UK surname
A surname derived from the Old English word for bread, likely referring to a baker or someone involved in the bread trade.
In the 1881 census there were 62 people recorded with the Bread surname, ranking it #24,843 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 28, ranked #36,125, down from #24,843 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Mottram-in-Longdendale, Lambeth and St Marylebone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bread is 331 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 54.8%.
1881 census count
62
Ranked #24,843
Modern count
28
2016, ranked #36,125
Peak year
1861
331 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Bread surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Bread surname density by area, 1861 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 | 59 | #22,756 |
| 1861 | historical | 331 | #7,706 |
| 1881 | historical | 62 | #24,843 |
| 1891 | historical | 75 | #27,414 |
| 1901 | historical | 43 | #29,380 |
| 1911 | historical | 58 | #27,001 |
| 1997 | modern | 2 | #38,557 |
| 1998 | modern | 3 | #38,304 |
| 1999 | modern | 3 | #38,318 |
| 2000 | modern | 4 | #38,004 |
| 2001 | modern | 3 | #38,091 |
| 2002 | modern | 1 | #38,709 |
| 2004 | modern | 1 | #38,771 |
| 2005 | modern | 1 | #38,814 |
| 2006 | modern | 1 | #38,879 |
| 2007 | modern | 3 | #38,372 |
| 2008 | modern | 5 | #38,027 |
| 2009 | modern | 7 | #37,816 |
| 2010 | modern | 6 | #38,024 |
| 2011 | modern | 10 | #37,504 |
| 2012 | modern | 20 | #36,570 |
| 2013 | modern | 21 | #36,561 |
| 2014 | modern | 22 | #36,496 |
| 2015 | modern | 25 | #36,297 |
| 2016 | modern | 28 | #36,125 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Mottram-in-Longdendale, Lambeth, St Marylebone, Almondbury and St Kew. 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 | Mottram-in-Longdendale | Lancashire |
| 2 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 3 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | Almondbury | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 5 | St Kew | Cornwall |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Bread 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 Bread, 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 Bread surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Bread 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, Bread 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 Bread is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Bread, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname "BREAD" originates from England, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "bread," which was a common occupation or trade name given to bakers or those involved in the production or selling of bread.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire, dated 1273, where a William Bred is mentioned. The surname was also spelled as "Bred" or "Brede" in various historical records.
The name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1301, which lists a John le Brede. This variation of the name, with the addition of the prefix "le," was a common practice in medieval times to indicate a person's occupation or trade.
In the 14th century, the surname is found in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield, where a Richard Brede is recorded in 1317. This suggests that the name was widespread in different regions of England during this period.
One notable individual bearing the surname "BREAD" was Sir John Bread (1495-1564), a prominent English merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers in London. He served as Sheriff of London in 1552 and is known for his contributions to the city's trade and commerce.
Another historical figure was Thomas Bread (1610-1671), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Cripplegate Church in London. He published several religious works, including "The Doctrine of the Sabbath" in 1655.
In the 18th century, William Bread (1720-1791) was a notable architect and surveyor from Somerset, England. He designed several churches and buildings in the region, including the parish church of St. Mary in Redcliffe.
The surname also appears in Scotland, with records of a John Brede mentioned in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in 1456. This suggests that the name had spread beyond England by the 15th century.
Finally, one of the earliest known instances of the surname in North America is recorded in Virginia in the late 17th century, where a Thomas Bread is mentioned in a land grant from 1695.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bread 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. Middlesex leads with 13 Breads recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.15x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 13 | 2.15x |
| Essex | 11 | 9.22x |
| Norfolk | 10 | 10.76x |
| Devon | 4 | 3.18x |
| Durham | 4 | 2.22x |
| Surrey | 4 | 1.36x |
| Angus | 3 | 5.36x |
| Worcestershire | 3 | 3.80x |
| Bedfordshire | 2 | 6.39x |
| Cornwall | 2 | 2.92x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.84x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.14x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 1.23x |
| Northamptonshire | 1 | 1.76x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.49x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.98x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chelmsford in Essex leads with 8 Breads recorded in 1881 and an index of 390.24x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Chelmsford | 8 | 390.24x |
| Diss | 6 | 750.00x |
| Islington London | 6 | 10.24x |
| Healeyfield | 4 | 5714.29x |
| Liff Benvie | 3 | 35.29x |
| Stourbridge | 3 | 147.78x |
| Bideford | 2 | 148.15x |
| Hendon | 2 | 91.74x |
| Houghton Regis | 2 | 400.00x |
| Norwich St Paul | 2 | 357.14x |
| St Neot | 2 | 740.74x |
| St Pancras London | 2 | 4.11x |
| Steeple Bumpstead | 2 | 909.09x |
| Weybridge | 2 | 317.46x |
| Cheltenham | 1 | 10.93x |
| Eastbourne | 1 | 21.32x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 1 | 3.07x |
| Hackney London | 1 | 2.95x |
| Hulme | 1 | 6.68x |
| Kingsthorpe | 1 | 158.73x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 1.90x |
| Milton Abbott | 1 | 555.56x |
| Northam | 1 | 108.70x |
| Norwich St Saviour | 1 | 303.03x |
| Penge | 1 | 25.91x |
| Roydon | 1 | 555.56x |
| Smallburgh | 1 | 909.09x |
| St Bride London | 1 | 285.71x |
| St George Hanover Square | 1 | 9.39x |
| Stoke Upon Trent | 1 | 4.62x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Bread 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 Bread 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 Bread households.
FAQ
In 1881, 62 people were recorded with the Bread surname. That placed it at #24,843 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 28 in 2016. That gives Bread a modern rank of #36,125.
A surname derived from the Old English word for bread, likely referring to a baker or someone involved in the bread trade.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bread 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.