NameCensus.

UK surname

Bremner

A Scottish surname derived from a place name meaning 'from the high hill.'

In the 1881 census there were 2,575 people recorded with the Bremner surname, ranking it #1,736 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,525, ranked #1,924, down from #1,736 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Canisbay, Wick and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wick South, Thurso West and Caithness North West.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bremner is 3,571 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 36.9%.

1881 census count

2,575

Ranked #1,736

Modern count

3,525

2016, ranked #1,924

Peak year

2010

3,571 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bremner had 2,575 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,736 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,525 in 2016, ranked #1,924.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,045 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Bremner surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bremner surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bremner 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 1,798 #1,606
1861 historical 1,869 #1,548
1881 historical 2,575 #1,736
1891 historical 2,726 #1,736
1901 historical 3,045 #1,839
1911 historical 395 #9,373
1997 modern 3,264 #1,971
1998 modern 3,415 #1,957
1999 modern 3,426 #1,980
2000 modern 3,466 #1,950
2001 modern 3,346 #1,973
2002 modern 3,433 #1,969
2003 modern 3,350 #1,975
2004 modern 3,347 #1,979
2005 modern 3,345 #1,951
2006 modern 3,358 #1,939
2007 modern 3,351 #1,967
2008 modern 3,420 #1,939
2009 modern 3,490 #1,948
2010 modern 3,571 #1,947
2011 modern 3,491 #1,961
2012 modern 3,393 #1,982
2013 modern 3,448 #1,988
2014 modern 3,513 #1,968
2015 modern 3,520 #1,938
2016 modern 3,525 #1,924

Geography

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Where Bremners are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Canisbay, Wick, Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wick South, Thurso West, Caithness North West, Wick North and Sutherland South. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Canisbay Caithness
2 Wick Caithness
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wick South Highland
2 Thurso West Highland
3 Caithness North West Highland
4 Wick North Highland
5 Sutherland South Highland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bremner

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bremner

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Bremner, 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 Bremner surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Bremner 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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Bremner 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

Bremner is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Bremner

The surname Bremner is of Scottish origin, with its roots traced back to the 14th century. It is derived from the Old English words "brēm" and "ere," which together translate to "culler or collector of brambles." This suggests that the original bearers of this surname may have been involved in gathering brambles or wild berries for sustenance or trade.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Bremner can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in 1379, where one John Bremner is mentioned. The name was prevalent in the regions of Aberdeenshire and Moray in northeastern Scotland, where many Bremner families were established.

In the 16th century, the Bremner name appeared in the Rental Book of the Diocese of Glasgow, indicating their presence in the central region of Scotland as well. During this time, variations in spelling, such as Bremnar and Bremener, were also documented.

One notable figure bearing the Bremner surname was David Bremner (1784-1856), a Scottish writer and historian who authored works on the history and antiquities of Edinburgh and the surrounding areas. His contributions to preserving the cultural heritage of Scotland were significant.

Another prominent Bremner was John Bremner (1810-1879), a Scottish musician and composer who specialized in traditional Scottish music. He published numerous collections of Scottish airs and contributed to the preservation of Scotland's musical heritage.

In the 19th century, Robert Bremner (1837-1914) made his mark as a Scottish-American industrialist and philanthropist. He founded the Bremner Brothers Steel Company and played a crucial role in the development of the steel industry in the United States.

John Bremner (1869-1936), a Scottish-Canadian businessman and politician, served as a member of the Canadian House of Commons, representing the riding of Red Deer, Alberta, from 1925 to 1935.

Lastly, James Bremner (1886-1952), a Scottish-born American labor leader and activist, played a significant role in the establishment of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and fought for the rights of workers in the maritime industry.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bremner families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bremner 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. Caithness leads with 638 Bremners recorded in 1881 and an index of 185.65x.

County Total Index
Caithness 638 185.65x
Aberdeenshire 410 17.64x
Lanarkshire 252 3.10x
Angus 196 8.43x
Banffshire 183 35.15x
Midlothian 175 5.20x
Morayshire 82 21.03x
Fife 76 5.12x
Middlesex 60 0.24x
Orkney 58 21.00x
Kincardineshire 45 14.72x
Ross-shire 41 5.95x
Lancashire 29 0.10x
Yorkshire 27 0.11x
Inverness-shire 25 3.34x
Renfrewshire 24 1.23x
Surrey 24 0.20x
Ayrshire 23 1.22x
Perthshire 17 1.51x
Sutherland 17 8.81x
Clackmannanshire 14 6.75x
Gloucestershire 14 0.28x
Stirlingshire 14 1.51x
Dunbartonshire 12 1.78x
Dorset 11 0.67x
Buteshire 10 6.58x
Essex 10 0.20x
Durham 7 0.09x
Kent 7 0.08x
Cornwall 6 0.21x
West Lothian 6 1.59x
Devon 5 0.10x
East Lothian 5 1.50x
Monmouthshire 5 0.28x
Roxburghshire 5 1.10x
Shetland 5 1.95x
Westmorland 5 0.91x
Cumberland 4 0.19x
Argyllshire 3 0.43x
Kirkcudbrightshire 3 0.83x
Royal Navy 3 1.00x
Glamorgan 2 0.05x
Hampshire 2 0.04x
Northumberland 2 0.05x
Sussex 2 0.05x
Wiltshire 2 0.09x
Cheshire 1 0.02x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.18x
Herefordshire 1 0.10x
Isle of Man 1 0.21x
Leicestershire 1 0.04x
Norfolk 1 0.03x
Suffolk 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wick in Caithness leads with 378 Bremners recorded in 1881 and an index of 340.54x.

Place Total Index
Wick 378 340.54x
Govan 148 7.37x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 95 7.02x
Canisbay 86 381.21x
Dundee 63 7.26x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 60 13.80x
Glasgow 49 3.40x
Thurso 47 87.69x
Aberdeen Old Machar 45 9.27x
Latheron 43 74.80x
Arbroath 39 50.61x
Bower 36 260.12x
Cairney 34 251.11x
Barony 33 1.61x
Turriff 30 79.96x
Westray Papa Westray 28 127.85x
Banff 27 59.71x
Rathven 22 22.49x
Fordyce 21 56.06x
Boharm 20 195.50x
Halkirk 20 86.02x
Montrose 19 13.48x
Edinburgh St Georges 18 25.80x
Marnoch 18 64.38x
Glass 17 191.44x
Glenbucket 16 367.82x
Leochel Cushnie 15 143.27x
Olrig 15 87.36x
Alloa 14 13.93x
Grange 14 91.86x
Keith 13 23.42x
Peterhead 13 10.58x
Auchterderran 12 32.12x
Deskford 12 161.07x
Strathdon 12 106.19x
Brechin 11 12.04x
Laurencekirk 11 62.11x
Monifieth 11 13.39x
Old Kilpatrick 11 13.80x
Rosemarkie 11 146.08x
South Leith 11 2.91x
Cupar 10 15.48x
Dyce 10 99.80x
Edinburgh Canongate 10 11.69x
Kensington London 10 0.72x
Knockando 10 63.09x
Leuchars 10 53.22x
Lumphanan 10 102.35x
Monquhitter 10 41.55x
Perth East Church 10 9.42x
West Greenock 10 2.86x
Abernethy Kincardine 9 68.08x
Aboyne 9 73.35x
Fyvie 9 23.73x
Great Crosby 9 11.08x
Hoy Graemsay 9 173.75x
Huntly 9 23.80x
Inverurie 9 34.23x
Spitalfields London 9 4.77x
St Pancras London 9 0.45x
Udny 9 63.88x
Alford 8 63.19x
Boyndie 8 46.40x
Cameron 8 92.70x
Dunnottar 8 37.21x
Fettercairn 8 61.54x
Forfar 8 6.35x
Forres 8 19.52x
Gamrie 8 13.76x
Inverkeithny 8 100.88x
Inverness 8 4.24x
Islington London 8 0.33x
Largo 8 41.45x
Liff Benvie 8 2.27x
Longside 8 28.82x
Rhynie 8 82.64x
Stronsay Eday 8 44.30x
Wyke Regis 8 33.84x
Neilston 7 7.17x
Tarbat 7 42.97x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 14
Isabella 9
Alice 6
Annie 6
Ann 5
Elizabeth 5
Eliza 4
Jane 4
Janet 4
Catherine 3
Charlotte 3
Christina 3
Edith 3
Emma 3
Margaret 3
Sarah 3
Anne 2
Eliz. 2
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Helen 2
Kate 2
Louisa 2
Lydia 2
Martha 2
Beama 1
Bessy 1
Cora 1
Daisy 1
E. 1
Elizth.Gardner 1
Elsie 1
Ethel 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Hannah 1
Hilda 1
Infant 1
Isabel 1
Jeanette 1
Josephine 1
Julia 1
Lavina 1
Lavinia 1
Lettie 1
Lilias 1
Lizzie 1
M.A. 1
Maria 1
Zoe 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 12
William 12
Alexander 9
James 9
Donald 5
Charles 3
David 3
Henry 3
Robert 3
Coles 2
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Frederick 2
Horace 2
Samuel 2
Thomas 2
Alex 1
Alex. 1
Alexandra 1
Alfred 1
Andrew 1
Archibald 1
Arthur 1
Douglas 1
Douglass 1
Eric 1
Geo. 1
George 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Kenneth 1
Leopold 1
Oliver 1
Peter 1
Ramsay 1
Roscoe 1
Rupert 1
Stephen 1
Thos. 1
W.W. 1
Walter 1
Wright 1

FAQ

Bremner surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bremner surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,575 people were recorded with the Bremner surname. That placed it at #1,736 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bremner surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,525 in 2016. That gives Bremner a modern rank of #1,924.

What does the Bremner surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from a place name meaning 'from the high hill.'

What does the Bremner map show?

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