NameCensus.

UK surname

Braun

A German and Jewish surname referring to someone with brown hair or a dark complexion.

In the 1881 census there were 196 people recorded with the Braun surname, ranking it #13,006 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 553, ranked #9,240, up from #13,006 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hackney, Haringey and Oxford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Braun is 557 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 182.1%.

1881 census count

196

Ranked #13,006

Modern count

553

2016, ranked #9,240

Peak year

2014

557 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Braun had 196 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,006 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 553 in 2016, ranked #9,240.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 213 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Braun surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Braun surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Braun 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 71 #20,875
1861 historical 71 #24,765
1881 historical 196 #13,006
1891 historical 156 #17,842
1901 historical 213 #14,563
1911 historical 206 #14,677
1997 modern 408 #10,844
1998 modern 440 #10,581
1999 modern 455 #10,364
2000 modern 486 #9,837
2001 modern 458 #10,098
2002 modern 483 #9,882
2003 modern 454 #10,222
2004 modern 466 #10,030
2005 modern 459 #10,053
2006 modern 489 #9,633
2007 modern 513 #9,393
2008 modern 512 #9,470
2009 modern 507 #9,743
2010 modern 522 #9,739
2011 modern 546 #9,322
2012 modern 550 #9,167
2013 modern 554 #9,279
2014 modern 557 #9,287
2015 modern 546 #9,370
2016 modern 553 #9,240

Geography

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Where Brauns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Manchester and Portsmouth, Portsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hackney, Haringey, Oxford and Horsham. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hackney 001 Hackney
2 Haringey 029 Haringey
3 Hackney 003 Hackney
4 Oxford 008 Oxford
5 Horsham 010 Horsham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Braun

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Braun

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Braun surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Braun 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Braun 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

Braun is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

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

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Braun 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 Braun 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Braun

Braun is a surname of German origin, derived from the Old High German word "brun" meaning "brown" or "dark-haired." It likely originated as a descriptive nickname referring to someone with dark hair or a tanned complexion.

The surname can be traced back to the 11th century, with early records showing variations in spelling such as Brun, Brune, and Bruyn. One of the earliest known references to the name is in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Brun" and "Brune."

During the Middle Ages, the Braun surname was commonly found in regions of present-day Germany, including Bavaria, Saxony, and the Rhineland. It was also prevalent in parts of Switzerland and Austria, reflecting the widespread use of the German language in those areas.

Notable bearers of the Braun surname include Johannes Braun (1628-1708), a German astronomer and mathematician who made significant contributions to the study of comets and planetary motion. Johann Braun (1590-1668) was a renowned Baroque architect and sculptor who designed several churches and palaces in Germany and Italy.

In the 19th century, Braun became a prominent name in the field of engineering and manufacturing. Karl Braun (1800-1882) established the Braun Company, a leading manufacturer of electrical and mechanical equipment. His grandson, Max Braun (1884-1951), continued the family business and expanded it into a global enterprise.

Another notable figure was Wernher von Braun (1912-1977), a German-American aerospace engineer and space architect. He played a crucial role in the development of rocket technology and was a key figure in the U.S. space program, leading the design and construction of the Saturn V rocket that propelled the Apollo missions to the Moon.

Eva Braun (1912-1945) was perhaps one of the most famous bearers of the surname. She was the longtime companion and eventual wife of Adolf Hitler, the infamous leader of Nazi Germany. Their relationship and her role in Hitler's inner circle have been the subject of extensive historical analysis and speculation.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Braun families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Braun 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. Middlesex leads with 70 Brauns recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.66x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 70 3.66x
Lancashire 36 1.59x
Staffordshire 16 2.48x
Surrey 15 1.61x
Hampshire 11 2.81x
Kent 8 1.23x
Northamptonshire 8 4.45x
Hertfordshire 5 3.79x
Sussex 5 1.55x
Gloucestershire 3 0.80x
Midlothian 3 1.17x
Norfolk 3 1.02x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.56x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.87x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.83x
Cornwall 1 0.46x
Devon 1 0.25x
Dorset 1 0.80x
Essex 1 0.27x
Fife 1 0.88x
Lanarkshire 1 0.16x
Lincolnshire 1 0.33x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.39x
Warwickshire 1 0.21x
Yorkshire 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. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 13 Brauns recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.45x.

Place Total Index
St Pancras London 13 8.45x
Chorlton On Medlock 10 27.75x
St Marylebone London 10 9.80x
Formby 9 350.19x
Wolverhampton 9 18.14x
Chelsea London 8 13.89x
Hampstead London 8 26.87x
Hammerwich 7 760.87x
Croydon 6 11.60x
Manchester 6 5.88x
Wellingborough 6 66.37x
Abbots Langley 5 255.10x
Hackney London 5 4.67x
Islington London 5 2.70x
West Derby 5 7.53x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 10.40x
Westminster St James 4 20.36x
Westminster St John 4 17.18x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 3 2.91x
Kensington London 3 2.82x
Lewisham 3 8.63x
Northwood 3 53.76x
Poplar London 3 8.31x
Preston 3 53.29x
Southampton St Mary 3 12.18x
St George Hanover Square 3 8.91x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 2 5.67x
Christchurch 2 23.53x
Deptford St Paul 2 3.98x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 2 22.68x
Northampton St Giles 2 29.20x
Portsea 2 2.60x
Salford 2 3.00x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 1 3.02x
Alverstoke 1 7.05x
Basford 1 8.42x
Bethnal Green London 1 1.20x
Birmingham 1 0.62x
Camberwell 1 0.82x
Clifton 1 5.27x
Everton 1 1.38x
Falmouth 1 13.05x
Folkestone 1 7.91x
Govan 1 0.65x
Great Grimsby 1 5.15x
Harwich St Nicholas 1 34.36x
Hastings All Sts 1 32.89x
Huddersfield 1 3.62x
Huyton With Roby 1 37.59x
Kilconquhar 1 74.07x
Kingston On Thames 1 4.47x
Lambeth 1 0.60x
Langley Marish 1 70.42x
Lewes All Sts 1 78.13x
Little Walsingham 1 151.52x
Liverpool 1 0.73x
Mile End Old Town London 1 2.46x
Minster In Sheppey 1 9.25x
North Meols 1 4.50x
Paddington London 1 1.42x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 3.26x
Radipole 1 114.94x
Southwark Christchurch 1 11.16x
St Lawrence 1 22.32x
St Luke London 1 3.26x
St Marythe Less 1 135.14x
Walton On Thames 1 23.36x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 8
Elizabeth 5
Kate 3
Louisa 3
Alice 2
Anne 2
Caroline 2
Catherine 2
Ellen 2
Ida 2
Jane 2
Julia 2
Louise 2
Marie 2
Sarah 2
Susannah 2
Alinie 1
Amelia 1
Amy 1
Annie 1
B. 1
Beatrice 1
Bessie 1
Camille 1
Charlotte 1
Christine 1
Elisabeth 1
Eliza 1
Elizh. 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Eva 1
Fanny 1
Franceline 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Gertrude 1
Harriet 1
Helena 1
Helene 1
Henriette 1
Hilda 1
Isaline 1
Katarine 1
Katherine 1
Lillian 1
Lilly 1
Margaret 1
Margret 1
Vera 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Charles 9
Henry 6
George 5
James 5
John 5
William 5
Edward 4
Frank 4
Thomas 4
Frederick 3
Harry 3
Joseph 3
Arthur 2
Carl 2
Ernest 2
Jacob 2
Johannes 2
Louis 2
Richard 2
Adam 1
Alfred 1
Alphons 1
Ceasar 1
Chas. 1
Dahames 1
Felix 1
Ferdinand 1
Frann 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Herman 1
Isedor 1
Isidor 1
Jakob 1
Jean 1
Leonard 1
P. 1
Phoeby 1
Rudolp 1
Sam 1
Samuel 1
Spencer 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Braun surname: questions and answers

How common was the Braun surname in 1881?

In 1881, 196 people were recorded with the Braun surname. That placed it at #13,006 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Braun surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 553 in 2016. That gives Braun a modern rank of #9,240.

What does the Braun surname mean?

A German and Jewish surname referring to someone with brown hair or a dark complexion.

What does the Braun map show?

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