NameCensus.

UK surname

Brent

A surname of English origin, derived from a place name meaning "burnt land" or "land cleared by burning."

In the 1881 census there were 578 people recorded with the Brent surname, ranking it #6,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,251, ranked #4,781, up from #6,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and St Giles Camberwell. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, East Riding of Yorkshire and Bath and North East Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brent is 1,271 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 116.4%.

1881 census count

578

Ranked #6,027

Modern count

1,251

2016, ranked #4,781

Peak year

1999

1,271 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brent had 578 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,251 in 2016, ranked #4,781.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 824 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Brent surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brent surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Brent 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 464 #5,343
1861 historical 529 #4,961
1881 historical 578 #6,027
1891 historical 660 #5,891
1901 historical 736 #6,018
1911 historical 824 #5,351
1997 modern 1,206 #4,686
1998 modern 1,241 #4,745
1999 modern 1,271 #4,694
2000 modern 1,270 #4,671
2001 modern 1,226 #4,719
2002 modern 1,224 #4,822
2003 modern 1,222 #4,730
2004 modern 1,231 #4,698
2005 modern 1,223 #4,679
2006 modern 1,188 #4,814
2007 modern 1,215 #4,760
2008 modern 1,232 #4,743
2009 modern 1,236 #4,822
2010 modern 1,248 #4,884
2011 modern 1,232 #4,874
2012 modern 1,209 #4,881
2013 modern 1,254 #4,805
2014 modern 1,267 #4,793
2015 modern 1,251 #4,801
2016 modern 1,251 #4,781

Geography

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Where Brents are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, St Giles Camberwell and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, East Riding of Yorkshire, Bath and North East Somerset and Aylesbury Vale. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Giles Camberwell London (South Districts)
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 012 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 005 Cornwall
3 East Riding of Yorkshire 011 East Riding of Yorkshire
4 Bath and North East Somerset 021 Bath and North East Somerset
5 Aylesbury Vale 006 Aylesbury Vale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Brent

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Brent

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Brent is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Brent 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

Brent falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Brent 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 Brent, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Brent

The surname Brent is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "brent," which means "burnt" or "burnt land." This suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive term for someone living on or near a piece of burnt or cleared land.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Brent can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landownership and taxation conducted in England in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. This indicates that the name was already in use during the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, the name appears in various historical records and documents, often associated with locations or place names. For instance, the Hundred Rolls of 1273 mention a William de Brent, suggesting a connection to a place called Brent. Similarly, the Pipe Rolls of 1230 reference a Roger de Brent, potentially linking the name to a locality bearing the same name.

Throughout the centuries, the name Brent has been subject to various spelling variations, including Brente, Brant, and Brunt. These variations reflect the fluidity of surname spelling before standardization became more common.

Notable individuals with the surname Brent have made their mark in various fields. Sir Nathaniel Brent (1573-1652) was an English lawyer and politician who served as Warden of Merton College, Oxford, and as a Member of Parliament. Another prominent figure was Sir Digby Brent (1592-1672), an English politician and landowner who served as a Parliamentarian during the English Civil War.

Other historical figures with the surname Brent include Robert Brent (1764-1819), an American politician and jurist who served as the first Attorney General of Virginia, and Margaret Brent (c. 1601-c. 1671), an English settler in colonial Maryland, known for her advocacy for women's rights and her role in the provincial government.

In the realm of literature, the surname Brent is associated with the British author and playwright Romilly Brent (1925-2016), whose works include plays and novels exploring social issues and family dynamics.

These are just a few examples of the many individuals throughout history who have carried the surname Brent, each contributing to the rich tapestry of its legacy and significance across various fields and eras.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Brent families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brent 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. Middlesex leads with 118 Brents recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.09x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 118 2.09x
Surrey 93 3.38x
Hampshire 63 5.44x
Devon 60 5.10x
Cornwall 47 7.35x
Kent 34 1.76x
Yorkshire 30 0.54x
Somerset 18 1.98x
Durham 17 1.01x
Gloucestershire 17 1.53x
Lancashire 16 0.24x
Essex 13 1.17x
Staffordshire 10 0.52x
Monmouthshire 8 1.96x
Sussex 7 0.74x
Glamorgan 5 0.51x
Buckinghamshire 4 1.17x
Northumberland 4 0.48x
Wiltshire 4 0.80x
Berkshire 2 0.47x
Dorset 2 0.54x
Northamptonshire 2 0.38x
Denbighshire 1 0.47x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.89x
Leicestershire 1 0.16x
Royal Navy 1 1.49x
Worcestershire 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bermondsey in Surrey leads with 21 Brents recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.49x.

Place Total Index
Bermondsey 21 12.49x
Camberwell 20 5.54x
Islington London 17 3.11x
Newington 15 7.19x
Plymouth St Andrew 12 13.25x
East Wellow 11 1774.19x
Great Torrington 10 149.93x
Ringwood 10 134.95x
South Stoneham 10 39.82x
Clerkenwell London 9 6.75x
Lee 9 32.17x
Paddington London 9 4.33x
St Thomas Apostle 9 456.85x
Tottenham 9 10.01x
East Harptree 8 625.00x
Meopham 8 336.13x
St Dominick 8 500.00x
St Pancras London 8 1.76x
Battersea 7 3.37x
Bishopwearmouth 7 4.85x
Brighton 7 3.64x
Paulton 7 168.27x
Southwark St John 7 40.53x
St Luke London 7 7.73x
Bow London 6 8.34x
Bristol St Augustine 6 33.56x
Leeds 6 1.90x
Monkwearmouth Shore 6 18.29x
North Tamerton 6 645.16x
Portsea 6 2.64x
Southampton St Mary 6 8.24x
Southwark St George Martyr 6 5.28x
St Marylebone London 6 1.99x
Walthamstow 6 14.95x
Ardwick 5 8.27x
Bethnal Green London 5 2.04x
Bratton Clovelly 5 431.03x
Chelsea London 5 2.94x
Gwennap 5 41.46x
Hackney London 5 1.58x
Holdenhurst 5 16.47x
Holsworthy 5 150.60x
Hunslet 5 5.73x
Kirk Hammerton 5 925.93x
Linkinhorne 5 112.36x
Llanwonno 5 14.15x
Norwood 5 38.73x
Plymouth Charles The 5 9.65x
St George Hanover Square 5 5.02x
Trevethin 5 12.97x
Walsall Foreign 5 5.08x
Bristol Temple 4 54.87x
Cheadle 4 43.67x
Croydon 4 2.62x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 4 7.97x
Pickering 4 56.74x
Plumstead 4 6.23x
Ryde 4 16.08x
Theydon Bois 4 236.69x
Toxteth Park 4 1.76x
Whitechapel London 4 7.19x
Woolfardisworthy 4 235.29x
Beckenham 3 11.91x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 3 2.88x
Bugthorpe 3 652.17x
Cranford 3 309.28x
Exeter St Sidwell 3 11.14x
Greenwich 3 3.34x
Hammersmith London 3 2.16x
Hursley 3 111.52x
Lambeth 3 0.61x
Poughill 3 384.62x
Southwark Christchurch 3 11.34x
Stoke Poges 3 72.12x
Wandsworth 3 5.52x
West Ham 3 1.22x
Horfield 2 17.94x
Maker 2 33.84x
Manchester 2 0.66x
St Woollos 2 4.39x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 39
Sarah 22
Elizabeth 20
Jane 16
Eliza 12
Alice 11
Ann 10
Emily 9
Susan 9
Annie 8
Emma 8
Caroline 6
Fanny 6
Florence 6
Ellen 5
Agnes 4
Harriet 4
Louisa 4
Margaret 4
Martha 4
Amy 3
Bessie 3
Charlotte 3
Edith 3
Esther 3
Frances 3
Harriett 3
Jessie 3
Julia 3
Laura 3
Rosa 3
Ada 2
Bertha 2
Dora 2
Gertrude 2
Grace 2
Hannah 2
Infant 2
Isabella 2
Janetta 2
Kate 2
Lilly 2
Maria 2
Matilda 2
Maud 2
Rebecca 2
Susannah 2
C.Michell 1
Elizth. 1
Ernestina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 42
John 27
James 22
Henry 16
Thomas 15
Charles 13
George 13
Samuel 10
Edward 8
Arthur 7
Frederick 5
Geo. 5
Jno. 5
Wm. 5
Alfred 4
Edwin 4
Walter 4
Ernest 3
Francis 3
Joseph 3
Richard 3
Albert 2
Benjamin 2
Daniel 2
Herbert 2
Robert 2
Alma 1
Anthony 1
Clara 1
E. 1
Edgar 1
Edmund 1
Emanuel 1
Enock 1
Eugene 1
Frank 1
Gilbert 1
Harry 1
Isaac 1
Jesse 1
Jessie 1
Josiah 1
Julius 1
Levan 1
Nelson 1
Percy 1
Philip 1
Reuben 1
Robt. 1
Wm.S. 1

FAQ

Brent surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brent surname in 1881?

In 1881, 578 people were recorded with the Brent surname. That placed it at #6,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brent surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,251 in 2016. That gives Brent a modern rank of #4,781.

What does the Brent surname mean?

A surname of English origin, derived from a place name meaning "burnt land" or "land cleared by burning."

What does the Brent map show?

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