NameCensus.

UK surname

Bratt

An English toponymic surname derived from a place name meaning "steep or declivitous place."

In the 1881 census there were 1,043 people recorded with the Bratt surname, ranking it #3,769 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,125, ranked #5,239, down from #3,769 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Over and Leek. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Halton, Staffordshire Moorlands and Cheshire East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bratt is 1,669 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 7.9%.

1881 census count

1,043

Ranked #3,769

Modern count

1,125

2016, ranked #5,239

Peak year

1911

1,669 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bratt had 1,043 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,769 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,125 in 2016, ranked #5,239.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,669 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Small Town Suburbia.

Bratt surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bratt surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bratt 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 832 #3,254
1861 historical 970 #2,874
1881 historical 1,043 #3,769
1891 historical 1,334 #3,266
1901 historical 1,377 #3,649
1911 historical 1,669 #2,925
1997 modern 1,185 #4,759
1998 modern 1,328 #4,465
1999 modern 1,322 #4,535
2000 modern 1,315 #4,523
2001 modern 1,265 #4,598
2002 modern 1,264 #4,696
2003 modern 1,254 #4,632
2004 modern 1,237 #4,681
2005 modern 1,194 #4,776
2006 modern 1,199 #4,773
2007 modern 1,181 #4,876
2008 modern 1,174 #4,923
2009 modern 1,218 #4,881
2010 modern 1,216 #4,987
2011 modern 1,207 #4,945
2012 modern 1,147 #5,100
2013 modern 1,146 #5,193
2014 modern 1,139 #5,242
2015 modern 1,135 #5,212
2016 modern 1,125 #5,239

Geography

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Where Bratts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Over, Leek, Burslem and Stranton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Halton, Staffordshire Moorlands, Cheshire East and Walsall. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Over Cheshire
3 Leek Staffordshire
4 Burslem Staffordshire
5 Stranton Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Halton 012 Halton
2 Staffordshire Moorlands 001 Staffordshire Moorlands
3 Cheshire East 025 Cheshire East
4 Cheshire East 028 Cheshire East
5 Walsall 017 Walsall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bratt

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bratt

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Bratt, 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 Bratt surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Small Town Suburbia, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Bratt 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

Professional Periphery

Within London, Bratt is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Bratt 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

Bratt 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 Bratt is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Bratt

The surname Bratt has its origins in England, with records suggesting it emerged in the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "bratt," which means "cloak" or "mantle." This name likely originated as a nickname given to someone who wore a distinctive cloak or mantle.

The earliest known record of the surname Bratt can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where it appears as "Bratt." This document mentions a person named Richard Bratt. Another early record is from the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire in 1273, which lists a John Bratt.

In the 14th century, the surname Bratt was recorded in various forms, such as Bratte, Brat, and Bratt. These variations reflect the different spellings and pronunciations used during that time. The Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327 contain the name "Thomas Bratt."

One notable figure with the surname Bratt was Sir Reginald Bratt, a Member of Parliament for Norfolk in the late 15th century. He was born around 1450 and served in the Parliament of 1472-1475.

In the 16th century, the surname Bratt was found in various parts of England, including Norfolk, Suffolk, and Lincolnshire. The Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk from 1524 list a John Bratt, and the Subsidy Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1543 mention a Thomas Bratt.

The 17th century saw the emergence of several prominent individuals with the surname Bratt. One example is Samuel Bratt, an English clergyman and author who lived from 1638 to 1693. He was known for his work "The Divine Metaphysick," published in 1682.

Another notable figure was John Bratt, an English soldier and writer who was born in 1645 and died in 1726. He served in the British Army and wrote several works, including "The History of Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden" and "The Martial Revived: or, the Ancient Military Discipline for Foote Revived."

In the 18th century, the surname Bratt continued to be found in various parts of England. One interesting reference is from the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Nottingham, which mention the marriage of William Bratt and Elizabeth Barker in 1732.

Overall, the surname Bratt has a long and rich history in England, with records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have originated as a nickname related to clothing or appearance, and over the centuries, it has been associated with various notable individuals across different fields.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bratt families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bratt 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 343 Bratts recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.03x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 343 10.03x
Cheshire 217 9.70x
Lancashire 136 1.13x
Warwickshire 103 4.03x
Worcestershire 60 4.53x
Middlesex 22 0.22x
Devon 20 0.95x
Durham 20 0.66x
Kent 18 0.52x
Nottinghamshire 16 1.17x
Yorkshire 16 0.16x
Lincolnshire 10 0.62x
Norfolk 9 0.58x
Denbighshire 7 1.83x
Leicestershire 7 0.62x
Surrey 6 0.12x
Glamorgan 4 0.23x
Herefordshire 4 0.96x
Hampshire 3 0.14x
Essex 2 0.10x
Flintshire 2 0.73x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.11x
Berkshire 1 0.13x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.16x
Cornwall 1 0.09x
Derbyshire 1 0.06x
Dorset 1 0.15x
Hertfordshire 1 0.14x
Midlothian 1 0.07x
Monmouthshire 1 0.14x
Renfrewshire 1 0.13x
Royal Navy 1 0.83x
Shropshire 1 0.11x
Suffolk 1 0.08x
Sussex 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Burslem in Staffordshire leads with 36 Bratts recorded in 1881 and an index of 36.73x.

Place Total Index
Burslem 36 36.73x
Over 34 149.52x
Leek Lowe 33 72.50x
Wolverhampton 33 12.55x
Stoke Upon Trent 31 8.54x
Birmingham 29 3.40x
Kineton 28 765.03x
Manchester 28 5.18x
Willenhall 26 40.57x
Bromsgrove 25 56.12x
Aston 24 3.41x
Ardwick 23 21.20x
Wharton 23 188.83x
Hulme 21 8.36x
Walsall Foreign 21 11.88x
Sandbach 20 104.82x
Leek Frith 18 631.58x
Wednesbury 18 21.05x
Little Budworth 16 855.62x
West Bromwich 16 8.17x
Kingswinford 14 11.27x
Marton In Whitegate 13 539.42x
Nottingham St Mary 13 3.68x
Salford 12 3.39x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 11 8.42x
Dewsbury 10 9.71x
Sedgley 10 7.87x
Shipston On Stour 10 166.11x
Tranmere 10 12.16x
Withington 10 25.81x
Nether Peover 9 1232.88x
Plymouth Charles The 9 9.68x
Plymouth St Andrew 9 5.54x
Tilstone Fearnall 9 1730.77x
Horninglow 8 49.66x
Nocton 8 366.97x
Norwich St Paul 8 85.74x
Stafford St Mary 8 16.52x
Titteworth 8 152.38x
Trentham 8 27.49x
Weaverham Cum Milton 8 135.14x
Wolstanton 8 7.70x
Coventry St Michael 7 8.53x
Erbistock 7 693.07x
Halton 7 140.28x
Kidderminster Borough 7 9.04x
Leamington 7 41.32x
Uttoxeter 7 39.98x
Brewood 6 60.85x
Frodsham 6 69.20x
Greenwich 6 3.72x
Leicester St Leonard 6 56.39x
Oldham 6 1.55x
Wednesfield 6 11.92x
Witton Cum Twambrooks 6 30.14x
Birkenhead 5 2.80x
Cheadle 5 11.70x
Dudley 5 3.11x
Eaton In Macclesfield 5 357.14x
Norton In Moors 5 27.61x
Oldbury 5 7.68x
Stourbridge 5 14.68x
Stranton 5 4.93x
Walton On Hill 5 7.67x
Chorley In Macclesfield 4 58.65x
Chorlton On Medlock 4 2.09x
Colwall 4 77.67x
Deptford St Paul 4 1.50x
Huntington 4 655.74x
Islington London 4 0.41x
Liverpool 4 0.55x
Poplar London 4 2.09x
Toxteth Park 4 0.98x
Upper Penn 4 46.67x
Warrington 4 2.81x
Edgbaston 3 3.79x
Kings Norton 3 2.53x
Radford 3 4.32x
Sunderland 3 5.63x
Ystradyfodwg 3 1.94x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 76
Elizabeth 48
Sarah 41
Ann 23
Jane 23
Eliza 22
Emma 16
Hannah 16
Martha 15
Ellen 13
Fanny 11
Alice 10
Louisa 10
Annie 9
Charlotte 8
Emily 8
Esther 8
Ada 7
Edith 7
Harriet 7
Amy 5
Catherine 5
Lucy 5
Margaret 5
Maria 5
Caroline 4
Clara 4
Julia 4
Phoebe 4
A. 3
Beatrice 3
Frances 3
Harriett 3
Jessie 3
Kate 3
Rachel 3
Agnes 2
Anne 2
Dorothy 2
Elizh. 2
Florence 2
Lily 2
Margt. 2
Matilda 2
Maud 2
Minnie 2
Rebecca 2
Eleanor 1
Elen 1
Thirza 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Bratt surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bratt surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,043 people were recorded with the Bratt surname. That placed it at #3,769 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bratt surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,125 in 2016. That gives Bratt a modern rank of #5,239.

What does the Bratt surname mean?

An English toponymic surname derived from a place name meaning "steep or declivitous place."

What does the Bratt map show?

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