NameCensus.

UK surname

Brass

An English occupational surname for a worker who made or sold brass goods or brass instruments.

In the 1881 census there were 566 people recorded with the Brass surname, ranking it #6,126 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 831, ranked #6,699, down from #6,126 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Sandwick and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Eden, County Durham and Stromness, Sandwick and Stenness.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brass is 848 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 46.8%.

1881 census count

566

Ranked #6,126

Modern count

831

2016, ranked #6,699

Peak year

2011

848 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brass had 566 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,126 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 831 in 2016, ranked #6,699.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 760 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Brass surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brass surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Brass 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 465 #5,332
1861 historical 537 #4,889
1881 historical 566 #6,126
1891 historical 685 #5,716
1901 historical 760 #5,877
1911 historical 623 #6,640
1997 modern 769 #6,748
1998 modern 811 #6,680
1999 modern 810 #6,730
2000 modern 824 #6,625
2001 modern 794 #6,681
2002 modern 809 #6,712
2003 modern 818 #6,535
2004 modern 789 #6,752
2005 modern 765 #6,847
2006 modern 779 #6,780
2007 modern 777 #6,858
2008 modern 781 #6,886
2009 modern 830 #6,688
2010 modern 842 #6,743
2011 modern 848 #6,627
2012 modern 818 #6,711
2013 modern 840 #6,697
2014 modern 845 #6,687
2015 modern 845 #6,646
2016 modern 831 #6,699

Geography

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Where Brass' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Sandwick, Gateshead, Edinburgh and Stromness. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Eden, County Durham and Stromness, Sandwick and Stenness. 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 Sandwick Orkney
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Stromness Orkney

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Eden 006 Eden
2 County Durham 059 County Durham
3 Stromness, Sandwick and Stenness Orkney Islands
4 Eden 007 Eden
5 County Durham 021 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Brass

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Brass

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Brass surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Brass 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Brass is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Brass 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

Brass falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Brass is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Brass

The surname BRASS originates from England, with records indicating its presence as early as the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "braes," which means brass or bronze. This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who worked with these metals, either as a metalsmith or a maker of brass instruments.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname BRASS can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which were census-like records compiled in England during the reign of King Edward I. The name appears in various spellings, such as "le Brasse," "le Bras," and "Brasse."

The BRASS surname is also mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of 1327, which were tax records from the reign of King Edward III. These rolls list individuals with the surnames "le Brasse" and "Brasse" residing in counties like Somerset, Wiltshire, and Gloucestershire.

In the 16th century, the BRASS surname is found in parish records from various parts of England, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Derbyshire. One notable individual from this period was Robert BRASS, who was born in Nottinghamshire around 1540 and served as a member of the Parliament for Nottingham in 1597.

During the 17th century, the name BRASS appeared in several historical records, such as the Hearth Tax Rolls of 1662-1666. These rolls recorded households that were required to pay a tax based on the number of hearths or fireplaces in their homes. The name BRASS can be found in counties like Berkshire, Oxfordshire, and Staffordshire.

In the 18th century, a notable bearer of the BRASS surname was Thomas BRASS, who was born in Lincolnshire in 1720. He was a renowned engraver and clockmaker, known for his intricate work on clock dials and other metalwork.

Another significant figure with the BRASS surname was John BRASS, a political activist and writer who lived in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He was born in Leicestershire in 1768 and was involved in the radical reform movements of his time, advocating for political and social changes.

Moving into the 19th century, one notable individual was William BRASS, who was born in Gloucestershire in 1812. He was a successful businessman and entrepreneur, founding the BRASS and Co. manufacturing company, which produced brass and copper goods.

These are just a few examples of individuals with the surname BRASS who have left their mark on history, showcasing the diversity and significance of this name throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Brass families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brass 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. Durham leads with 179 Brass' recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.88x.

County Total Index
Durham 179 10.88x
Orkney 114 187.35x
Somerset 46 5.17x
Middlesex 38 0.69x
Fife 25 7.64x
Staffordshire 25 1.34x
Yorkshire 22 0.40x
Surrey 21 0.78x
Westmorland 16 13.16x
Midlothian 15 2.02x
Lanarkshire 9 0.50x
Sussex 8 0.86x
Gloucestershire 6 0.55x
Lancashire 6 0.09x
Northumberland 6 0.73x
Warwickshire 6 0.43x
Monmouthshire 5 1.25x
Worcestershire 4 0.55x
Devon 3 0.26x
Kent 3 0.16x
Essex 2 0.18x
Hampshire 2 0.18x
Wiltshire 2 0.41x
Berkshire 1 0.24x
Dorset 1 0.28x
Isle of Man 1 0.97x
Ross-shire 1 0.66x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sandwick in Orkney leads with 42 Brass' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1842.11x.

Place Total Index
Sandwick 42 1842.11x
Bishopwearmouth 22 15.58x
Stromness 22 482.46x
Barnard Castle 19 233.70x
Creech St Michael 19 855.86x
Orphir 18 932.64x
Cupar 17 119.38x
Glastonbury 13 178.82x
Gateshead 12 9.74x
Holm 12 588.24x
Wingate 12 106.38x
Evie Rendall 11 428.02x
Warcop 10 735.29x
Bow London 9 12.78x
Castle Cary 9 231.96x
Chelsea London 9 5.40x
Escomb 9 119.05x
Handsworth 9 19.56x
Middlestone 9 272.73x
Sedgefield 9 153.32x
Tudhoe 9 62.50x
Brighton 8 4.25x
Camberwell 8 2.26x
Dunfermline 8 15.89x
Rugeley 8 59.70x
Rutherglen 8 30.49x
Stafford St Mary 8 30.27x
Bishop Auckland 7 31.70x
Crook Billy Row 7 33.22x
Durham St Nicholas 7 173.27x
Framwellgate 7 71.79x
Ingleton 7 1489.36x
Kirkwall St Ola 7 76.84x
Penicuik 7 69.51x
Birmingham 6 1.29x
Hetton Le Hole 6 28.78x
Linthorpe 6 18.34x
Appleby St Michael 5 183.15x
Middlesbrough 5 7.01x
Stranton 5 9.03x
Toxteth Park 5 2.25x
West Auckland 5 83.06x
Darlington 4 6.30x
Doncaster 4 9.99x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 4 1.34x
Guildford Holy Trinity 4 77.82x
Hampstead London 4 4.64x
Helmington Row 4 52.22x
Heworth 4 12.34x
Streatham 4 9.75x
Middleton In Teesdale 3 69.12x
Shildon 3 22.69x
South Leith 3 3.60x
St Sepulchre London 3 37.04x
Westbury On Trym 3 8.16x
Barton 2 204.08x
Bedwellty 2 2.83x
Bradford On Avon 2 12.77x
Bristol St James St Paul 2 5.53x
Byker 2 4.92x
Churchstanton 2 141.84x
Clifton In York 2 17.45x
Folkestone 2 5.46x
Hackney London 2 0.65x
Leeds 2 0.65x
North Shields 2 12.18x
Reigate Foreign 2 6.85x
St Anne Soho London 2 6.33x
St Pancras London 2 0.45x
St Woollos 2 4.48x
Sunderland 2 6.88x
Worcester St Peter 2 14.63x
Battersea 1 0.49x
Claines 1 5.05x
Kensington London 1 0.33x
Meare 1 37.45x
Newington 1 0.49x
Newnham 1 147.06x
St Marylebone London 1 0.34x
Woolwich 1 1.43x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 30
Elizabeth 25
Jane 13
Sarah 10
Ann 8
Margaret 8
Alice 7
Frances 7
Annie 5
Edith 5
Emma 5
Florence 5
Eliza 4
Isabella 4
Ada 3
Charlotte 3
E. 3
Ellen 3
Emily 3
Esther 3
Harriet 3
Minnie 3
Amelia 2
Louisa 2
Rachel 2
Rhoda 2
Sophia 2
Angel 1
Augusta 1
Betsey 1
Betsy 1
Deborah 1
Elisth. 1
Emmerline 1
F. 1
Fred 1
Hannah 1
Hilda 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Lelia 1
Lilian 1
Louise 1
M.M. 1
Marget 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Maud 1
Nancy 1
Welhelmina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 29
William 27
Thomas 26
George 17
James 13
Charles 11
Robert 10
Henry 5
Richard 4
Samuel 3
Willm. 3
Alfred 2
Edward 2
Ernest 2
Hiram 2
Joseph 2
Lot 2
Ralph 2
Robt. 2
Walter 2
Wm. 2
Aaron 1
Antoine 1
Arthur 1
Charles. 1
Chas.L. 1
Chas.W. 1
Cyril 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
G. 1
Geo. 1
Hannah 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
Isaac 1
Jno. 1
Jonathan 1
Josiah 1
Leonard 1
Levi 1
Michael 1
O. 1
Rennison 1
Robb 1
Thoma 1
W. 1
W.J. 1
W.L. 1

FAQ

Brass surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brass surname in 1881?

In 1881, 566 people were recorded with the Brass surname. That placed it at #6,126 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brass surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 831 in 2016. That gives Brass a modern rank of #6,699.

What does the Brass surname mean?

An English occupational surname for a worker who made or sold brass goods or brass instruments.

What does the Brass map show?

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