NameCensus.

UK surname

Breakey

A surname possibly derived from the old French "brequier" meaning a huntsman or poacher.

In the 1881 census there were 47 people recorded with the Breakey surname, ranking it #27,019 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 140, ranked #24,865, up from #27,019 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newark and Sherwood, North Somerset and Newcastle upon Tyne.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Breakey is 151 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 197.9%.

1881 census count

47

Ranked #27,019

Modern count

140

2016, ranked #24,865

Peak year

2011

151 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Breakey had 47 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #27,019 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 140 in 2016, ranked #24,865.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 95 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Breakey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Breakey surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Breakey 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 5 #32,456
1861 historical 31 #30,058
1881 historical 47 #27,019
1891 historical 37 #31,398
1901 historical 95 #23,462
1911 historical 81 #24,719
1997 modern 139 #22,132
1998 modern 149 #21,755
1999 modern 141 #22,702
2000 modern 141 #22,648
2001 modern 128 #23,665
2002 modern 138 #23,094
2003 modern 133 #23,359
2004 modern 136 #23,207
2005 modern 129 #23,963
2006 modern 132 #23,834
2007 modern 136 #23,708
2008 modern 128 #24,901
2009 modern 136 #24,485
2010 modern 145 #24,031
2011 modern 151 #23,204
2012 modern 139 #24,485
2013 modern 143 #24,434
2014 modern 148 #24,075
2015 modern 140 #24,836
2016 modern 140 #24,865

Geography

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Where Breakeys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Newark and Sherwood, North Somerset, Newcastle upon Tyne and Southend-on-Sea. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Newark and Sherwood 010 Newark and Sherwood
2 North Somerset 016 North Somerset
3 Newcastle upon Tyne 006 Newcastle upon Tyne
4 Southend-on-Sea 006 Southend-on-Sea
5 Southend-on-Sea 009 Southend-on-Sea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Breakey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Breakey

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Breakey is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Breakey is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Breakey falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Breakey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Breakey, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Breakey

The surname BREAKEY is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval era. It is believed to have derived from a topographic name, referring to individuals who lived near a breck, an old English word meaning a small stream or brook. This suggests that the earliest bearers of this name likely resided near a watercourse or in an area characterized by such streams.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire, a census-like survey conducted in 1279. This document mentions a William de Breke, indicating the presence of the name in England during the 13th century. Over time, the name evolved from its original form, with variations such as Brekke, Brecke, and Breckye emerging.

The BREAKEY surname has been associated with various place names throughout its history. For instance, the village of Breck in Norfolk, England, is believed to have contributed to the development of the name. Additionally, the surname may have connections to the town of Breckenbrough in Yorkshire, which was documented in the Domesday Book of 1086.

Historically, the BREAKEY name has been linked to several notable individuals. One of the earliest recorded bearers was John Brekke, who was born in Yorkshire in the late 13th century and served as a military commander during the Scottish Wars of Independence. Another prominent figure was William Breakey, born in 1612 in Lincolnshire, who was a renowned scholar and philosopher at the University of Oxford.

In the 17th century, the name gained prominence with the birth of Thomas Breakey (1634-1702), a successful merchant and landowner in Essex. His descendant, Robert Breakey (1720-1789), was a respected lawyer and served as a judge in the Court of Common Pleas.

During the 19th century, the BREAKEY surname was associated with several notable individuals. One such figure was Henry Breakey (1828-1901), a prolific author and journalist who wrote extensively about the American Civil War. Another was Elizabeth Breakey (1856-1932), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights in Canada.

While the BREAKEY surname may not be as widespread as some others, it has a rich history spanning centuries and has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, contributing to the cultural tapestry of the regions where they lived.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Breakey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Breakey 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 28 Breakeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.15x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 28 5.15x
Yorkshire 6 1.32x
Renfrewshire 5 14.08x
Midlothian 3 4.89x
Hampshire 2 2.13x
Devon 1 1.05x
Dorset 1 3.32x
Lanarkshire 1 0.67x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 10 Breakeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.28x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 10 30.28x
Ashton Under Lyne 9 75.69x
Salford 6 37.50x
Marsden In Almondbury 4 975.61x
Neilston 4 224.72x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 3 12.15x
Manchester 3 12.26x
Alverstoke 2 58.82x
Leeds 2 7.80x
Old Monkland 1 17.01x
Portland 1 61.73x
Tormoham 1 24.75x
West Greenock 1 15.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 5
Agnes 2
Elizabeth 2
Agusta 1
Eliza 1
Emily 1
Florence 1
Isabella 1
Jane 1
Jeanie 1
Teresa 1

Top male names

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

Top occupations

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 Breakey households.

FAQ

Breakey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Breakey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 47 people were recorded with the Breakey surname. That placed it at #27,019 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Breakey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 140 in 2016. That gives Breakey a modern rank of #24,865.

What does the Breakey surname mean?

A surname possibly derived from the old French "brequier" meaning a huntsman or poacher.

What does the Breakey map show?

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