NameCensus.

UK surname

Brassington

An English locational surname derived from the town of Brassington in Derbyshire.

In the 1881 census there were 1,194 people recorded with the Brassington surname, ranking it #3,377 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,622, ranked #3,836, down from #3,377 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Betley, Leek and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Staffordshire Moorlands and Derbyshire Dales.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brassington is 1,783 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 35.8%.

1881 census count

1,194

Ranked #3,377

Modern count

1,622

2016, ranked #3,836

Peak year

2002

1,783 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brassington had 1,194 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,377 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,622 in 2016, ranked #3,836.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,774 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Brassington surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brassington surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Brassington 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 807 #3,324
1861 historical 653 #4,109
1881 historical 1,194 #3,377
1891 historical 1,317 #3,297
1901 historical 1,661 #3,100
1911 historical 1,774 #2,760
1997 modern 1,566 #3,767
1998 modern 1,766 #3,510
1999 modern 1,775 #3,521
2000 modern 1,747 #3,557
2001 modern 1,705 #3,569
2002 modern 1,783 #3,491
2003 modern 1,773 #3,440
2004 modern 1,753 #3,479
2005 modern 1,715 #3,514
2006 modern 1,691 #3,566
2007 modern 1,696 #3,576
2008 modern 1,696 #3,607
2009 modern 1,685 #3,713
2010 modern 1,722 #3,707
2011 modern 1,694 #3,714
2012 modern 1,640 #3,754
2013 modern 1,669 #3,766
2014 modern 1,672 #3,779
2015 modern 1,637 #3,820
2016 modern 1,622 #3,836

Geography

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Where Brassingtons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Betley, Leek, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Horton and Youlgrave. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Staffordshire Moorlands and Derbyshire Dales. 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 Betley Staffordshire
2 Leek Staffordshire
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 Horton Staffordshire
5 Youlgrave Derbyshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Staffordshire Moorlands 012 Staffordshire Moorlands
2 Staffordshire Moorlands 010 Staffordshire Moorlands
3 Staffordshire Moorlands 013 Staffordshire Moorlands
4 Derbyshire Dales 003 Derbyshire Dales
5 Staffordshire Moorlands 005 Staffordshire Moorlands

Forenames

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First names often paired with Brassington

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Brassington

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Brassington, 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 Brassington surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Brassington 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, Brassington 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

Brassington is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Brassington falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Brassington

The surname Brassington is of English origin, derived from the place name Brassington, a village in Derbyshire. The name is believed to have originated in the late 11th century or early 12th century, shortly after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.

The name Brassington is thought to be derived from the Old English words "bræsen" meaning brass or bronze, and "tun" meaning a farm or settlement. This suggests that the village may have been a center for brass or bronze metalworking in ancient times.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Brassington can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a great survey of land ownership and taxation commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry for Brassington reads "Brassington, with its church and lands, is held by Henry de Ferrers."

In the 13th century, a man named William de Brassington is recorded as holding lands in Brassington and the surrounding areas. He is believed to be one of the earliest known individuals to bear the surname Brassington.

During the 14th century, the name Brassington appears in various historical records, including the Poll Tax returns of 1379, which list several individuals with the surname living in Derbyshire and neighboring counties.

One notable individual with the surname Brassington was Sir John Brassington, a member of Parliament for Derbyshire in the early 15th century (born around 1380, died circa 1450). He was a prominent landowner and served as Sheriff of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire during the reign of King Henry V.

In the 16th century, a man named Thomas Brassington (born around 1520) was a prominent merchant and landowner in the city of Bristol. He served as Mayor of Bristol in 1568 and was known for his philanthropic works, including the founding of a free grammar school in the city.

Another notable figure was Sir William Brassington (1585-1655), a Member of Parliament and Justice of the Peace in Staffordshire during the English Civil War. He was a staunch Royalist and supported King Charles I against the Parliamentarians.

In the 18th century, a man named John Brassington (1699-1784) was a renowned clockmaker and inventor from Gloucestershire. He is credited with several innovations in the design and construction of clocks and watches.

The surname Brassington has continued to be present throughout England, particularly in the Midlands and surrounding areas, over the centuries. While not an extremely common name, it has maintained a consistent presence in historical records and has been borne by individuals from various walks of life.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Brassington families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brassington 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. Staffordshire leads with 495 Brassingtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.59x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 495 12.59x
Derbyshire 184 10.09x
Lancashire 144 1.04x
Cheshire 71 2.76x
Yorkshire 66 0.57x
Nottinghamshire 47 2.99x
Warwickshire 36 1.23x
Shropshire 29 2.88x
Middlesex 25 0.21x
Surrey 23 0.41x
Gloucestershire 16 0.70x
Worcestershire 13 0.85x
Kent 8 0.20x
Herefordshire 6 1.26x
Glamorgan 4 0.20x
Hampshire 4 0.17x
Leicestershire 4 0.31x
Northamptonshire 4 0.37x
Oxfordshire 4 0.56x
Flintshire 3 0.96x
Devon 2 0.08x
Somerset 2 0.11x
Westmorland 2 0.78x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.27x
Sussex 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 103 Brassingtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.71x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Upon Trent 103 24.71x
Caverswall 93 454.99x
Betley 40 1223.24x
Youlgreave 39 740.04x
Uttoxeter 38 188.77x
Widnes 27 27.09x
Salford 26 6.40x
Cheddleton 24 291.62x
Brampton 20 78.46x
Ecclesall Bierlow 20 8.52x
Leek Lowe 18 34.41x
Wolverhampton 17 5.62x
Derby St Werburgh 14 13.30x
Sutton In Ashfield 14 41.09x
Litchurch 13 17.72x
Newcastle Under Lyme 13 18.69x
Saddleworth 13 14.60x
Biddulph 12 54.10x
Monks Coppenhall 12 12.37x
Trentham 12 35.89x
Beeley 11 763.89x
Sutton On Hill 11 670.73x
Wellington 11 19.45x
Aston 10 1.24x
Macclesfield 10 8.75x
Newton 10 9.39x
Royton 10 23.65x
Wolstanton 10 8.37x
Camberwell 9 1.21x
Denton 9 29.38x
Giggleswick 9 230.77x
Norton In Moors 9 43.25x
Rugeley 9 31.90x
Warwick St Nicholas 9 41.78x
Barthomley 8 540.54x
Brimington 8 57.76x
Dudley 8 4.33x
Hartington Upper 8 91.95x
Heaton 8 610.69x
Lambeth 8 0.79x
Liverpool 8 0.95x
Colne 7 17.00x
Derby St Peter 7 12.05x
Haslington 7 96.82x
Horton 7 145.53x
Nottingham St Mary 7 1.72x
Nottingham St Nicholas 7 32.74x
Tixall 7 777.78x
West Ardsley 7 50.40x
Coberley 6 461.54x
Greasley 6 16.94x
Hunslet 6 3.33x
Longford 6 361.45x
Moss Side 6 8.25x
Radford Lenton 6 153.45x
St Marylebone London 6 0.96x
Stafford St Mary 6 10.78x
Barton Upon Irwell 5 4.81x
Cannock 5 7.29x
Chiswick 5 7.86x
Chorlton On Medlock 5 2.28x
Colwich 5 53.48x
Dilhorne 5 76.45x
Hartshorn 5 72.57x
Mansfield 5 9.20x
Normanton 5 32.47x
Ranton 5 450.45x
Rugby 5 12.58x
Rushton Spencer 5 367.65x
Stone 5 9.94x
Wem 5 33.40x
Weston In Nantwich 5 241.55x
Willaston In Nantwich 5 63.05x
Audlem 4 66.01x
Audley 4 10.28x
Belper 4 11.32x
Draycott In Moors 4 246.91x
Newport 4 32.95x
Onecote 4 268.46x
St Pancras London 4 0.43x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 68
Sarah 56
Elizabeth 52
Hannah 29
Ann 27
Jane 27
Annie 23
Martha 23
Ellen 21
Harriet 17
Emma 12
Frances 11
Ada 10
Alice 10
Emily 10
Esther 8
Anne 7
Eliza 7
Florence 7
Grace 7
Lucy 7
Margaret 7
Agnes 6
Catherine 6
Edith 6
Elizth. 6
Maria 6
Charlotte 5
Clara 5
Fanny 5
Harriett 5
Gertrude 3
Hariett 3
Susannah 3
Anna 2
Betsy 2
Caroline 2
Dinah 2
Eleanor 2
Ethel 2
Harriot 2
Henrietta 2
Julia 2
Lavinia 2
Matilda 2
Nellie 2
Ruth 2
Sophia 2
Susan 2
Thirza 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 73
William 66
Thomas 59
George 44
Charles 42
Joseph 38
Henry 32
James 30
Samuel 19
Arthur 10
Edward 7
Albert 6
Frederick 6
Robert 6
Thos. 6
Wm. 6
Ernest 5
Ralph 5
Richard 5
Benjamin 4
Francis 4
Frank 4
Harry 4
Herbert 4
Nathan 4
Walter 4
Alfred 3
Chas. 3
Isaac 3
Matthew 3
Benjn. 2
Charley 2
Daniel 2
David 2
Edwd. 2
Geo. 2
Lewis 2
Mathew 2
Noah 2
Phillip 2
Saml. 2
Asher 1
Edgar 1
Edwin 1
Enoch 1
Enos 1
F. 1
Horace 1
Hubert 1
Hugh 1

FAQ

Brassington surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brassington surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,194 people were recorded with the Brassington surname. That placed it at #3,377 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brassington surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,622 in 2016. That gives Brassington a modern rank of #3,836.

What does the Brassington surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from the town of Brassington in Derbyshire.

What does the Brassington map show?

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