UK surname
From an English place name meaning "broad town," referring to a settlement located on a wide road or open area.
In the 1881 census there were 93 people recorded with the Brayton surname, ranking it #20,593 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 79, ranked #33,100, down from #20,593 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Auckland St Andrew, Wigan and Burgh-on-the-Sands. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brayton is 121 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 15.1%.
1881 census count
93
Ranked #20,593
Modern count
79
2016, ranked #33,100
Peak year
1901
121 bearers
Map years
4
1861 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Brayton surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Brayton surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 86 | #18,820 |
| 1861 | historical | 108 | #19,856 |
| 1881 | historical | 93 | #20,593 |
| 1891 | historical | 118 | #21,540 |
| 1901 | historical | 121 | #20,444 |
| 1911 | historical | 107 | #21,842 |
| 1997 | modern | 79 | #29,672 |
| 1998 | modern | 89 | #29,026 |
| 1999 | modern | 90 | #29,056 |
| 2000 | modern | 86 | #29,484 |
| 2001 | modern | 87 | #29,161 |
| 2002 | modern | 87 | #29,644 |
| 2003 | modern | 84 | #29,978 |
| 2004 | modern | 83 | #30,352 |
| 2005 | modern | 76 | #31,267 |
| 2006 | modern | 69 | #32,343 |
| 2007 | modern | 74 | #32,190 |
| 2008 | modern | 69 | #32,962 |
| 2009 | modern | 73 | #32,923 |
| 2010 | modern | 76 | #33,009 |
| 2011 | modern | 78 | #32,819 |
| 2012 | modern | 77 | #33,124 |
| 2013 | modern | 78 | #33,215 |
| 2014 | modern | 76 | #33,423 |
| 2015 | modern | 78 | #33,210 |
| 2016 | modern | 79 | #33,100 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Auckland St Andrew, Wigan, Burgh-on-the-Sands, Moresby and Wetheral. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Auckland St Andrew | Durham |
| 2 | Wigan | Lancashire |
| 3 | Burgh-on-the-Sands | Cumberland |
| 4 | Moresby | Cumberland |
| 5 | Wetheral | Cumberland |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Brayton surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Brayton, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Brayton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Brayton household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Brayton is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Brayton is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Brayton, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Brayton is believed to have originated in England, with its roots dating back to the early medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name, derived from the place name Broughton, which means "the fortified farm" or "the farm settlement" in Old English.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Brayton can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Broctone" and is associated with various locations across England, including Broughton in Staffordshire, Broughton in Buckinghamshire, and Broughton in Oxfordshire.
During the 13th and 14th centuries, the name Brayton began to appear more frequently in historical records, often with slight variations in spelling, such as Braiton, Braytun, and Braytown. This was a common occurrence in those times, as standardized spelling had not yet been established.
Notable individuals who bore the surname Brayton throughout history include Sir Thomas Brayton (c. 1490 - 1552), an English landowner and member of the gentry who served as a Justice of the Peace in Northamptonshire. Another prominent figure was John Brayton (1615 - 1692), a Puritan minister and one of the founders of the town of Braintree, Massachusetts, in the early days of the American colonies.
In the 17th century, the name Brayton gained recognition with the birth of Thomas Brayton (1632 - 1689), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works, including "A Defence of the Doctrine of Justification by Faith Alone" and "A Treatise on the Sacrament of Baptism."
Moving into the 18th century, the Brayton name was associated with William Brayton (1721 - 1798), a British merchant and slave trader who was involved in the triangular trade between England, Africa, and the West Indies. He amassed considerable wealth through this controversial trade.
Another notable individual bearing the Brayton surname was George Brayton (1818 - 1892), an American mechanical engineer and inventor. He is best known for his contributions to the development of the Brayton cycle, which is a thermodynamic cycle used in various engines and power plants.
These examples illustrate the rich history and diverse backgrounds of individuals who have carried the surname Brayton over the centuries, spanning various professions and geographic locations.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brayton surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Cumberland leads with 48 Braytons recorded in 1881 and an index of 60.81x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cumberland | 48 | 60.81x |
| Lancashire | 19 | 1.75x |
| Durham | 11 | 4.03x |
| Staffordshire | 6 | 1.94x |
| Cheshire | 2 | 0.99x |
| Middlesex | 2 | 0.22x |
| Somerset | 2 | 1.36x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.22x |
| Flintshire | 1 | 4.06x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 9.16x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wetheral in Cumberland leads with 16 Braytons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1523.81x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Wetheral | 16 | 1523.81x |
| Caldewgate | 11 | 254.63x |
| Beaumont | 7 | 10000.00x |
| East Thickley | 7 | 1272.73x |
| Hindley | 6 | 129.31x |
| Kirkdale | 6 | 32.79x |
| Lapley | 6 | 2608.70x |
| Burgh By Sands | 4 | 1538.46x |
| Darlington | 4 | 37.99x |
| Kirkandrews Upon Eden | 4 | 8000.00x |
| Toxteth Park | 4 | 10.86x |
| Moresby | 3 | 1000.00x |
| Bishops Lydeard | 2 | 526.32x |
| Marple | 2 | 143.88x |
| Allhallows | 1 | 434.78x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 1.96x |
| Knaresborough | 1 | 69.93x |
| Manchester | 1 | 2.04x |
| Mold | 1 | 44.64x |
| North Meols | 1 | 9.39x |
| Plumbland | 1 | 500.00x |
| Reddish | 1 | 66.67x |
| Shoreditch London | 1 | 2.52x |
| Soothill | 1 | 30.49x |
| St Cuthbert W O | 1 | 25.97x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Brayton surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Brayton surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Brayton households.
FAQ
In 1881, 93 people were recorded with the Brayton surname. That placed it at #20,593 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 79 in 2016. That gives Brayton a modern rank of #33,100.
From an English place name meaning "broad town," referring to a settlement located on a wide road or open area.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Brayton bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.