NameCensus.

UK surname

Breakell

An English surname derived from a place name or personal name, with possible meanings like 'dweller by the brook' or 'dweller by the brook valley.'

In the 1881 census there were 263 people recorded with the Breakell surname, ranking it #10,692 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 288, ranked #15,180, down from #10,692 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Preston and Blackburn. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Preston, Gwynedd and Rutland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Breakell is 416 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 9.5%.

1881 census count

263

Ranked #10,692

Modern count

288

2016, ranked #15,180

Peak year

1911

416 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Breakell had 263 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,692 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 288 in 2016, ranked #15,180.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 416 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Breakell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Breakell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Breakell 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 96 #17,594
1861 historical 183 #12,903
1881 historical 263 #10,692
1891 historical 307 #10,914
1901 historical 334 #10,818
1911 historical 416 #9,028
1997 modern 321 #12,941
1998 modern 328 #13,100
1999 modern 319 #13,420
2000 modern 309 #13,651
2001 modern 303 #13,645
2002 modern 321 #13,378
2003 modern 318 #13,291
2004 modern 321 #13,284
2005 modern 308 #13,590
2006 modern 302 #13,863
2007 modern 306 #13,862
2008 modern 304 #14,000
2009 modern 306 #14,218
2010 modern 307 #14,485
2011 modern 309 #14,322
2012 modern 295 #14,670
2013 modern 300 #14,744
2014 modern 297 #14,943
2015 modern 288 #15,190
2016 modern 288 #15,180

Geography

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Where Breakells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Preston, Blackburn, Penwortham and Bolton-le-Moors. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Preston, Gwynedd, Rutland, Ribble Valley and South Kesteven. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Preston Lancashire
3 Blackburn Lancashire
4 Penwortham Lancashire
5 Bolton-le-Moors Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Preston 007 Preston
2 Gwynedd 015 Gwynedd
3 Rutland 005 Rutland
4 Ribble Valley 007 Ribble Valley
5 South Kesteven 016 South Kesteven

Forenames

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First names often paired with Breakell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Breakell

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Breakell 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

Breakell 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

Breakell falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Breakell

The surname Breakell originates from England and traces its roots back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "bræc," meaning "newly cultivated land" or "clearing in a forest." This suggests that the name may have been initially used to refer to someone who lived or worked on such land.

In its earliest recorded instances, the name appeared as "de Brakenhull" or "de Brakenhall" in various medieval records from the county of Lancashire. These spellings likely refer to a place name, indicating that the surname initially denoted someone who hailed from a specific location, possibly a farmstead or settlement.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was John de Brakenhull, who was mentioned in the Lancashire Assize Rolls of 1246. This record provides valuable insight into the name's historical presence and evolution over time.

The Breakell surname has undergone various spelling variations throughout its history, including Brackenhall, Brackenhill, Brakenhall, and Brakenhull, among others. These variations reflect the fluidity of spelling conventions in earlier periods and the influence of regional dialects.

Notably, the name Breakell appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landowners and tenants in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This early mention highlights the name's long-standing presence in English history.

Notable figures bearing the Breakell surname include:

1. William Breakell (c. 1550-1622), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Rector of Loughborough and the President of St John's College, Oxford. 2. Thomas Breakell (1612-1690), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Shaftesbury in the 17th century. 3. Elizabeth Breakell (1670-1745), a wealthy landowner and philanthropist from Yorkshire, known for her charitable contributions to various causes. 4. John Breakell (1785-1856), a British naval officer who participated in the Napoleonic Wars and the War of 1812. 5. Robert Breakell (1892-1967), a renowned British architect who designed several notable buildings in London and the surrounding areas.

While the Breakell surname may not be among the most common in the present day, its historical significance and longstanding presence in England's records attest to its enduring legacy as a part of the country's rich onomastic heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Breakell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Breakell 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. Lancashire leads with 240 Breakells recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.91x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 240 7.91x
Yorkshire 7 0.28x
Essex 5 0.99x
Northumberland 5 1.32x
Surrey 3 0.24x
Cheshire 1 0.18x
Pembrokeshire 1 1.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Preston in Lancashire leads with 87 Breakells recorded in 1881 and an index of 107.24x.

Place Total Index
Preston 87 107.24x
Blackburn 18 22.31x
Fishwick 15 797.87x
Everton 14 14.49x
Broughton In Salford 10 36.06x
Royton 10 107.76x
Salford 9 10.09x
Little Bolton 8 20.52x
Prestwich 8 105.68x
Bradleys Both 7 1555.56x
Fulwood 7 213.41x
Thornton In Fylde 7 105.58x
Garstang 6 882.35x
Newcastle On Tyne St 5 25.37x
Oldham 5 5.11x
West Ham 5 4.49x
Bootle Cum Linacre 4 16.61x
Failsworth 4 57.64x
Barnes 3 56.93x
Liverpool 3 1.63x
Openshaw 3 21.13x
Westhoughton 3 37.08x
Clifton Cum Salwick 2 540.54x
Farington 2 112.99x
Longton 2 157.48x
Tonge 2 31.45x
Billinge Higher End 1 81.30x
Broughton In Preston 1 192.31x
Cheadle 1 9.29x
Chorley 1 5.88x
Hubberston 1 84.03x
Knowsley 1 90.91x
Lea Ashton Ingol 1 49.75x
Manchester 1 0.73x
Orrell 1 26.53x
Penwortham 1 69.44x
Walton Le Dale 1 12.27x
Winstanley 1 208.33x
Woodplumpton 1 92.59x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 13
Sarah 13
Mary 12
Jane 9
Margaret 9
Alice 8
Ann 7
Ellen 7
Rebecca 4
Annie 3
Catherine 3
Eliza 3
Emma 3
Ada 2
Agnes 2
Clara 2
Edith 2
Eleanor 2
Esther 2
Hannah 2
Isabella 2
Maria 2
Ruth 2
Beatrice 1
Betsy 1
Betty 1
Catherina 1
Cecilia 1
Charlotte 1
Dorothy 1
Elizth. 1
Florence 1
Geraldine 1
Infant 1
Isabela 1
Kate 1
Lavinia 1
Lilly 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Maggie 1
Margt.Ann 1
Martha 1
Minnie 1
Mry 1
Nancy 1
Rachel 1
Rose 1
Sushannah 1
Una 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Breakell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Breakell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 263 people were recorded with the Breakell surname. That placed it at #10,692 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Breakell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 288 in 2016. That gives Breakell a modern rank of #15,180.

What does the Breakell surname mean?

An English surname derived from a place name or personal name, with possible meanings like 'dweller by the brook' or 'dweller by the brook valley.'

What does the Breakell map show?

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