UK surname
A surname derived from an occupation involving breaking materials or objects.
In the 1881 census there were 57 people recorded with the Breaker surname, ranking it #25,575 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 84, ranked #32,726, down from #25,575 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Newchurch and South Stoneham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Breaker is 104 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 47.4%.
1881 census count
57
Ranked #25,575
Modern count
84
2016, ranked #32,726
Peak year
1911
104 bearers
Map years
1
1911 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Breaker surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Breaker 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 | 54 | #23,577 |
| 1861 | historical | 62 | #26,041 |
| 1881 | historical | 57 | #25,575 |
| 1891 | historical | 72 | #27,804 |
| 1901 | historical | 74 | #25,958 |
| 1911 | historical | 104 | #22,209 |
| 1997 | modern | 77 | #29,874 |
| 1998 | modern | 81 | #29,849 |
| 1999 | modern | 76 | #30,546 |
| 2000 | modern | 80 | #30,139 |
| 2001 | modern | 79 | #30,065 |
| 2002 | modern | 81 | #30,294 |
| 2003 | modern | 81 | #30,311 |
| 2004 | modern | 83 | #30,352 |
| 2005 | modern | 83 | #30,486 |
| 2006 | modern | 78 | #31,385 |
| 2007 | modern | 86 | #30,808 |
| 2008 | modern | 89 | #30,713 |
| 2009 | modern | 93 | #30,682 |
| 2010 | modern | 93 | #31,239 |
| 2011 | modern | 87 | #31,905 |
| 2012 | modern | 82 | #32,701 |
| 2013 | modern | 82 | #32,903 |
| 2014 | modern | 79 | #33,205 |
| 2015 | modern | 81 | #32,975 |
| 2016 | modern | 84 | #32,726 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Newchurch, South Stoneham, Millbrook and Southampton St Mary. 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 | Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff | Gloucestershire |
| 2 | Newchurch | Hampshire |
| 3 | South Stoneham | Hampshire |
| 4 | Millbrook | Hampshire |
| 5 | Southampton St Mary | Hampshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Breaker 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 Breaker, 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 Breaker surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Breaker 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, Breaker 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 Breaker is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Breaker, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname BREAKER is of English origin, emerging during the late medieval period. It likely derived from the Old English word "brecan," meaning to break or shatter. This name may have initially referred to someone who worked as a breaker of flax or hemp, a crucial step in the production of linen and ropes.
Early records of the name BREAKER can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which mention a William le Brekere. The surname also appears in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield from 1315, with an entry for a John Brekere.
In the 14th century, the BREAKER name was particularly prevalent in the counties of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire. This may have been due to the importance of the textile industry in these regions, where the occupation of breaking flax or hemp was common.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the BREAKER surname is found in the Calendars of Wills from the Court of Husting, London, dated 1363, which mentions a Robert Brekere.
During the 16th century, the BREAKER name was sometimes spelled as "Breker" or "Breiker," reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling practices of the time.
Notable individuals with the BREAKER surname include:
1. John Breaker (c. 1550-1610), an English sculptor and woodcarver known for his intricate work on various churches and cathedrals.
2. Thomas Breaker (1631-1696), a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol, England.
3. Elizabeth Breaker (1675-1753), an English writer and poet, whose collection of sonnets, "Nature's Hymns," was published posthumously in 1760.
4. William Breaker (1783-1865), a Scottish inventor and engineer, best known for his contributions to the development of the steam engine.
5. Alice Breaker (1864-1942), an English educator and suffragette, who played a significant role in the campaign for women's voting rights in the early 20th century.
While the BREAKER surname may have originated from a specific occupation, it has since become a widespread name, representing a rich heritage and history spanning several centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Breaker 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. Hampshire leads with 38 Breakers recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.35x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Hampshire | 38 | 33.35x |
| Yorkshire | 6 | 1.09x |
| Middlesex | 4 | 0.72x |
| Westmorland | 3 | 24.55x |
| Leicestershire | 2 | 3.24x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.86x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.15x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 1.21x |
| Sussex | 1 | 1.07x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Milton in Hampshire leads with 10 Breakers recorded in 1881 and an index of 3571.43x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Milton | 10 | 3571.43x |
| Southampton St Mary | 9 | 125.52x |
| Carisbrooke | 8 | 506.33x |
| Sculcoates | 6 | 68.73x |
| Millbrook | 4 | 139.37x |
| Uxbridge | 4 | 625.00x |
| Undermilbeck | 3 | 750.00x |
| Hordle | 2 | 1000.00x |
| Leicester St Margaret | 2 | 13.31x |
| Newport | 2 | 322.58x |
| Sway | 2 | 1333.33x |
| Lancaster | 1 | 25.45x |
| Southampton All Sts | 1 | 51.02x |
| Stoke | 1 | 212.77x |
| Ticehurst | 1 | 175.44x |
| Westgate | 1 | 19.53x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Breaker 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 Breaker 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 Breaker households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 14 |
| Agr Labr | 3 |
| Clerk | 2 |
| Coachman | 2 |
| Agricul Laborer | 1 |
| Attendent (Dom) | 1 |
| Chelsea Pensioner & C | 1 |
| Civil Engineer | 1 |
| Domc Genr Serv | 1 |
| Farm Bailiff | 1 |
| Farm Servant | 1 |
| General Laborer | 1 |
| Laborer General | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Letter Carrier (C S M) | 1 |
| Mariner | 1 |
| Milliner | 1 |
| Railway Fireman | 1 |
| Railway Firemans Wife | 1 |
| Servant Domestic | 1 |
| Shoe Rivetter | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 57 people were recorded with the Breaker surname. That placed it at #25,575 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 84 in 2016. That gives Breaker a modern rank of #32,726.
A surname derived from an occupation involving breaking materials or objects.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Breaker 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.