NameCensus.

UK surname

Brear

An occupational surname referring to a brewer or maker of beer.

In the 1881 census there were 450 people recorded with the Brear surname, ranking it #7,321 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 623, ranked #8,461, down from #7,321 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bradford, Halifax and Dewsbury. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bradford, Wakefield and Broxtowe.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brear is 653 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 38.4%.

1881 census count

450

Ranked #7,321

Modern count

623

2016, ranked #8,461

Peak year

2002

653 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brear had 450 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,321 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 623 in 2016, ranked #8,461.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 565 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Brear surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brear surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Brear 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 320 #7,250
1861 historical 261 #9,481
1881 historical 450 #7,321
1891 historical 499 #7,446
1901 historical 564 #7,397
1911 historical 565 #7,146
1997 modern 626 #7,904
1998 modern 632 #8,086
1999 modern 635 #8,109
2000 modern 634 #8,086
2001 modern 634 #7,925
2002 modern 653 #7,915
2003 modern 623 #8,089
2004 modern 603 #8,322
2005 modern 609 #8,188
2006 modern 596 #8,326
2007 modern 602 #8,331
2008 modern 625 #8,146
2009 modern 618 #8,400
2010 modern 625 #8,512
2011 modern 624 #8,425
2012 modern 631 #8,266
2013 modern 642 #8,295
2014 modern 637 #8,390
2015 modern 635 #8,350
2016 modern 623 #8,461

Geography

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Where Brears are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bradford, Halifax, Dewsbury and Wakefield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bradford, Wakefield and Broxtowe. 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 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Dewsbury Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Wakefield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bradford 061 Bradford
2 Bradford 059 Bradford
3 Wakefield 022 Wakefield
4 Broxtowe 010 Broxtowe
5 Bradford 060 Bradford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Brear

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Brear

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Brear surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Brear household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Brear 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

Brear is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Brear falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Brear is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Brear

The surname BREAR has its origins in the Yorkshire region of England, dating back to the early medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "bræra," meaning a slope or hillside, indicating that the name may have been initially used to describe someone who lived on a hillside or sloping terrain.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Brere." This historical record, commissioned by William the Conqueror, serves as a valuable source for tracing the origins and distribution of surnames in England during the 11th century.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "de Brere" and "atte Brere," reflecting the use of locational prefixes common during that era. These prefixes often indicated a person's place of origin or residence, further solidifying the connection between the name and its geographical roots.

Notable individuals bearing the BREAR surname include:

1. John Brear (1545-1620), an English clergyman and author who served as the Dean of Salisbury Cathedral. 2. William Brear (1690-1756), a prominent merchant and landowner from Yorkshire, known for his philanthropic endeavors. 3. Elizabeth Brear (1720-1799), a renowned botanist and horticulturist who contributed significantly to the study and cultivation of plants in the 18th century. 4. Richard Brear (1812-1887), a pioneering industrialist and engineer who played a crucial role in the development of early steam engines. 5. Margaret Brear (1875-1948), an influential educator and advocate for women's rights in the early 20th century.

Throughout its history, the BREAR surname has been associated with various place names, such as Brear Hill and Brear Moor, found in Yorkshire and surrounding areas. These place names further reinforce the connection between the surname and its geographical origins.

While the BREAR surname may have evolved and spread to different parts of the world over time, its roots can be traced back to the Yorkshire region of England, where it was initially derived from the Old English word "bræra," reflecting the landscape and terrain associated with the name's earliest bearers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Brear families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brear 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. Yorkshire leads with 415 Brears recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.54x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 415 9.54x
Lancashire 26 0.50x
Cumberland 3 0.79x
Lincolnshire 2 0.29x
Cheshire 1 0.10x
Gloucestershire 1 0.12x
Kent 1 0.07x
Worcestershire 1 0.17x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Halifax in Yorkshire leads with 36 Brears recorded in 1881 and an index of 56.37x.

Place Total Index
Halifax 36 56.37x
Ovenden 36 185.95x
Bradford 27 25.64x
Shipley 25 110.77x
Dewsbury 24 53.80x
Northowram 23 75.41x
Horton In Bradford 19 27.97x
Leeds 17 6.92x
Manningham 17 31.72x
Wyke In Bradford 13 167.10x
North Bierley 10 42.57x
Featherstone 9 184.43x
Kildwick 9 227.27x
Hunslet 8 11.79x
Keighley 8 17.25x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 8 39.58x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 7 44.30x
Huntwick Cum Nostell 7 813.95x
Sowerby In Halifax 7 49.23x
Toxteth Park 7 3.97x
Warley 7 55.69x
Burley In Wharfdale 6 156.25x
Mirfield 6 25.13x
Shelf 6 144.58x
Wakefield 6 17.97x
Wilsden 6 134.23x
Chorlton On Medlock 5 6.04x
Ilkley 5 70.32x
Little Bolton 5 7.47x
Skircoat 5 29.15x
Warmfield Cum Heath 5 340.14x
Wortley In Bramley 5 14.51x
Huddersfield 4 6.31x
Otley 4 37.88x
Poulton Barre 4 67.45x
Soothill 4 25.46x
Ardsley 3 59.88x
Armley 3 15.63x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 3 20.16x
Clayton 3 28.17x
Eston 3 31.68x
Preston Quarter 3 28.33x
Sheffield 3 2.17x
Ecclesfield 2 6.27x
Oulton Cum Woodlesford 2 56.66x
Ripon 2 19.82x
Warrington 2 3.24x
West Ashby 2 338.98x
York St Giles In 2 48.78x
Ashton Under Lyne 1 0.88x
Awre 1 56.50x
Beeston 1 22.73x
Birkenhead 1 1.29x
Burnley 1 2.28x
Crowle 1 23.42x
Handsworth 1 8.70x
Headingley Cum Burley 1 3.57x
Heaton 1 21.41x
Hindley 1 4.50x
Lofthouse Cum Carlton 1 18.87x
Lythe 1 57.80x
Rawdon 1 19.53x
Rochester St Margaret 1 6.33x
Sandal Magna 1 15.55x
Sherburn 1 28.01x
Yardley 1 6.82x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 35
Sarah 25
Elizabeth 19
Hannah 16
Emma 10
Martha 10
Ellen 8
Jane 8
Ann 6
Esther 6
Margaret 6
Alice 5
Annie 5
Harriet 5
Fanny 4
Susannah 4
Catherine 3
Clara 3
Edith 3
Maria 3
Ruth 3
Betty 2
Charlotte 2
Eliza 2
Emily 2
Louisa 2
Selina 2
Adeline 1
Amelia 1
Bessie 1
Beth. 1
Betsy 1
Caroline 1
Charity 1
Constance 1
Elizth. 1
Ernest 1
Ester 1
Frances 1
Herbert 1
Hermine 1
Lidia 1
Lily 1
Livinia 1
Louise 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
Mabel 1
Margt.Patchett 1
Therraca 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 22
William 19
Thomas 17
George 12
James 12
Samuel 11
Arthur 7
Charles 6
Joseph 6
Isaac 5
Walter 5
Edward 4
Edwin 4
Harry 4
Henry 4
Robert 4
Abraham 3
Albert 3
Benjamin 3
Fred 3
Jas. 2
Jonathan 2
Josiah 2
Moses 2
Sam 2
Willie 2
Wm. 2
Ben. 1
Christopher 1
Curtis 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Dick 1
Emmanuel 1
Fred. 1
Fred.S. 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Hamilton 1
Harrison 1
Hayden 1
Joshua 1
Levi 1
Lowis 1
Mark 1
Morris 1
Nathan 1
Nathaniel 1
Norman 1
Osborn 1

FAQ

Brear surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brear surname in 1881?

In 1881, 450 people were recorded with the Brear surname. That placed it at #7,321 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brear surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 623 in 2016. That gives Brear a modern rank of #8,461.

What does the Brear surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a brewer or maker of beer.

What does the Brear map show?

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