UK surname
A habitational name referring to someone from Bree or a place with a similar name.
In the 1881 census there were 102 people recorded with the Brees surname, ranking it #19,518 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 37, ranked #35,582, down from #19,518 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Mallwyd, Llanbrynmair and Llanfair-Caereinion. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brees is 314 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 63.7%.
1881 census count
102
Ranked #19,518
Modern count
37
2016, ranked #35,582
Peak year
1851
314 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1881
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Brees surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Brees surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 314 | #7,361 |
| 1861 | historical | 202 | #11,906 |
| 1881 | historical | 102 | #19,518 |
| 1891 | historical | 70 | #28,073 |
| 1901 | historical | 50 | #28,590 |
| 1911 | historical | 48 | #28,006 |
| 1997 | modern | 35 | #34,174 |
| 1998 | modern | 41 | #33,747 |
| 1999 | modern | 41 | #33,866 |
| 2000 | modern | 39 | #34,066 |
| 2001 | modern | 34 | #34,356 |
| 2002 | modern | 32 | #34,790 |
| 2003 | modern | 31 | #34,957 |
| 2004 | modern | 32 | #35,019 |
| 2005 | modern | 29 | #35,431 |
| 2006 | modern | 28 | #35,665 |
| 2007 | modern | 28 | #35,801 |
| 2008 | modern | 31 | #35,670 |
| 2009 | modern | 29 | #35,922 |
| 2010 | modern | 33 | #35,794 |
| 2011 | modern | 34 | #35,705 |
| 2012 | modern | 37 | #35,531 |
| 2013 | modern | 39 | #35,483 |
| 2014 | modern | 39 | #35,493 |
| 2015 | modern | 38 | #35,526 |
| 2016 | modern | 37 | #35,582 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Mallwyd, Llanbrynmair, Llanfair-Caereinion, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars and Cheltenham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mallwyd | Merionethshire |
| 2 | Llanbrynmair | Montgomeryshire |
| 3 | Llanfair-Caereinion | Montgomeryshire |
| 4 | Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars | Leicestershire |
| 5 | Cheltenham | Gloucestershire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Brees surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Brees, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Brees surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Brees household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Brees is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Brees is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Brees, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Brees has its origins in England, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "bres," which means "breach" or "break," referring to someone who lived near a gap or opening in a hedge or fence.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Brees can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1273, where it appears as "Henricus de la Brese." This suggests that the name may have initially been a locative surname, referring to a person's place of residence or origin.
Variants of the name include Brese, Breese, and Brease, which can be found in various historical records throughout the centuries. For instance, the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327 mention a "Johanna Brese," while the Feet of Fines of Staffordshire from 1509 reference a "William Brese."
The surname Brees has also been associated with certain place names in England, such as Brese in Somerset and Breese in Shropshire. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.
Notable individuals with the surname Brees include:
1. Sir John Brees (1619-1692), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Kent during the reign of Charles II. 2. Thomas Brees (1663-1735), an English clockmaker and watchmaker who worked in London during the early 18th century. 3. Samuel Brees (1765-1825), an English writer and editor known for his works on agriculture and horticulture. 4. William Brees (1777-1865), a British architect and civil engineer who designed several notable buildings in London. 5. James Brees (1825-1899), an English landscape painter and member of the Royal Society of British Artists.
While the surname Brees has its roots in England, it has since been adopted and carried by families across various parts of the world, contributing to the rich tapestry of global surnames and their diverse histories.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brees surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Montgomeryshire leads with 29 Brees' recorded in 1881 and an index of 125.98x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Montgomeryshire | 29 | 125.98x |
| Gloucestershire | 15 | 7.61x |
| Merionethshire | 14 | 76.17x |
| Yorkshire | 11 | 1.10x |
| Hampshire | 9 | 4.37x |
| Essex | 6 | 3.03x |
| Leicestershire | 6 | 5.39x |
| Cheshire | 5 | 2.25x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.17x |
| Shropshire | 2 | 2.30x |
| Staffordshire | 2 | 0.59x |
| Radnorshire | 1 | 12.33x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 8.35x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cheltenham in Gloucestershire leads with 14 Brees' recorded in 1881 and an index of 92.11x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cheltenham | 14 | 92.11x |
| Ormesby | 11 | 410.45x |
| Southampton St Mary | 9 | 69.50x |
| Llanwrin | 8 | 3478.26x |
| Mallwyd | 8 | 1777.78x |
| Brentwood | 6 | 495.87x |
| Leicester St Margaret | 6 | 22.09x |
| Llanbrynmair | 6 | 1111.11x |
| Llanllwchaiarn | 6 | 600.00x |
| Macclesfield | 5 | 50.71x |
| Pennal | 5 | 2173.91x |
| Machynlleth | 4 | 481.93x |
| Llanrhaiadr Ym Mochnant | 3 | 405.41x |
| N Lydbury | 2 | 588.24x |
| Audley | 1 | 29.76x |
| Garthbeibio | 1 | 1000.00x |
| Heap | 1 | 15.82x |
| Llanbadarn Fawr | 1 | 476.19x |
| Llanllugan | 1 | 1000.00x |
| Minchinhampton | 1 | 63.69x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 9.78x |
| Stretford | 1 | 15.24x |
| Talyllyn | 1 | 138.89x |
| Trentham | 1 | 34.72x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Brees surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Brees surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Brees households.
FAQ
In 1881, 102 people were recorded with the Brees surname. That placed it at #19,518 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 37 in 2016. That gives Brees a modern rank of #35,582.
A habitational name referring to someone from Bree or a place with a similar name.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Brees bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.