UK surname
Irish surname derived from the Old Irish word "brennán" meaning "a descendant of Bran".
In the 1881 census there were 131 people recorded with the Brennon surname, ranking it #16,824 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 45, ranked #35,162, down from #16,824 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Manchester and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brennon is 192 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 65.6%.
1881 census count
131
Ranked #16,824
Modern count
45
2016, ranked #35,162
Peak year
1891
192 bearers
Map years
4
1861 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Brennon surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Brennon 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 | 79 | #19,712 |
| 1861 | historical | 155 | #14,881 |
| 1881 | historical | 131 | #16,824 |
| 1891 | historical | 192 | #15,383 |
| 1901 | historical | 84 | #24,759 |
| 1911 | historical | 125 | #19,932 |
| 1997 | modern | 42 | #33,459 |
| 1998 | modern | 41 | #33,747 |
| 1999 | modern | 35 | #34,418 |
| 2000 | modern | 35 | #34,420 |
| 2001 | modern | 32 | #34,537 |
| 2002 | modern | 36 | #34,480 |
| 2003 | modern | 33 | #34,773 |
| 2004 | modern | 35 | #34,783 |
| 2005 | modern | 33 | #35,119 |
| 2006 | modern | 33 | #35,329 |
| 2007 | modern | 38 | #35,153 |
| 2008 | modern | 42 | #34,994 |
| 2009 | modern | 48 | #34,798 |
| 2010 | modern | 51 | #34,773 |
| 2011 | modern | 48 | #34,926 |
| 2012 | modern | 44 | #35,164 |
| 2013 | modern | 50 | #34,891 |
| 2014 | modern | 51 | #34,865 |
| 2015 | modern | 46 | #35,109 |
| 2016 | modern | 45 | #35,162 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Manchester, Lambeth, Liverpool and Maidstone, Linton, Loddington. 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 | Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside | Durham |
| 2 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 3 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 4 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| 5 | Maidstone, Linton, Loddington | Kent |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Brennon 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 Brennon, 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 Brennon surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Brennon 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, Brennon 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 Brennon is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Brennon, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Brennon originated in Ireland, with its roots dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Gaelic word "brennan," which means "descendant of Bran." Bran was a renowned figure in Irish mythology, associated with the concept of sovereignty and kingship.
The Brennon name is closely linked to the ancient territory of Bréifne, which encompassed parts of modern-day counties Cavan and Leitrim in Ireland. This region was once ruled by the Uí Bhriúin dynasty, who claimed descent from Bran. The name Brennon likely emerged as a variant spelling of the Gaelic surname Ó Branaín or Ó Branáin.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Brennon surname can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history written in the 17th century. The annals mention several individuals with the surname, including Tadhg Ó Branáin, who was listed as the Chief of Muintir Bhranáin in 1233.
In the 16th century, the Brennon surname appeared in the Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns, a collection of documents related to land grants and appointments in Ireland. One notable entry is that of Thomas Brennon, who received a pardon from King Henry VIII in 1537.
Throughout history, several prominent individuals have borne the Brennon surname. One example is Sir Robert Brennon (1625-1689), an Irish soldier and military commander who served in the Confederate Wars and later became a member of the Irish Privy Council under King James II.
Another notable figure is John Brennon (1768-1839), an Irish Catholic priest and educator who founded the Society of St. Patrick in 1808, dedicated to the education of underprivileged youth in Ireland.
In the literary world, the name is associated with Elizabeth Brennon (1855-1935), an Irish novelist and poet who wrote under the pen name "Philomena." Her works often explored themes of Irish identity and the struggles of the rural working class.
The Brennon surname also has connections to the United States, with Patrick Brennon (1794-1868) being one of the earliest recorded individuals with this name to immigrate to America. He settled in New York and became a prominent figure in the Irish Catholic community.
Another notable American with the Brennon surname was John Brennon (1906-1988), a prolific author and journalist who wrote extensively about Irish-American culture and the labor movement during the mid-20th century.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brennon 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. Lancashire leads with 45 Brennons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.97x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 45 | 2.97x |
| Middlesex | 28 | 2.19x |
| Yorkshire | 13 | 1.03x |
| Surrey | 12 | 1.93x |
| Durham | 9 | 2.37x |
| Hampshire | 8 | 3.05x |
| Cheshire | 5 | 1.77x |
| Warwickshire | 4 | 1.24x |
| Staffordshire | 3 | 0.70x |
| Kent | 2 | 0.46x |
| Buckinghamshire | 1 | 1.29x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 0.60x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kirkdale in Lancashire leads with 13 Brennons recorded in 1881 and an index of 50.96x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Kirkdale | 13 | 50.96x |
| Lambeth | 11 | 9.87x |
| Clerkenwell London | 9 | 29.84x |
| Islington London | 8 | 6.46x |
| Burnley | 7 | 54.82x |
| Farnborough | 7 | 254.55x |
| Manchester | 7 | 10.27x |
| Balby Cum Hexthorpe | 5 | 331.13x |
| Bishopwearmouth | 5 | 15.32x |
| Liverpool | 5 | 5.43x |
| Sheffield | 4 | 9.92x |
| Tanfield | 4 | 88.50x |
| Birmingham | 3 | 2.79x |
| Bromley London | 3 | 10.67x |
| Chiswick | 3 | 42.98x |
| Newton | 3 | 25.66x |
| St Gilesin Fields London | 3 | 277.78x |
| Birkenhead | 2 | 8.89x |
| Ormesby | 2 | 58.82x |
| Prescot | 2 | 72.99x |
| Stockport | 2 | 13.77x |
| Stoke Upon Trent | 2 | 4.37x |
| Toxteth Park | 2 | 3.90x |
| Aighton Bailey | 1 | 136.99x |
| Ashton Under Lyne | 1 | 3.02x |
| Aspull | 1 | 28.01x |
| Aston | 1 | 1.13x |
| Deptford St Paul | 1 | 2.97x |
| Everton | 1 | 2.07x |
| Hampstead London | 1 | 5.03x |
| Heap | 1 | 12.44x |
| High Leigh | 1 | 270.27x |
| Hulme | 1 | 3.16x |
| Kingston On Thames | 1 | 6.68x |
| Leeds | 1 | 1.40x |
| Portsea | 1 | 1.95x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 1.47x |
| Stainforth In Settle | 1 | 1111.11x |
| Stourbridge | 1 | 23.31x |
| Swanscombe | 1 | 51.02x |
| Upton Cum Chalvey | 1 | 32.47x |
| Wednesbury | 1 | 9.28x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Brennon 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 Brennon 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 Brennon households.
FAQ
In 1881, 131 people were recorded with the Brennon surname. That placed it at #16,824 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 45 in 2016. That gives Brennon a modern rank of #35,162.
Irish surname derived from the Old Irish word "brennán" meaning "a descendant of Bran".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Brennon 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.