NameCensus.

UK surname

Brasier

A surname possibly derived from "brasier" meaning a brazier or pan for burning coal.

In the 1881 census there were 350 people recorded with the Brasier surname, ranking it #8,762 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 365, ranked #12,721, down from #8,762 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, Coggeshall, Great and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Canterbury, Rother and Central Bedfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brasier is 458 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 4.3%.

1881 census count

350

Ranked #8,762

Modern count

365

2016, ranked #12,721

Peak year

1911

458 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brasier had 350 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,762 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 365 in 2016, ranked #12,721.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 458 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Brasier surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brasier surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Brasier 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 351 #6,715
1861 historical 274 #9,111
1881 historical 350 #8,762
1891 historical 366 #9,508
1901 historical 388 #9,685
1911 historical 458 #8,376
1997 modern 407 #10,869
1998 modern 411 #11,122
1999 modern 411 #11,231
2000 modern 414 #11,127
2001 modern 399 #11,252
2002 modern 398 #11,478
2003 modern 381 #11,667
2004 modern 374 #11,843
2005 modern 359 #12,143
2006 modern 345 #12,571
2007 modern 350 #12,600
2008 modern 355 #12,565
2009 modern 387 #12,021
2010 modern 386 #12,330
2011 modern 382 #12,272
2012 modern 375 #12,292
2013 modern 374 #12,521
2014 modern 375 #12,578
2015 modern 362 #12,825
2016 modern 365 #12,721

Geography

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Where Brasiers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, Coggeshall, Great, London parishes, Hastings All Saints and Margate. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Canterbury, Rother, Central Bedfordshire, Test Valley and Knowsley. 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 Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew Sussex
2 Coggeshall, Great Essex
3 London parishes London 3
4 Hastings All Saints Sussex
5 Margate Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Canterbury 018 Canterbury
2 Rother 005 Rother
3 Central Bedfordshire 018 Central Bedfordshire
4 Test Valley 009 Test Valley
5 Knowsley 003 Knowsley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Brasier

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Brasier

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Brasier surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Brasier household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Brasier 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

Brasier 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

Brasier 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 Brasier 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 Brasier, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Brasier

The surname Brasier originated in France during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "brasier," which means "brazier" or "portable fire pan." The name likely referred to an occupation or trade related to metalworking or blacksmithing.

The earliest known recorded instances of the Brasier surname date back to the 13th century in various regions of France, including Normandy, Brittany, and the Île-de-France region. It was initially spelled as "Brasier," "Brasyer," or "Brassier."

One of the earliest notable individuals with this surname was Jean Brasier, a Norman nobleman who lived in the late 13th century. He was mentioned in several historical records as a prominent landowner and military commander during the conflicts between France and England.

In the 14th century, the Brasier name appeared in the records of the Duchy of Burgundy, where it was associated with skilled metalworkers and armorers. A notable figure from this period was Philippe Brasier, a renowned armorer who worked for the Dukes of Burgundy in the city of Dijon during the 1370s.

During the 15th and 16th centuries, the Brasier surname spread across various regions of France, including the Île-de-France, Champagne, and Lorraine. In the 16th century, a family of Brasiers settled in the town of Troyes, where they became prominent merchants and local officials.

One of the most notable individuals with the Brasier surname was Jacques Brasier, a French poet and philosopher born in Troyes in 1567. He was a prominent figure in the literary circles of his time and published several works on philosophy and poetry.

In the 17th century, the Brasier name appeared in various records in the regions of Normandy and Brittany, where it was associated with skilled craftsmen and tradesmen. One notable figure from this period was Pierre Brasier, a renowned clockmaker from Rouen, who lived from 1625 to 1698.

As the surname spread across France, it also found its way to other parts of Europe, particularly in regions with close cultural and historical ties to France, such as Belgium and Switzerland. Over time, the name has been subjected to various spellings and variations, including Brasier, Brassier, Brassière, and Brasseur.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Brasier families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brasier 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. Surrey leads with 68 Brasiers recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.09x.

County Total Index
Surrey 68 4.09x
Middlesex 67 1.96x
Sussex 48 8.34x
Kent 33 2.83x
Bedfordshire 24 13.58x
Shropshire 24 8.14x
Essex 14 2.08x
Worcestershire 14 3.14x
Gloucestershire 8 1.19x
Lincolnshire 8 1.47x
Nottinghamshire 7 1.52x
Staffordshire 6 0.52x
Yorkshire 6 0.18x
Cambridgeshire 5 2.31x
Hertfordshire 5 2.12x
Lancashire 5 0.12x
Devon 2 0.28x
Norfolk 2 0.38x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.48x
Hampshire 1 0.14x
Suffolk 1 0.24x
Wiltshire 1 0.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hastings All Sts in Sussex leads with 24 Brasiers recorded in 1881 and an index of 442.80x.

Place Total Index
Hastings All Sts 24 442.80x
Claverley 20 1005.03x
Barton In Clay 17 1370.97x
Hastings St Leonards 13 153.66x
Rotherhithe 12 28.45x
Camberwell 11 5.04x
Great Coggeshall 10 285.71x
Margate St John Baptist 10 46.88x
St Pancras London 10 3.64x
Wimbledon 10 53.53x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 8 12.69x
Grimley 8 952.38x
Poplar London 8 12.41x
Scawby 8 444.44x
Carlton In Selby 6 689.66x
Hackney London 6 3.13x
Hallow 6 275.23x
Limpsfield 6 377.36x
Bromley 5 28.17x
Chelsea London 5 4.86x
Hammersmith London 5 5.95x
Hendon 5 40.72x
Islington London 5 1.51x
Snenton 5 27.65x
St Andrew Holborn London 5 33.83x
St George In East London 5 15.57x
St Peters 5 92.76x
Carshalton 4 62.79x
Deptford St Nicholas 4 43.29x
Deptford St Paul 4 4.45x
Dunstable 4 73.66x
Hastings St Clement 4 73.80x
Lambeth 4 1.34x
Newington 4 3.17x
Oxted 4 200.00x
Pampisford 4 975.61x
Ramsgate 4 21.04x
Trysull 4 597.01x
Westminster St Margaret 4 24.29x
Barrow 3 750.00x
Battersea 3 2.39x
Bermondsey 3 2.95x
Eastbourne 3 11.33x
Everton 3 2.32x
Harpenden 3 83.57x
Hastings St Mary In The 3 24.43x
Long Ditton 3 110.29x
St Luke London 3 5.48x
Woodmansterne 3 833.33x
Ampthill 2 75.76x
Colchester St Botolph 2 34.90x
Mile End New Town London 2 29.63x
Norwich St Peter Mancroft 2 75.76x
Nottingham St Peter 2 38.99x
Stoke Damerel 2 4.02x
Wolverhampton 2 2.26x
Aylesbury 1 10.93x
Baldock 1 45.25x
Bocking 1 24.69x
Bow London 1 2.30x
Cound 1 178.57x
Edgeworth 1 45.87x
Farnham 1 7.73x
Figheldean 1 185.19x
Hastings St Mary 1 6.98x
Helion Bumpstead 1 109.89x
Hexton 1 434.78x
Horseheath 1 156.25x
Kempston 1 24.94x
Kensington London 1 0.53x
Paddington London 1 0.80x
Plumstead 1 2.58x
Prittlewell 1 10.71x
Romsey Extra 1 24.04x
St Marylebone London 1 0.55x
Wavertree 1 7.71x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 21
Elizabeth 14
Sarah 14
Jane 9
Alice 8
Ann 8
Emily 6
Eliza 5
Ellen 5
Harriet 4
Martha 4
Annie 3
Charlotte 3
Clara 3
Emma 3
Florence 3
Hannah 3
Rose 3
Sophia 3
Edith 2
Emmeline 2
Ethel 2
Julia 2
Maria 2
Maud 2
Ruth 2
Susan 2
Aves 1
Betrice 1
Bridget 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Chrystabel 1
Elisabeth 1
Elizth. 1
Epriah 1
Esther 1
Eva 1
Fanny 1
Isabella 1
Kasina 1
Kate 1
Katherine 1
Lilley 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Mabel 1
Margaret 1
Mariam 1
Marianne 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 26
George 16
John 15
Henry 12
Alfred 9
James 9
Charles 8
Arthur 6
Frederick 6
Thomas 6
Albert 5
Robert 4
David 3
Edward 3
Herbert 3
Joseph 3
Edmund 2
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Fredk. 2
Fredrick 2
Richard 2
Walter 2
Amos 1
Archie 1
Benjamin 1
Christopher 1
Clement 1
Daniel 1
Earnest 1
Edmond 1
Elisah 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Harold 1
Jabez 1
Jesse 1
Luke 1
Oscar 1
Owen 1
Richd. 1
Saml.V. 1
Samuel 1
Sydney 1
Tom 1
Wallace 1
Wilfred 1

FAQ

Brasier surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brasier surname in 1881?

In 1881, 350 people were recorded with the Brasier surname. That placed it at #8,762 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brasier surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 365 in 2016. That gives Brasier a modern rank of #12,721.

What does the Brasier surname mean?

A surname possibly derived from "brasier" meaning a brazier or pan for burning coal.

What does the Brasier map show?

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