NameCensus.

UK surname

Brazell

An English occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of coal or charcoal.

In the 1881 census there were 159 people recorded with the Brazell surname, ranking it #14,935 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 223, ranked #18,222, down from #14,935 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ickford, Waterstock, London parishes and Llanguick. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hartlepool.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brazell is 353 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 40.3%.

1881 census count

159

Ranked #14,935

Modern count

223

2016, ranked #18,222

Peak year

1911

353 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brazell had 159 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,935 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 223 in 2016, ranked #18,222.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 353 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Brazell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brazell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Brazell 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 68 #21,302
1861 historical 78 #23,836
1881 historical 159 #14,935
1891 historical 207 #14,546
1901 historical 280 #12,193
1911 historical 353 #10,212
1997 modern 245 #15,483
1998 modern 254 #15,508
1999 modern 258 #15,467
2000 modern 247 #15,864
2001 modern 244 #15,753
2002 modern 255 #15,599
2003 modern 243 #15,911
2004 modern 241 #16,086
2005 modern 224 #16,876
2006 modern 221 #17,149
2007 modern 232 #16,795
2008 modern 224 #17,337
2009 modern 221 #17,848
2010 modern 215 #18,551
2011 modern 226 #17,792
2012 modern 234 #17,291
2013 modern 228 #17,864
2014 modern 229 #17,925
2015 modern 227 #17,941
2016 modern 223 #18,222

Geography

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Where Brazells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ickford, Waterstock, London parishes, Llanguick and Chinnor. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hartlepool. 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 Ickford, Waterstock Oxfordshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Llanguick Glamorganshire
5 Chinnor Buckinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hartlepool 012 Hartlepool
2 Hartlepool 007 Hartlepool
3 Hartlepool 005 Hartlepool
4 Hartlepool 008 Hartlepool
5 Hartlepool 010 Hartlepool

Forenames

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First names often paired with Brazell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Brazell

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Brazell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Brazell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Brazell 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

Brazell is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Brazell 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 Brazell 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 Brazell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Brazell

The surname Brazell is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name, derived from a place name referring to a broad clearing or dell. The name is likely derived from the Old English words 'brad' meaning broad and 'dell' meaning valley or hollow.

One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'Bradele' in Nottinghamshire. This suggests that the name was already well-established in certain regions of England by the late 11th century.

Over time, the name evolved into various spellings, including Bradeley, Bradeleigh, Bradeley, and eventually Brazell. These variations reflect regional dialects and the influence of scribes who recorded the name phonetically.

In the 13th century, records show a Richard de Bradeleye holding lands in Staffordshire. This indicates that individuals bearing the name had achieved some social status and landholdings during this period.

One notable figure with this surname was Sir John Brazell, a member of the English Parliament who lived from 1550 to 1624. He represented the borough of Southwark and was known for his involvement in local politics and governance.

Another prominent individual was Thomas Brazell, born in 1652, who served as the Chief Justice of the Bahamas in the late 17th century. His tenure was marked by efforts to establish a more structured legal system in the British colony.

In the 18th century, Samuel Brazell (1716-1798) was a celebrated English architect and builder. He was responsible for designing and constructing several notable buildings, including St. Paul's Church in Deptford.

Moving into the 19th century, John Brazell (1783-1868) was a successful businessman and philanthropist from Liverpool. He made significant contributions to the city's development and supported various charitable causes.

Finally, one of the more recent individuals with this surname was William Brazell (1913-2001), a British author and historian who wrote extensively about the history and culture of the English countryside.

These examples illustrate the widespread presence of the Brazell surname across different regions of England and its endurance over several centuries, with individuals from this family line making notable contributions in various fields.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Brazell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brazell 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. Oxfordshire leads with 28 Brazells recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.23x.

County Total Index
Oxfordshire 28 29.23x
Buckinghamshire 26 27.73x
Glamorgan 20 7.41x
Middlesex 20 1.29x
Durham 14 3.03x
Surrey 13 1.72x
Norfolk 12 5.03x
Carmarthenshire 9 13.77x
Gloucestershire 6 1.97x
Lancashire 6 0.33x
Yorkshire 3 0.20x
Berkshire 1 0.86x
Dorset 1 0.98x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ickford in Oxfordshire leads with 19 Brazells recorded in 1881 and an index of 9500.00x.

Place Total Index
Ickford 19 9500.00x
Aylesbury 14 337.35x
Stranton 14 90.15x
Penderry 10 2083.33x
Bledlow 9 1578.95x
Chinnor 9 1363.64x
Battersea 7 12.27x
Chelsea London 7 14.98x
Llanguick 7 144.63x
Llanelly 6 40.76x
Norwich St Michael At 6 434.78x
Southwark St George Martyr 6 19.22x
Cheltenham 5 21.30x
St Pancras London 5 4.01x
St Anne Soho London 4 45.15x
Clase 3 29.88x
Hammersmith London 3 7.85x
Leeds 3 3.46x
Llangadock 3 166.67x
Norwich St Peter 3 191.08x
Toxteth Park 3 4.81x
Liverpool 2 1.79x
Norwich St Clement 2 72.46x
Shabbington 2 1052.63x
Bootle Cum Linacre 1 6.84x
Horfield 1 32.68x
Norwich St James 1 53.48x
Portland 1 18.28x
St Marylebone London 1 1.21x
Tilehurst 1 42.55x
Wycombe 1 14.31x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ellen 6
Mary 6
Elizabeth 5
Margaret 5
Sarah 5
Ann 4
Alice 3
Bessie 3
Emma 3
Kate 3
Louisa 3
Annie 2
Bertha 2
Charlotte 2
Emily 2
Hannah 2
Jane 2
Martha 2
Rachel 2
Agnes 1
Amelia 1
Angharad 1
Anna 1
Beatrice 1
Betrice 1
Caroline 1
Clara 1
Daisy 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Hellen 1
Katie 1
Lettey 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 14
William 8
Thomas 6
George 5
David 4
Joseph 4
Arthur 3
Henry 3
Herbert 3
Walter 3
Charles 2
Edward 2
Harry 2
James 2
Richard 2
Robert 2
Ambrose 1
Christopher 1
Frederick 1
Fredrick 1
Laban 1
Luies 1
Michael 1
Pat 1
Percival 1
Rich. 1
Richd. 1
Samuel 1
Sidney 1
Tom 1
W. 1

FAQ

Brazell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brazell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 159 people were recorded with the Brazell surname. That placed it at #14,935 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brazell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 223 in 2016. That gives Brazell a modern rank of #18,222.

What does the Brazell surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of coal or charcoal.

What does the Brazell map show?

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