NameCensus.

UK surname

Bream

An English surname derived from the Old English word "breme," meaning a type of fish.

In the 1881 census there were 190 people recorded with the Bream surname, ranking it #13,270 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 304, ranked #14,606, down from #13,270 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Apethorpe, Yarwell, Nassington, Wood Newton, Southwick and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Huntingdonshire, Hinckley and Bosworth and Waveney.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bream is 317 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 60.0%.

1881 census count

190

Ranked #13,270

Modern count

304

2016, ranked #14,606

Peak year

2015

317 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bream had 190 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,270 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 304 in 2016, ranked #14,606.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 284 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Bream surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bream surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bream 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 108 #16,308
1861 historical 124 #17,797
1881 historical 190 #13,270
1891 historical 201 #14,866
1901 historical 234 #13,705
1911 historical 284 #11,862
1997 modern 279 #14,175
1998 modern 303 #13,809
1999 modern 311 #13,642
2000 modern 298 #13,981
2001 modern 291 #14,000
2002 modern 298 #14,048
2003 modern 303 #13,718
2004 modern 296 #14,005
2005 modern 300 #13,837
2006 modern 296 #14,030
2007 modern 294 #14,241
2008 modern 287 #14,580
2009 modern 292 #14,700
2010 modern 303 #14,626
2011 modern 303 #14,506
2012 modern 312 #14,131
2013 modern 312 #14,332
2014 modern 315 #14,334
2015 modern 317 #14,183
2016 modern 304 #14,606

Geography

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Where Breams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Apethorpe, Yarwell, Nassington, Wood Newton, Southwick, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars, Woolley and Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Huntingdonshire, Hinckley and Bosworth, Waveney and South Norfolk. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Apethorpe, Yarwell, Nassington, Wood Newton, Southwick Northamptonshire
3 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire
4 Woolley Huntingdonshire
5 Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Huntingdonshire 004 Huntingdonshire
2 Huntingdonshire 010 Huntingdonshire
3 Hinckley and Bosworth 004 Hinckley and Bosworth
4 Waveney 010 Waveney
5 South Norfolk 002 South Norfolk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bream

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bream

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Bream, 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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Bream surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Bream household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Bream is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Bream is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bream falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Bream

The surname BREAM is of English origin, derived from the Old English word 'brem' meaning a bream, a type of freshwater fish. The name likely originated as an occupational surname or a nickname for someone associated with fishing or trading bream.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname BREAM dates back to the 13th century in the county of Gloucestershire, England. In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, there is a reference to a William le Breme residing in that region.

During the medieval period, the name appeared in various records and manuscripts, often with slight variations in spelling such as Breme, Breem, and Breame. The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and property in England compiled in 1086, does not contain any direct mentions of the BREAM surname, but it does include references to places and settlements that may have influenced the name's origins.

One notable bearer of the BREAM surname was John Bream, a prominent English merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Salters in London during the 16th century. He was born around 1530 and played a significant role in the city's trade and commerce.

Another individual with the BREAM surname was William Bream, an English clergyman and author who lived in the 17th century. He was born in 1621 and published several works on religious subjects, including a treatise titled "The Glorious Epiphany" in 1670.

In the 18th century, Thomas Bream, a renowned clockmaker from London, made significant contributions to the art of timepiece-making. He was active between 1720 and 1760, and his clocks were highly sought after by the wealthy and aristocratic classes.

The name BREAM has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Bream's Buildings in London, which was a notable street or area named after a person with that surname.

Another notable figure was James Bream, an English cricketer who played for the Marylebone Cricket Club in the mid-19th century. He was born in 1827 and was known for his skill as a right-handed batsman and occasional wicket-keeper.

These examples illustrate the diverse backgrounds and professions associated with the BREAM surname, reflecting its historical ties to occupations, locations, and individuals of significance across various periods in English history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bream families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bream 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. Norfolk leads with 31 Breams recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.88x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 31 10.88x
Northamptonshire 26 14.92x
Suffolk 24 10.63x
Yorkshire 24 1.31x
Leicestershire 20 9.73x
Surrey 20 2.21x
Huntingdonshire 8 21.74x
Middlesex 7 0.38x
Hampshire 6 1.58x
Kent 5 0.79x
Lancashire 5 0.23x
Lincolnshire 4 1.35x
Nottinghamshire 3 1.20x
Staffordshire 3 0.48x
Essex 1 0.27x
Gloucestershire 1 0.28x
Somerset 1 0.34x
Sussex 1 0.32x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Heigham in Norfolk leads with 22 Breams recorded in 1881 and an index of 143.88x.

Place Total Index
Heigham 22 143.88x
Nassington 19 4222.22x
Fornham St Martin 15 7500.00x
Leicester St Margaret 13 25.94x
Nether Hallam 13 52.31x
Kingston On Thames 9 41.49x
Woolley 7 11666.67x
Lutton 6 5000.00x
Portsmouth 6 68.57x
Newington 5 7.30x
Sheffield 5 8.55x
Bourn 4 167.36x
Hollesley 4 1212.12x
Knighton 4 344.83x
Leeds 4 3.86x
Norwich St Martin At Oak 4 231.21x
Barton 3 1666.67x
Dorking 3 49.51x
Lambeth 3 1.86x
West Derby 3 4.66x
Deptford St Paul 2 4.10x
Fornham St Geneveve 2 3333.33x
Hackney London 2 1.92x
Huddersfield 2 7.47x
Kibworth Beauchamp 2 281.69x
Kirkdale 2 5.41x
Norwich St Augustine 2 173.91x
Sandon 2 606.06x
Westminster St James 2 10.50x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 1 23.58x
Canterbury St Dunstan 1 91.74x
Castle Church 1 26.60x
Chevington 1 285.71x
Enfield 1 8.22x
Flaxley 1 121.95x
Great Yarmouth 1 4.24x
Halstead 1 322.58x
Harbledown 1 217.39x
Kensington London 1 0.97x
Lakenham 1 24.69x
Leicester St Mary 1 6.02x
Leighton 1 476.19x
Lexden 1 68.03x
Lyncombe Widcombe 1 12.80x
Norwich Liberty Of Town 1 526.32x
Petworth 1 53.48x
Shoreditch London 1 1.24x
Washbrook 1 454.55x
Yarwell 1 416.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 10
Elizabeth 8
Ann 7
Mary 7
Jane 5
Ada 4
Kate 4
Charlotte 3
Eliza 3
Fanny 3
Alice 2
Edith 2
Elizh. 2
Emily 2
Harriet 2
(Mrs) 1
Anna 1
Bertha 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Eleanor 1
Eliz. 1
Elizth. 1
Ellen 1
Emma 1
Evetine 1
Gertrude 1
Hannah 1
Harriett 1
Harriott 1
Hester 1
Jemima 1
Jesse 1
Julia 1
Laura 1
Linia 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Maria 1
Rebecca 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 16
Charles 11
William 9
George 7
Henry 5
Herbert 4
Thomas 4
Alfred 3
Harry 3
James 3
Walter 3
Wm. 3
Edward 2
Ernest 2
Fred 2
Joseph 2
Richard 2
Albert 1
Arthur 1
Benjamin 1
Chas. 1
Frank 1
Fredk. 1
Isaac 1
Jeremiah 1
Martin 1
Percy 1
Robert 1
Robt. 1
Sam. 1
Samuel 1
Shadrach 1
Shirley 1
Tom 1
Wallace 1
Wilson 1

FAQ

Bream surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bream surname in 1881?

In 1881, 190 people were recorded with the Bream surname. That placed it at #13,270 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bream surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 304 in 2016. That gives Bream a modern rank of #14,606.

What does the Bream surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Old English word "breme," meaning a type of fish.

What does the Bream map show?

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