NameCensus.

UK surname

Brentnall

A locational surname deriving from a place named Brentnall, possibly in England.

In the 1881 census there were 550 people recorded with the Brentnall surname, ranking it #6,274 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 770, ranked #7,131, down from #6,274 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, St Werburgh and Nottingham St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Amber Valley and Bolsover.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brentnall is 916 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 40.0%.

1881 census count

550

Ranked #6,274

Modern count

770

2016, ranked #7,131

Peak year

1911

916 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brentnall had 550 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,274 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 770 in 2016, ranked #7,131.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 916 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Brentnall surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brentnall surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Brentnall 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 333 #7,015
1861 historical 318 #7,999
1881 historical 550 #6,274
1891 historical 723 #5,460
1901 historical 873 #5,251
1911 historical 916 #4,879
1997 modern 866 #6,148
1998 modern 904 #6,142
1999 modern 914 #6,128
2000 modern 883 #6,259
2001 modern 868 #6,229
2002 modern 859 #6,417
2003 modern 840 #6,393
2004 modern 850 #6,353
2005 modern 834 #6,392
2006 modern 833 #6,404
2007 modern 822 #6,545
2008 modern 825 #6,572
2009 modern 820 #6,741
2010 modern 835 #6,787
2011 modern 839 #6,682
2012 modern 777 #7,026
2013 modern 807 #6,903
2014 modern 805 #6,965
2015 modern 783 #7,063
2016 modern 770 #7,131

Geography

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Where Brentnalls are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, St Werburgh, Nottingham St Mary, Alfreton and Heanor. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Amber Valley and Bolsover. 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 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
2 St Werburgh Derbyshire
3 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire
4 Alfreton Derbyshire
5 Heanor Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Amber Valley 008 Amber Valley
2 Bolsover 009 Bolsover
3 Amber Valley 001 Amber Valley
4 Amber Valley 006 Amber Valley
5 Amber Valley 003 Amber Valley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Brentnall

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Brentnall

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Inner London Working Professionals

Within London, Brentnall is most associated with areas classed as Inner London Working Professionals, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 primarily Inner London neighbourhoods are more densely populated than the Supergroup average. Residents have a younger over-all age profile than the Supergroup as a whole, and are less likely to be owner occupiers. Full time employment is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup and multiple car ownership is uncommon. Chinese and non-EU-born European migrants are less in evidence than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Brentnall is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Brentnall 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 Brentnall is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Brentnall

The surname Brentnall is of English origin, with its roots tracing back to the medieval era. It is believed to have originated from a place name, as many surnames did during that time. The earliest recorded spelling of the name is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Brentenhale," referring to a settlement in Cheshire.

The name Brentnall is derived from the Old English words "brent," meaning "burnt or burnt clearing," and "halh," meaning "a nook or corner of land." This suggests that the name may have originated from a location that was once a cleared or burnt area of land, perhaps where early settlers established a community or farmstead.

In the 13th century, records show variations of the name spelling, such as "Brentenhale," "Brentnall," and "Brentnall." These variations likely occurred due to local dialects and the inconsistencies of spelling during that period.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was John Brentnall, who was mentioned in the Cheshire County Records of 1327. Another early record is that of William Brentnall, who was listed in the Cheshire Wills and Inventories of 1589.

Over the centuries, several notable individuals have carried the Brentnall surname. Thomas Brentnall (1634-1708) was an English Quaker minister and writer from Cheshire. Richard Brentnall (1705-1772) was a clockmaker and watchmaker from Lancashire, known for his intricate timepieces.

In the 19th century, James Brentnall (1809-1875) was a prominent architect from Manchester, responsible for designing several churches and public buildings in the region. Another notable figure was John Brentnall (1839-1916), a businessman and philanthropist from Cheshire, who founded the Brentnall Trust for charitable purposes.

One of the most recent notable individuals with the Brentnall surname was Alfred Brentnall (1890-1976), a British artist and illustrator known for his depictions of rural life and landscapes.

While the Brentnall name originated in Cheshire, it eventually spread to other parts of England, and later, to other parts of the world through immigration. However, its roots can be traced back to the medieval period and the Old English language, reflecting the rich history and evolution of English surnames.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Brentnall families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brentnall 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. Derbyshire leads with 240 Brentnalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.52x.

County Total Index
Derbyshire 240 28.52x
Nottinghamshire 83 11.46x
Yorkshire 39 0.73x
Staffordshire 36 1.98x
Cheshire 30 2.53x
Lancashire 28 0.44x
Middlesex 19 0.35x
Warwickshire 15 1.11x
Gloucestershire 13 1.23x
Leicestershire 11 1.85x
Lincolnshire 9 1.05x
Flintshire 6 4.15x
Bedfordshire 5 1.80x
Surrey 4 0.15x
Hertfordshire 3 0.81x
Kent 3 0.16x
Roxburghshire 3 3.08x
Durham 2 0.13x
Hampshire 1 0.09x
Shropshire 1 0.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Heanor in Derbyshire leads with 58 Brentnalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 461.05x.

Place Total Index
Heanor 58 461.05x
Alfreton 51 199.53x
Derby St Werburgh 33 67.92x
Derby All Sts 20 284.50x
Nuthall 16 588.24x
Leek Lowe 14 58.00x
Nottingham St Mary 14 7.47x
Congleton 12 58.54x
Stoke Upon Trent 12 6.24x
Bristol St Michael 11 121.68x
Burton Upon Trent 10 23.56x
Chesterfield 10 31.70x
Basford 9 26.95x
Staveley 9 60.24x
Codnor Loscoe 8 120.12x
Eastwood 8 123.46x
Kegworth 8 202.02x
Linthorpe 8 25.17x
Chilwell 7 364.58x
Greasley 7 42.84x
Ilkeston 7 29.67x
Litchurch 7 20.67x
Smalley 7 466.67x
St Martin Lincoln 7 87.83x
Stockport 7 11.46x
Buglawton 6 209.79x
Chorlton On Medlock 6 5.92x
Codnor Park 6 304.57x
Islington London 6 1.15x
Middlesbrough 6 8.65x
Mold 6 45.80x
Radford 6 16.30x
Rotherham 6 19.98x
Ruswarp Hawsker Cum 6 454.55x
Gorton 5 8.34x
Long Eaton 5 45.00x
Luton 5 10.38x
Aston 4 1.07x
Beeston 4 48.08x
Birmingham 4 0.89x
Bowling 4 7.58x
Camberwell 4 1.17x
Derby St Peter 4 14.93x
Mansfield 4 15.96x
Moss Side 4 11.92x
North Meols 4 6.41x
Ratcliffe London 4 13.48x
Ripley 4 38.46x
Stainton In 4 645.16x
Sutton Coldfield 4 28.07x
Blackley 3 26.83x
Hawick 3 13.77x
Mile End Old Town London 3 2.62x
Bollington In 2 18.94x
Bristol St Augustine 2 11.76x
Cheadle 2 8.83x
Darlington 2 3.24x
Hemel Hempstead 2 11.98x
Isleworth 2 8.37x
Leeds 2 0.67x
Normanton 2 28.13x
Nottingham Standard 2 108.11x
Polesworth 2 31.06x
Risley 2 487.80x
Skegby 2 45.05x
Tonbridge 2 3.02x
Wuerdle Wardle 2 10.33x
Aldershot 1 2.71x
Blackwell 1 24.15x
Bulwell 1 6.35x
Derby St Alkmund 1 3.97x
Hampstead London 1 1.19x
Leicester St Margaret 1 0.69x
Manningham 1 1.52x
Radford Lenton 1 55.56x
Repton 1 31.45x
St Botolph Aldersgate 1 16.23x
Sudbury 1 104.17x
Wortley In Bramley 1 2.37x
Wysall 1 208.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 43
Sarah 26
Elizabeth 17
Annie 13
Emma 12
Alice 11
Hannah 11
Ellen 8
Harriet 8
Martha 8
Emily 7
Ann 6
Anne 6
Catherine 5
Charlotte 5
Eliza 5
Fanny 5
Florence 4
Selina 4
Amelia 3
Bertha 3
Caroline 3
Edith 3
Frances 3
Ada 2
Adeline 2
Betsy 2
Clara 2
Ethel 2
Johanna 2
Kate 2
Lydia 2
Mabel 2
Margaret 2
Maria 2
Allice 1
Beatrice 1
Christiana 1
E. 1
Eadie 1
Elen 1
Elizth.A. 1
Henrietta 1
Henritta 1
Juliana 1
Ketty 1
Lillian 1
Lily 1
Louisa 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 35
John 32
George 28
Thomas 15
Joseph 14
Alfred 12
Henry 12
Charles 11
Francis 9
Harry 9
James 7
Albert 6
Samuel 6
Frank 4
Arthur 3
Ernest 3
Frederick 3
Harold 3
Alf. 2
Benjamin 2
Edward 2
Edwin 2
Ernald 2
Fredrick 2
Geo. 2
Jasper 2
Matthew 2
Moses 2
Walter 2
Willm. 2
Allen 1
C. 1
Charlie 1
Cornelious 1
Earnest 1
Edmund 1
Fred 1
Fredk.Saml. 1
Geo.C. 1
German 1
Herbert 1
Lilas 1
Lionel 1
Marshall 1
Mathew 1
Paul 1
Percival 1
Percy 1
Pharoah 1
Reuben 1

FAQ

Brentnall surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brentnall surname in 1881?

In 1881, 550 people were recorded with the Brentnall surname. That placed it at #6,274 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brentnall surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 770 in 2016. That gives Brentnall a modern rank of #7,131.

What does the Brentnall surname mean?

A locational surname deriving from a place named Brentnall, possibly in England.

What does the Brentnall map show?

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