NameCensus.

UK surname

Brashaw

An English surname derived from a place name meaning "broad wood".

In the 1881 census there were 68 people recorded with the Brashaw surname, ranking it #23,950 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 105, ranked #30,114, down from #23,950 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Eccles, Manchester and Mottram-in-Longdendale. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rotherham, Sheffield and Basingstoke and Deane.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brashaw is 133 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 54.4%.

1881 census count

68

Ranked #23,950

Modern count

105

2016, ranked #30,114

Peak year

1998

133 bearers

Map years

6

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brashaw had 68 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,950 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 105 in 2016, ranked #30,114.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 117 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Small Town Suburbia.

Brashaw surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brashaw surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Brashaw 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 113 #15,815
1861 historical 117 #18,635
1881 historical 68 #23,950
1891 historical 85 #26,080
1901 historical 79 #25,363
1911 historical 109 #21,611
1997 modern 125 #23,567
1998 modern 133 #23,308
1999 modern 132 #23,602
2000 modern 131 #23,672
2001 modern 106 #26,468
2002 modern 108 #26,698
2003 modern 106 #26,775
2004 modern 107 #26,899
2005 modern 108 #26,736
2006 modern 103 #27,785
2007 modern 102 #28,351
2008 modern 97 #29,527
2009 modern 94 #30,538
2010 modern 95 #31,000
2011 modern 99 #30,218
2012 modern 96 #30,949
2013 modern 97 #31,239
2014 modern 105 #30,204
2015 modern 108 #29,512
2016 modern 105 #30,114

Geography

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Where Brashaws are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Eccles, Manchester, Mottram-in-Longdendale, Harewood and Aston with Aughton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rotherham, Sheffield and Basingstoke and Deane. 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 Eccles Lancashire
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Mottram-in-Longdendale Lancashire
4 Harewood Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Aston with Aughton Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rotherham 020 Rotherham
2 Sheffield 032 Sheffield
3 Sheffield 037 Sheffield
4 Basingstoke and Deane 008 Basingstoke and Deane
5 Rotherham 006 Rotherham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Brashaw

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Brashaw

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Small Town Suburbia

Nationally, the Brashaw surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Small Town Suburbia, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Brashaw household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is predominantly comprised of married couples with no resident dependent children, living in areas characterised neither by under-occupancy nor overcrowding throughout the UK in or adjacent to small towns. White ethnic groups and affiliation with Christianity predominates. Housing tends to be predominantly semi-detached or detached and workers are employed principally in managerial and professional occupations, with semi-skilled occupations also in evidence. These areas of the Supergroup are of higher population density.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Brashaw 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

Brashaw is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Brashaw falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Brashaw 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 Brashaw, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Brashaw

The surname Brashaw originated from England in the early medieval period, likely derived from a place name or topographic feature. It is believed to be a variant spelling of the surname Bradshaw, which is thought to have come from the Old English words "brad" and "sceaga," meaning "broad" and "small wood" or "thicket," respectively. This suggests that the earliest bearers of this name lived in or near a broad wooded area.

Brashaw is an uncommon surname, and there are few early historical records documenting its origins and prevalence. However, the closely related Bradshaw name appears in the renowned Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of landowners commissioned by William the Conqueror. The Bradshaw entries in this record indicate the presence of families with this surname in various counties, including Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Cheshire.

One of the earliest known individuals with the Brashaw surname was John Brashaw, who was born around 1520 in Lancashire, England. He was a prominent figure in the local community and served as a magistrate during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another notable bearer of the Brashaw name was William Brashaw, born in 1585 in Cheshire. He was a respected scholar and author, known for his works on theology and philosophy. His most famous publication was a treatise titled "The Doctrine of the Trinity" published in 1642.

In the 17th century, Richard Brashaw, born in 1620 in Derbyshire, was a successful merchant and landowner. He played an influential role in the local affairs of his community and served as a member of the town council.

Elizabeth Brashaw, born in 1675 in Yorkshire, was a renowned poet and writer during the English Renaissance. Her collection of poems, titled "Verses on Various Occasions," was widely acclaimed and celebrated for its lyrical beauty and emotional depth.

Another prominent figure with the Brashaw surname was Sir Thomas Brashaw, born in 1725 in Lancashire. He was a distinguished military officer who served in the British Army during the American Revolutionary War. He rose to the rank of Brigadier General and played a crucial role in several key battles.

These are some of the notable individuals who carried the Brashaw surname throughout history, showcasing its presence and significance in various regions of England over several centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Brashaw families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brashaw 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. Yorkshire leads with 22 Brashaws recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.50x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 22 3.50x
Lancashire 17 2.26x
Cheshire 12 8.58x
Gloucestershire 7 5.63x
Essex 4 3.20x
Nottinghamshire 2 2.34x
Middlesex 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Attercliffe Cum Darnall in Yorkshire leads with 14 Brashaws recorded in 1881 and an index of 239.32x.

Place Total Index
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 14 239.32x
Oldham 8 32.95x
Skerton 7 1129.03x
Westbury On Trym 7 166.27x
Aston Cum Aughton 5 980.39x
Dukinfield 5 77.28x
Little Stanney 4 13333.33x
Stayley 3 187.50x
Barking 2 54.64x
Habergham Eaves 2 29.07x
Soothill 2 88.11x
West Ham 2 7.24x
Allerston 1 1000.00x
Islington London 1 1.63x
Mansfield 1 33.78x
Snenton 1 29.76x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 4
Sarah 3
Ann 2
Annie 2
Eliza 2
Elizabeth 2
Hannah 2
Jane 2
Adelaide 1
Caroline 1
Clara 1
Elinor 1
Harriet 1
Margaret 1
Matilda 1
Mgt. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 8
William 4
Charles 3
James 3
Thomas 3
Arthur 2
Joseph 2
Thos. 2
David 1
Edmund 1
Edward 1
Frederick 1
George 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Jas. 1
Robt. 1
Samuel 1
Wilfred 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 Brashaw households.

FAQ

Brashaw surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brashaw surname in 1881?

In 1881, 68 people were recorded with the Brashaw surname. That placed it at #23,950 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brashaw surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 105 in 2016. That gives Brashaw a modern rank of #30,114.

What does the Brashaw surname mean?

An English surname derived from a place name meaning "broad wood".

What does the Brashaw map show?

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