NameCensus.

UK surname

Brereton

A habitational surname indicating someone from any of the various places named Brereton in England.

In the 1881 census there were 1,243 people recorded with the Brereton surname, ranking it #3,267 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,083, ranked #3,105, up from #3,267 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolstanton, London parishes and Sandbach. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cheshire East, Wrexham and Stoke-on-Trent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brereton is 2,227 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 67.6%.

1881 census count

1,243

Ranked #3,267

Modern count

2,083

2016, ranked #3,105

Peak year

1999

2,227 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brereton had 1,243 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,267 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,083 in 2016, ranked #3,105.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,875 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Brereton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brereton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Brereton 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 714 #3,662
1861 historical 643 #4,172
1881 historical 1,243 #3,267
1891 historical 1,413 #3,089
1901 historical 1,779 #2,931
1911 historical 1,875 #2,638
1997 modern 1,921 #3,146
1998 modern 2,213 #2,906
1999 modern 2,227 #2,908
2000 modern 2,220 #2,901
2001 modern 2,169 #2,904
2002 modern 2,194 #2,927
2003 modern 2,123 #2,955
2004 modern 2,105 #2,972
2005 modern 2,033 #3,036
2006 modern 2,033 #3,041
2007 modern 2,074 #3,016
2008 modern 2,103 #2,998
2009 modern 2,167 #2,993
2010 modern 2,203 #3,008
2011 modern 2,192 #2,982
2012 modern 2,094 #3,053
2013 modern 2,113 #3,087
2014 modern 2,118 #3,103
2015 modern 2,095 #3,100
2016 modern 2,083 #3,105

Geography

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Where Breretons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolstanton, London parishes, Sandbach and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cheshire East, Wrexham, Stoke-on-Trent and Cheshire West and Chester. 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 Wolstanton Staffordshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Sandbach Cheshire
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cheshire East 049 Cheshire East
2 Wrexham 020 Wrexham
3 Stoke-on-Trent 008 Stoke-on-Trent
4 Cheshire East 036 Cheshire East
5 Cheshire West and Chester 047 Cheshire West and Chester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Brereton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Brereton

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Brereton, 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 Brereton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Brereton 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Brereton 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

Brereton is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Brereton

The surname Brereton has its origins in England, dating back to the 12th century. It is a locational name derived from the township of Brereton in Cheshire, which itself is believed to come from the Old English words "bræra" meaning "dweller among the heather" and "tun" meaning "farm" or "enclosure."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Brereton can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Breviretone." This suggests that the name was already well-established in the region by the time of the Norman Conquest.

In the 13th century, records show that a William de Brereton held lands in Brereton, Cheshire. This is likely one of the earliest known individuals to bear the surname.

The Brereton family became prominent landowners in Cheshire, and their name is associated with several places in the county, such as Brereton Hall and Brereton Green.

Sir William Brereton (1604-1661) was a notable figure in English history. He was a Member of Parliament and a prominent military commander during the English Civil War, leading Parliamentarian forces against the Royalists.

Another notable Brereton was John Brereton (c. 1556-1598), an English explorer and author who participated in Sir Walter Raleigh's expeditions to the Americas. His account of the voyages, titled "A briefe and true Relation of the Discoverie of the North Part of Virginia," provided valuable insights into the early colonization efforts in North America.

In the 18th century, Sir William Brereton (1718-1779) was a British politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Cheshire.

The Brereton surname also has connections to Ireland, where it is believed to have been introduced by English settlers during the Norman invasion of Ireland in the 12th century.

Throughout its history, the Brereton name has been associated with various noble families and landowners, particularly in Cheshire and the surrounding regions. Despite variations in spelling, such as Brerton, Brereton, and Breretoune, the name has maintained its ties to its English origins and the township of Brereton.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Brereton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brereton 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. Cheshire leads with 458 Breretons recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.07x.

County Total Index
Cheshire 458 17.07x
Lancashire 250 1.73x
Staffordshire 189 4.61x
Middlesex 65 0.53x
Norfolk 46 2.46x
Surrey 28 0.47x
Suffolk 26 1.76x
Shropshire 24 2.29x
Yorkshire 21 0.17x
Caernarfonshire 17 3.46x
Kent 16 0.39x
Berkshire 14 1.53x
Essex 12 0.50x
Gloucestershire 7 0.29x
Anglesey 6 2.79x
Durham 6 0.17x
Hampshire 6 0.24x
Lanarkshire 6 0.15x
Wiltshire 6 0.56x
Cumberland 5 0.48x
Cornwall 4 0.29x
Northamptonshire 4 0.35x
Brecknockshire 3 1.23x
Cambridgeshire 3 0.39x
Channel Islands 3 0.83x
Denbighshire 3 0.65x
Sussex 3 0.15x
Worcestershire 3 0.19x
Bedfordshire 2 0.32x
Devon 2 0.08x
Flintshire 2 0.61x
Hertfordshire 2 0.24x
Royal Navy 2 1.38x
Leicestershire 1 0.07x
Morayshire 1 0.53x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wolstanton in Staffordshire leads with 81 Breretons recorded in 1881 and an index of 65.00x.

Place Total Index
Wolstanton 81 65.00x
Salford 39 9.19x
Stoke Upon Trent 39 8.96x
Sandbach 33 144.23x
Birkenhead 24 11.22x
Shavington Cum Gresty 22 495.50x
North Meols 21 14.87x
Weston In Nantwich 21 972.22x
Audlem 19 300.63x
Alsager 18 269.46x
Liverpool 18 2.05x
Stapeley 18 720.00x
Bangor 17 35.87x
Nantwich 17 54.54x
Over 16 58.67x
Pendleton In Salford 16 9.31x
Runcorn 15 24.25x
Willaston In Nantwich 14 169.08x
Bridgemere 13 2321.43x
Burslem 13 11.06x
Everton 13 2.83x
Halliwell 13 24.77x
West Derby 13 3.08x
Macclesfield 12 10.06x
Toxteth Park 12 2.46x
West Ham 12 2.27x
Audley 11 27.10x
Beswick 11 29.83x
Bethnal Green London 11 2.08x
Bilston 11 13.83x
Congleton 11 23.73x
Manchester 11 1.70x
Ipswich St Margaret 10 19.91x
St Pancras London 10 1.02x
Bosden 9 109.36x
Hulme 9 2.99x
Kirkdale 9 3.71x
Monks Coppenhall 9 8.89x
Preston On Hill 9 386.27x
Tattenhall 9 197.37x
Ashton 8 496.89x
Biddulph 8 34.56x
Bootle Cum Linacre 8 6.99x
Clerkenwell London 8 2.79x
Edgton 8 860.22x
Haslington 8 105.96x
Ipswich St Peter 8 40.14x
Lewisham 8 3.62x
Reading St Giles 8 8.94x
Ardwick 7 5.38x
Cheltenham 7 3.81x
Church Minshull 7 445.86x
Deptford St Paul 7 2.19x
Flitcham Cum Appleton 7 360.82x
Heigham 7 6.98x
Liscard 7 14.48x
Betley 6 175.44x
Blackburn 6 1.56x
Broxton 6 276.50x
Cranage 6 326.09x
Croydon 6 1.83x
Cuddington 6 263.16x
Dalziel 6 14.19x
Elton In Congleton 6 262.01x
Ford 6 55.40x
Hurst 6 50.25x
Mouldsworth 6 789.47x
N Lydbury 6 147.06x
Odd Rode 6 45.15x
Rudheath 6 284.36x
Tranmere 6 6.09x
Warminster 6 25.48x
Wybunbury 6 241.94x
Chowley 5 3125.00x
Egerton 5 943.40x
Litherland 5 16.58x
Lymm 5 25.64x
Newcastle Under Lyme 5 6.89x
Newington 5 1.11x
Pownall Fee 5 41.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 72
Elizabeth 59
Sarah 45
Jane 25
Ann 24
Annie 24
Hannah 23
Alice 22
Ellen 21
Emily 20
Emma 19
Martha 19
Margaret 15
Catherine 13
Anne 12
Harriet 12
Eliza 10
Ada 7
Caroline 7
Fanny 7
Edith 6
Florence 6
Frances 6
Jessie 6
Maria 6
Charlotte 5
Clara 5
Eleanor 5
Harriett 5
Louisa 5
Lucy 5
Minnie 5
Betsy 4
Isabella 4
Amy 3
Anna 3
Julia 3
Lily 3
Matilda 3
Ruth 3
Amelia 2
E. 2
Elizth. 2
Esther 2
Florance 2
Henrietta 2
Kate 2
Kathleen 2
Lilly 2
Margt. 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 77
John 72
Thomas 63
George 46
James 29
Charles 28
Henry 25
Samuel 23
Joseph 18
Arthur 16
Edward 14
Alfred 13
Robert 11
Richard 9
Albert 7
Frederick 7
Edwin 6
Francis 5
Frank 5
Harry 5
Herbert 5
Thos. 5
Walter 5
Edmund 4
Ralph 4
Isaac 3
Peter 3
Wm. 3
Andrew 2
Annie 2
David 2
Edwd. 2
Enoch 2
Ernest 2
Franc 2
Howard 2
Hugh 2
Jno. 2
Joshua 2
Mathew 2
Owen 2
Shovell 2
Benjamin 1
Bernard 1
Cornelius 1
Cuthbert 1
Daniel 1
Earnest 1
Ebenezer 1
Wm.F. 1

FAQ

Brereton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brereton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,243 people were recorded with the Brereton surname. That placed it at #3,267 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brereton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,083 in 2016. That gives Brereton a modern rank of #3,105.

What does the Brereton surname mean?

A habitational surname indicating someone from any of the various places named Brereton in England.

What does the Brereton map show?

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