NameCensus.

UK surname

Breckon

A surname derived from a place name meaning "hill slope" or "hillside" in old English.

In the 1881 census there were 278 people recorded with the Breckon surname, ranking it #10,259 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 509, ranked #9,860, up from #10,259 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Whitby, Stranton and Danby. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Scarborough and Redcar and Cleveland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Breckon is 572 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 83.1%.

1881 census count

278

Ranked #10,259

Modern count

509

2016, ranked #9,860

Peak year

2010

572 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Breckon had 278 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,259 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 509 in 2016, ranked #9,860.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 436 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Breckon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Breckon surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Breckon 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 182 #11,209
1861 historical 136 #16,556
1881 historical 278 #10,259
1891 historical 286 #11,497
1901 historical 357 #10,280
1911 historical 436 #8,711
1997 modern 514 #9,129
1998 modern 531 #9,164
1999 modern 553 #8,945
2000 modern 559 #8,829
2001 modern 543 #8,892
2002 modern 557 #8,894
2003 modern 540 #8,967
2004 modern 531 #9,100
2005 modern 540 #8,914
2006 modern 534 #9,026
2007 modern 538 #9,044
2008 modern 548 #8,993
2009 modern 558 #9,066
2010 modern 572 #9,082
2011 modern 542 #9,387
2012 modern 508 #9,748
2013 modern 536 #9,535
2014 modern 533 #9,627
2015 modern 524 #9,678
2016 modern 509 #9,860

Geography

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Where Breckons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Whitby, Stranton, Danby, St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles and Middlesborough. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Scarborough and Redcar and Cleveland. 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 Whitby Yorkshire, North Riding
2 Stranton Durham
3 Danby Yorkshire, North Riding
4 St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles Yorkshire, East Riding
5 Middlesborough Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Scarborough 001 Scarborough
2 Scarborough 003 Scarborough
3 Redcar and Cleveland 013 Redcar and Cleveland
4 Redcar and Cleveland 016 Redcar and Cleveland
5 Scarborough 004 Scarborough

Forenames

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First names often paired with Breckon

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Breckon

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Breckon surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Breckon household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Breckon is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Breckon is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Breckon falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Breckon is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Breckon

The surname BRECKON is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "brec" meaning a gap or opening, and "dun" meaning a hill or down. It is likely that the name originally referred to a person who lived near a gap or opening in a hill, or a settlement located in such a place.

The earliest recorded instance of the name can be traced back to the 13th century, with the spelling "de Brechedune" appearing in the Feet of Fines for Yorkshire in 1246. This early form of the name suggests a connection to a specific place, possibly a village or hamlet.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various forms, such as "Brekedun" and "Brekeden," in records from counties like Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. These variations demonstrate the evolution of the name over time as it adapted to local dialects and pronunciation.

One notable historical figure with the surname BRECKON was Thomas Breckon, a merchant and alderman in the city of York during the late 16th century. He was a prominent figure in the city's affairs and served as mayor in 1587.

Another individual of note was John Breckon, a 17th-century clergyman who served as the Rector of Louth in Lincolnshire from 1660 until his death in 1686.

In the 18th century, a family of BRECKONS resided in the village of Thornton-le-Beans in North Yorkshire. One member, William Breckon (1724-1802), was a farmer and landowner in the area.

Moving into the 19th century, the name BRECKON can be found in various parts of England, particularly in Yorkshire and surrounding counties. One notable individual was Samuel Breckon (1810-1887), a successful businessman and industrialist in the city of Hull.

Another significant figure was Robert Breckon (1838-1914), a British architect and surveyor who was responsible for the design of several notable buildings in Yorkshire and the surrounding regions.

While the surname BRECKON is not among the most common in England, it has a rich history and can be traced back to its Old English roots, reflecting the connection between the name and the geographic features of the areas where it originated.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Breckon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Breckon 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 222 Breckons recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.26x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 222 8.26x
Durham 18 2.23x
Suffolk 8 2.42x
Lancashire 7 0.22x
Essex 5 0.93x
Kent 5 0.54x
Norfolk 5 1.20x
Shropshire 4 1.71x
Cheshire 2 0.33x
Middlesex 2 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Whitby in Yorkshire leads with 43 Breckons recorded in 1881 and an index of 474.61x.

Place Total Index
Whitby 43 474.61x
Glaisdale 17 1666.67x
Farndale East Side 10 2941.18x
Ruswarp 10 334.45x
West Acklam 10 6666.67x
Lockton 9 2432.43x
East Harlsey 8 2285.71x
Eye 8 375.59x
Heckmondwike 8 92.59x
Marske In Guisbrough 8 167.71x
Brompton On Swale 7 2121.21x
Bishopwearmouth 6 8.66x
Clifton In York 6 106.76x
Goathland 6 1250.00x
Redcar 6 281.69x
Upleatham 6 1333.33x
Diss 5 140.06x
Doncaster 5 25.47x
Keston 5 724.64x
Kirkleatham 5 137.74x
Linthorpe 5 31.17x
Moorsholme 5 1388.89x
Thaxted 5 280.90x
Thornaby 5 49.80x
West Derby 5 5.31x
Eskdaleside 4 303.03x
Holy Trinity 4 6.19x
Middlesbrough 4 11.43x
Shrewsbury St Chad 4 48.66x
Darlington 3 9.63x
Norton 3 101.01x
Skelton In Guisbrough 3 41.27x
Sneaton 3 1363.64x
Stanghow 3 275.23x
Stockton On Tees 3 7.71x
Bradford 2 3.07x
Danby 2 183.49x
Hampstead London 2 4.74x
Levisham 2 2000.00x
Liverpool 2 1.02x
Normanby In 2 27.86x
Nunnington 2 540.54x
Scarborough 2 8.19x
Westerdale 2 800.00x
Whitby 2 144.93x
Danby Commondale 1 344.83x
Easingwold 1 52.63x
Farndale Low Quarter 1 625.00x
Farndale West Side 1 1111.11x
Gateshead 1 1.66x
Great Ayton 1 60.61x
Newton In Pickering 1 434.78x
Northallerton 1 29.15x
Shildon 1 15.43x
Sunderland 1 7.02x
York St Mary 1 8.98x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 19
Hannah 14
Elizabeth 12
Jane 10
Alice 9
Sarah 8
Emily 5
Lucy 5
Ann 4
Annie 4
Eliza 4
Edith 3
Eleanor 3
Margaret 3
Ada 2
Amelia 2
Clara 2
Dinah 2
Emma 2
Agnes 1
Anne 1
Bertha 1
Betsy 1
Catherine 1
Celena 1
Charlotte 1
Elizth. 1
Ellenor 1
Evelyn 1
Fanny 1
Harriet 1
John 1
Lilly 1
Louise 1
Lydia 1
Mabel 1
Margret 1
Margt. 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Mrs 1
Rebecca 1
Selina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 28
John 27
Thomas 11
George 10
James 7
Robert 6
Francis 5
Joseph 5
Arthur 3
Charles 3
Harry 3
Ralph 3
Benjamin 2
Christopher 2
Edward 2
Henry 2
Martin 2
Richard 2
Walter 2
Albert 1
Amos 1
Annie 1
David 1
Edgar 1
Edwin 1
Frederic 1
Frederick 1
Herbert 1
Marmaduke 1
Oliver 1
Robt. 1
Robt.Hy. 1
Solomon 1
Thos. 1
Wilkinson 1

FAQ

Breckon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Breckon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 278 people were recorded with the Breckon surname. That placed it at #10,259 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Breckon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 509 in 2016. That gives Breckon a modern rank of #9,860.

What does the Breckon surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name meaning "hill slope" or "hillside" in old English.

What does the Breckon map show?

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