NameCensus.

UK surname

Braund

An English habitational surname derived from the town of Braund in Somerset.

In the 1881 census there were 628 people recorded with the Braund surname, ranking it #5,639 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 721, ranked #7,538, down from #5,639 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Bideford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Torridge and North Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Braund is 905 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 14.8%.

1881 census count

628

Ranked #5,639

Modern count

721

2016, ranked #7,538

Peak year

1911

905 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Braund had 628 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,639 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 721 in 2016, ranked #7,538.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 905 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Braund surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Braund surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Braund 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 431 #5,681
1861 historical 339 #7,522
1881 historical 628 #5,639
1891 historical 718 #5,493
1901 historical 844 #5,394
1911 historical 905 #4,931
1997 modern 762 #6,796
1998 modern 795 #6,779
1999 modern 787 #6,888
2000 modern 778 #6,925
2001 modern 743 #7,032
2002 modern 765 #7,011
2003 modern 727 #7,169
2004 modern 701 #7,391
2005 modern 711 #7,237
2006 modern 711 #7,269
2007 modern 716 #7,302
2008 modern 694 #7,538
2009 modern 716 #7,514
2010 modern 736 #7,479
2011 modern 738 #7,405
2012 modern 702 #7,589
2013 modern 712 #7,632
2014 modern 732 #7,524
2015 modern 723 #7,537
2016 modern 721 #7,538

Geography

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Where Braunds are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Bideford, Hartland and Landulph. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Torridge and North Devon. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Bideford Devon
4 Hartland Devon
5 Landulph Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Torridge 004 Torridge
2 Torridge 005 Torridge
3 Torridge 003 Torridge
4 North Devon 003 North Devon
5 North Devon 001 North Devon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Braund

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Braund

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Braund is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Braund is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Braund falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Braund

The surname Braund originated in England, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 12th century. The name is believed to have derived from the Old English words "brun" and "dun," which together signify a person who lived near a brown hill or a brown-colored area.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a record of landowners in England after the Norman Conquest, the name Braund is mentioned in Devonshire, indicating the presence of families with this surname in the region during that time. The earliest documented instance of the name is found in the Cartulary of Buckfast Abbey, where a Ricardus Braund is listed as a witness to a deed in 1173.

By the 13th century, the name had spread to other parts of England, with various spellings appearing in historical records, such as Braunde, Braunnd, and Brond. One notable figure was John Braund, a wealthy merchant from Bristol who lived during the reign of King Edward III (1312-1377).

In the 16th century, the name was particularly prevalent in the county of Somerset, where several Braund families owned properties and held positions of influence. One such individual was Robert Braund (c. 1520-1585), who served as a Member of Parliament for Bridgwater in 1558 and 1559.

During the 17th century, the Braund surname gained recognition in the field of agriculture. Thomas Braund (1617-1692), a farmer from Dorset, was known for his innovative methods and wrote several influential treatises on husbandry.

As the centuries progressed, the Braund name continued to appear in various regions of England, with some families migrating to other parts of the British Isles and beyond. One notable figure was Sir William Braund (1775-1855), a British naval officer who played a crucial role in the Battle of Trafalgar during the Napoleonic Wars.

Another prominent individual was Reverend George Braund (1811-1889), an English clergyman and author who served as the Vicar of Windrush and wrote extensively on religious and historical topics.

Overall, the surname Braund has a long and rich history, with its origins rooted in the English countryside and its bearers leaving their mark across various fields, including commerce, agriculture, politics, and military service.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Braund families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Braund 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. Devon leads with 366 Braunds recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.70x.

County Total Index
Devon 366 28.70x
Cornwall 64 9.23x
Surrey 28 0.94x
Middlesex 25 0.41x
Gloucestershire 21 1.75x
Northumberland 17 1.87x
Somerset 16 1.62x
Kent 15 0.72x
Hertfordshire 14 3.32x
Warwickshire 11 0.71x
Glamorgan 8 0.75x
Lancashire 8 0.11x
Staffordshire 7 0.34x
Worcestershire 7 0.88x
Bedfordshire 6 1.89x
Sussex 4 0.39x
Essex 3 0.25x
Hampshire 3 0.24x
Leicestershire 3 0.44x
Cheshire 1 0.07x
Royal Navy 1 1.37x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Parkham in Devon leads with 53 Braunds recorded in 1881 and an index of 3154.76x.

Place Total Index
Parkham 53 3154.76x
Northam 31 333.69x
Landulph 23 2169.81x
Woolfardisworthy 21 1135.14x
Holsworthy 19 527.78x
Bideford 17 124.45x
Cramlington 16 132.89x
Barnstaple 14 69.97x
Hartland 14 352.64x
Tavistock 13 89.47x
Ilfracombe 12 91.39x
Plumstead 12 17.22x
Bristol St George 11 19.79x
Newington 11 4.86x
Huntspill 10 247.52x
Aston 9 2.12x
Ware 9 74.38x
Battersea 8 3.55x
Exminster 8 174.29x
Fremington 8 308.88x
Holy Trinity 8 298.51x
Pyworthy 8 754.72x
St Budeaux 8 201.51x
St Mary Magdalene 8 156.86x
Week St Mary 8 733.95x
Bradford 7 886.08x
Bradworthy 7 376.34x
Kingsbridge 7 218.07x
Milton Damerel 7 700.00x
Monkleigh 7 619.47x
Mortlake 7 52.63x
Plymouth St Andrew 7 7.13x
Tormoham 7 12.98x
Virginstow 7 2800.00x
Clerkenwell London 6 4.15x
Clifton 6 9.88x
Colebrooke 6 402.68x
Dunstable 6 61.54x
East Stonehouse 6 23.89x
Kings Norton 6 8.36x
Tiverton 6 27.31x
Filleigh 5 704.23x
Harborne 5 7.54x
Hitchin 5 26.23x
Lanteglos 5 155.76x
Lifton 5 162.87x
Islington London 4 0.67x
Nailsea 4 102.56x
Petrockstow 4 373.83x
Sheepwash 4 459.77x
St Neot 4 146.52x
Stratton 4 106.38x
Todmorden Walsden 4 20.54x
Willesden 4 6.93x
Ashwater 3 165.75x
Barrow Upon Soar 3 53.48x
Boyton 3 375.00x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 3 2.65x
Buckland Filleigh 3 750.00x
Cowbridge 3 116.73x
East Ham 3 13.37x
Exeter Heavitree 3 31.55x
Exeter St Sidwell 3 10.27x
Lewes St John Southover 3 43.23x
Neath 3 13.82x
Stoke Damerel 3 3.36x
Stowford 3 365.85x
Thrushelton 3 333.33x
Whitstone 3 348.84x
Withington 3 12.81x
Birmingham 2 0.39x
Black Torrington 2 108.70x
Bromley 2 6.28x
Handsworth 2 3.92x
Kensington London 2 0.59x
Old Tower Without London 2 869.57x
South Stoneham 2 7.34x
St Botolph Aldersgate 2 28.49x
Sutcombe 2 229.89x
West Putford 2 408.16x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

FAQ

Braund surname: questions and answers

How common was the Braund surname in 1881?

In 1881, 628 people were recorded with the Braund surname. That placed it at #5,639 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Braund surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 721 in 2016. That gives Braund a modern rank of #7,538.

What does the Braund surname mean?

An English habitational surname derived from the town of Braund in Somerset.

What does the Braund map show?

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