1854), a minister and writer from Perthshire.

The Brash surname also found its way to Ireland, where it is sometimes anglicized from the Gaelic name 'Breathnach'. A notable Irish bearer of the name was Sir Richard Brash (1776-1858), a lawyer and politician who served as Solicitor-General for Ireland.

In the United States, the Brash surname is relatively uncommon, but can be traced back to early colonial settlers from England and Scotland. One of the earliest recorded instances is John Brash, who arrived in Virginia in 1638.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Brash families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brash 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. Midlothian leads with 134 Brashs recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.38x.

County Total Index
Midlothian 134 19.38x
Lanarkshire 109 6.53x
Lancashire 53 0.87x
Dunbartonshire 28 20.19x
Renfrewshire 26 6.50x
Surrey 26 1.03x
Berwickshire 14 22.40x
Cumberland 14 3.15x
Cheshire 11 0.97x
Durham 11 0.72x
Middlesex 11 0.21x
East Lothian 10 14.63x
Northumberland 10 1.30x
West Lothian 10 12.87x
Ayrshire 9 2.33x
Fife 7 2.29x
Angus 6 1.26x
Essex 6 0.59x
Kent 6 0.34x
Devon 5 0.47x
Roxburghshire 5 5.35x
Hertfordshire 3 0.84x
Stirlingshire 3 1.58x
Hampshire 2 0.19x
Perthshire 2 0.86x
Somerset 2 0.24x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.88x
Kincardineshire 1 1.59x
Orkney 1 1.76x
Royal Navy 1 1.63x
Suffolk 1 0.16x
Worcestershire 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 49 Brashs recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.87x.

Place Total Index
Govan 49 11.87x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 40 14.38x
Lancaster 24 65.88x
Glasgow 19 6.41x
Cumbernauld 18 236.84x
Barony 16 3.79x
West Calder 16 117.39x
Liverpool 14 3.76x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 11 67.28x
Edinburgh St Stephens 11 80.82x
Dunse 10 168.63x
Berwick North 9 187.89x
Cheadle 9 41.36x
Cramond 9 171.76x
Duddingston 9 64.84x
Largs 9 98.90x
Abbey 8 13.11x
Cleator 8 43.27x
Maryhill 8 24.49x
New Monkland 8 16.22x
South Leith 8 10.28x
Camberwell 7 2.12x
Edinburgh Canongate 7 39.80x
Falkland 7 145.83x
Bow London 6 9.13x
Cathcart 6 27.73x
Eastwood 6 24.36x
Edinburgh St Marys 6 44.64x
Lambeth 6 1.33x
Leyton Low 6 28.97x
Spotland 6 8.81x
Westoe 6 6.89x
Dundee 5 2.80x
Kirkintilloch 5 26.54x
Renfrew 5 37.85x
Salford 5 2.78x
Uphall 5 58.48x
Canterbury St Mary 4 33.84x
Chester Le Street 4 33.93x
Hawick 4 19.12x
Langton 4 449.44x
Longbenton 4 12.30x
North Leith 4 12.50x
Seaton Delaval 4 59.35x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 3.85x
St Cuthbert W O 4 18.47x
Bermondsey 3 1.95x
Cadder 3 24.33x
Carstairs 3 86.71x
Inveresk 3 16.03x
Row 3 16.72x
St Ninians 3 15.90x
Bathgate 2 11.86x
Broughton In Salford 2 3.57x
Cardross 2 12.01x
Carnwath 2 19.38x
Croydon 2 1.43x
Dalkeith 2 14.66x
Edinburgh St Georges 2 13.94x
Exeter St David 2 21.79x
Harpenden 2 36.90x
Kirkliston 2 44.15x
Mid Calder 2 66.67x
Newington 2 1.05x
Penge 2 6.07x
Portsea 2 0.96x
Shadwell London 2 13.85x
Tedburn St Mary 2 176.99x
Tranmere 2 4.78x
West Derby 2 1.12x
Benholm 1 37.04x
Cheriton 1 13.93x
Edinburgh Greenside 1 10.95x
Edinburgh High Church 1 23.04x
Edinburgh New 1 18.62x
Hobkirk 1 84.75x
Hornsey 1 1.53x
Queensferry 1 52.63x
South Shields 1 7.31x
Taunton St Mary 1 6.56x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 15
Martha 5
Agnes 4
Annie 4
Sarah 4
Elizabeth 3
Emily 3
Jane 3
Margaret 3
Ann 2
Edith 2
Eliza 2
Emma 2
Jessie 2
Julia 2
Rachel 2
Blanch 1
Charlotte 1
Elizth. 1
Ethel 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Helen 1
Jean 1
Jeanis 1
Jemima 1
Joan 1
Louisa 1
M.A. 1
Mabel 1
Rose 1
Sophia 1
Win... 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 14
William 11
James 10
George 7
David 5
Robert 5
Thomas 5
Alexander 4
Alex 2
Herbert 2
Isaac 2
Richard 2
Alexr. 1
Alfred 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Fredr. 1
Henry 1
Issac 1
Malcolm 1
Morris 1
Oxley 1
Peter 1
Rnest 1
Robt. 1

FAQ

Brash surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brash surname in 1881?

In 1881, 532 people were recorded with the Brash surname. That placed it at #6,457 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brash surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 731 in 2016. That gives Brash a modern rank of #7,448.

What does the Brash surname mean?

A surname denoting someone who is overbearing, loud, or tactless in manner.

What does the Brash map show?

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