NameCensus.

UK surname

Brealey

In the 1881 census there were 529 people recorded with the Brealey surname, ranking it #6,491 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 821, ranked #6,763, down from #6,491 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Burton-on-Trent, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Stapenhill. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Teignbridge, South Derbyshire and South Gloucestershire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brealey is 934 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 55.2%.

1881 census count

529

Ranked #6,491

Modern count

821

2016, ranked #6,763

Peak year

1999

934 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brealey had 529 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,491 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 821 in 2016, ranked #6,763.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 877 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Brealey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brealey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Brealey 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 304 #7,559
1861 historical 312 #8,127
1881 historical 529 #6,491
1891 historical 695 #5,640
1901 historical 675 #6,456
1911 historical 877 #5,075
1997 modern 866 #6,148
1998 modern 922 #6,039
1999 modern 934 #6,030
2000 modern 926 #6,050
2001 modern 899 #6,096
2002 modern 897 #6,211
2003 modern 868 #6,239
2004 modern 857 #6,310
2005 modern 848 #6,322
2006 modern 860 #6,260
2007 modern 867 #6,278
2008 modern 866 #6,318
2009 modern 899 #6,274
2010 modern 917 #6,297
2011 modern 884 #6,413
2012 modern 834 #6,628
2013 modern 845 #6,668
2014 modern 852 #6,645
2015 modern 836 #6,689
2016 modern 821 #6,763

Geography

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Where Brealeys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Burton-on-Trent, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Stapenhill, Nottingham St Mary and Church Gresley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Teignbridge, South Derbyshire and South Gloucestershire. 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 Burton-on-Trent Staffordshire
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 Stapenhill Staffordshire
4 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire
5 Church Gresley Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Teignbridge 004 Teignbridge
2 South Derbyshire 008 South Derbyshire
3 South Gloucestershire 001 South Gloucestershire
4 South Derbyshire 009 South Derbyshire
5 South Derbyshire 012 South Derbyshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Brealey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Brealey

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

Brealey is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

1881 census detail

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Brealey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brealey 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. Derbyshire leads with 136 Brealeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.83x.

County Total Index
Derbyshire 136 16.83x
Devon 113 10.52x
Yorkshire 53 1.04x
Northamptonshire 40 8.24x
Middlesex 38 0.74x
Staffordshire 38 2.18x
Leicestershire 37 6.47x
Nottinghamshire 30 4.31x
Warwickshire 12 0.92x
Lancashire 8 0.13x
Glamorgan 6 0.67x
Gloucestershire 6 0.59x
Cornwall 4 0.68x
Bedfordshire 3 1.12x
Cheshire 1 0.09x
Hampshire 1 0.09x
Herefordshire 1 0.47x
Kent 1 0.06x
Surrey 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stapenhill in Derbyshire leads with 63 Brealeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 523.69x.

Place Total Index
Stapenhill 63 523.69x
Grendon 26 2708.33x
Stanton Newhall 24 926.64x
North Tawton 22 666.67x
Nottingham St Mary 16 8.89x
Hugglescote 12 142.52x
Easton Maudit 11 3548.39x
Leeds 10 3.46x
Burton Extra 9 90.09x
Sampford Courtenay 9 559.01x
Stoke Newington London 9 22.39x
Aston 8 2.23x
Church Gresley 8 62.26x
Clayhidon 8 769.23x
Crediton 8 78.59x
Ilkeston 8 35.32x
Swannington 8 379.15x
Tavistock 8 65.36x
Featherstone 7 121.95x
Tormoham 7 15.40x
Whitwick 7 96.29x
Winshill 7 135.92x
Wombwell 7 46.95x
Bovey Tracey 6 159.57x
Bradford 6 4.85x
Branstone 6 342.86x
Derby St Werburgh 6 12.86x
Hartshorn 6 196.72x
Leek Lowe 6 25.88x
Lichfield St Michael 6 109.69x
Llanwonno 6 18.59x
Newton Abbot St Mary 6 66.59x
Northowram 6 16.73x
Snenton 6 21.95x
Bristol St James St Paul 5 14.81x
Dewsbury 5 9.53x
Holy Trinity 5 4.07x
Ibstock 5 120.19x
Okehampton 5 123.46x
South Molton 5 84.75x
Stoke Upon Trent 5 2.71x
Wolverhampton 5 3.73x
Barnstaple 4 23.72x
Birmingham 4 0.92x
Everton 4 2.05x
Exeter St Paul 4 187.79x
Hackney London 4 1.38x
Maker 4 74.07x
Mile End Old Town London 4 3.64x
Newstead 4 233.92x
St George Martyr London 4 38.28x
Tibshelf 4 101.01x
Westminster St Margaret 4 16.07x
Bedford St Paul 3 16.37x
Exeter Heavitree 3 37.45x
Hasland 3 36.50x
Kingsteignton 3 100.33x
Plymouth St Andrew 3 3.63x
Stanwell 3 78.53x
Swadlincote 3 337.08x
Westminster St James 3 5.66x
Whitechapel London 3 5.90x
Ashby De La Zouch 2 15.08x
Batley 2 4.12x
Beerferris 2 95.69x
Exeter Holy Trinity 2 47.51x
Exeter St Thomas The 2 18.26x
Hucknall Torkard 2 11.34x
Huddersfield 2 2.68x
North Meols 2 3.34x
St Pancras London 2 0.48x
Whittington 2 17.89x
Bristol St George 1 2.14x
East Stonehouse 1 4.73x
Exeter St Stephen 1 178.57x
Haydock 1 9.48x
Kegworth 1 26.32x
Kettering 1 5.09x
Mountsorrel North End 1 90.91x
Northampton Priory St 1 3.43x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 34
Elizabeth 28
Sarah 23
Jane 12
Hannah 11
Ann 10
Emma 10
Alice 9
Eliza 9
Ellen 9
Emily 7
Annie 6
Charlotte 6
Edith 5
Martha 5
Agnes 4
Harriet 4
Harriett 4
Margaret 4
Ada 3
Fanny 3
Florence 3
Kate 3
Louisa 3
Maria 3
Susan 3
Amy 2
Anne 2
Clara 2
Frances 2
Gertrude 2
Lilly 2
Lucy 2
Matilda 2
Maud 2
Phoebe 2
Rebecca 2
Ruth 2
Selina 2
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Christiana 1
Elizebeth 1
Elizth. 1
Emley 1
Emmelina 1
Ester 1
Lizzie 1
Lydia 1
Zillah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 39
John 33
George 16
Henry 16
Thomas 13
Robert 11
Samuel 11
Charles 10
Edward 7
Michael 7
Richard 7
Arthur 6
James 6
Benjamin 5
David 5
Joseph 5
Daniel 4
Francis 4
Walter 4
Alfred 3
Albert 2
Edwin 2
Frederick 2
Harry 2
Isiah 2
Stephen 2
Chas. 1
Elias 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Fredrick 1
Freeman 1
Henry. 1
Herbert 1
J.Wm. 1
Jack 1
Joe 1
Jonathan 1
Leonard 1
Miles 1
R.H. 1
Richd. 1
Richd.E. 1
Stanley 1
Sydney 1
Timothy 1
Wilfred 1
Willey 1
Willoughby 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Brealey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brealey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 529 people were recorded with the Brealey surname. That placed it at #6,491 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brealey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 821 in 2016. That gives Brealey a modern rank of #6,763.

What does the Brealey map show?

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