NameCensus.

UK surname

Brett

An English occupational surname referring to a person who breeds or tends cattle.

In the 1881 census there were 5,656 people recorded with the Brett surname, ranking it #782 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 8,662, ranked #762, up from #782 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Newchurch and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mid Suffolk, Uttlesford and Rother.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brett is 9,381 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 53.1%.

1881 census count

5,656

Ranked #782

Modern count

8,662

2016, ranked #762

Peak year

1999

9,381 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brett had 5,656 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #782 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 8,662 in 2016, ranked #762.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 7,615 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Brett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brett surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Brett 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 3,346 #862
1861 historical 3,172 #910
1881 historical 5,656 #782
1891 historical 5,801 #812
1901 historical 6,985 #793
1911 historical 7,615 #685
1997 modern 8,980 #705
1998 modern 9,308 #708
1999 modern 9,381 #705
2000 modern 9,070 #727
2001 modern 8,875 #727
2002 modern 9,094 #726
2003 modern 8,845 #727
2004 modern 8,785 #733
2005 modern 8,603 #741
2006 modern 8,621 #742
2007 modern 8,668 #741
2008 modern 8,705 #742
2009 modern 8,902 #744
2010 modern 9,049 #746
2011 modern 8,851 #752
2012 modern 8,738 #746
2013 modern 8,904 #744
2014 modern 8,882 #747
2015 modern 8,750 #752
2016 modern 8,662 #762

Geography

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Where Bretts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Newchurch, St Pancras and St John Hackney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mid Suffolk, Uttlesford and Rother. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Newchurch Hampshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 St John Hackney London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mid Suffolk 008 Mid Suffolk
2 Mid Suffolk 010 Mid Suffolk
3 Uttlesford 005 Uttlesford
4 Mid Suffolk 007 Mid Suffolk
5 Rother 007 Rother

Forenames

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First names often paired with Brett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Brett

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Brett 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

Brett is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Brett

The surname Brett has its origins in France and dates back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old French word 'bret', meaning a Briton or someone from Brittany. This suggests that the name was initially given to individuals who came from the region of Brittany or had ancestors from that area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Brett can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as 'Bret', indicating its Norman-French roots.

In medieval England, the name was often associated with people from Brittany who had settled in various parts of the country. Some early examples include Robert Bret, who was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1191, and William Bret, who was mentioned in the Curia Regis Rolls of Berkshire in 1221.

The spelling of the name evolved over time, with variations such as Bret, Brette, and Britt appearing in historical records. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and scribal preferences.

One notable bearer of the surname was Sir Robert Brett (c. 1535-1609), an English diplomat and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another prominent figure was Henry Bret (1578-1644), an English politician who served as Sheriff of London and Middlesex.

In the 17th century, the name Brett was associated with several notable clergymen, including John Brett (1630-1685), an English clergyman and author, and Richard Brett (1637-1711), an English theologian and controversialist.

As the name spread across England, it became linked to various place names, such as Brett's Hall in Suffolk and Brett's Farm in Kent. These place names likely derived from the presence of families bearing the Brett surname in those locations.

Other notable individuals with the surname Brett throughout history include:

1. John Brett (1831-1902), an English landscape painter known for his depictions of coastal scenes. 2. Walter Brett (1909-1981), an American novelist and screenwriter best known for his work on the film "The Knack...and How to Get It." 3. George Sidney Brett (1876-1942), an English cricketer who played for Hampshire and captained the English national team. 4. Jane Brett (1949-), an American actress known for her roles in films such as "Suspiria" and "Tenebrae." 5. Jeremy Brett (1933-1995), an English actor best known for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes in the television series "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes."

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Brett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brett 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 1,079 Bretts recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.95x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 1,079 1.95x
Kent 585 3.09x
Surrey 529 1.96x
Norfolk 396 4.64x
Essex 381 3.48x
Lancashire 330 0.50x
Suffolk 323 4.78x
Sussex 263 2.81x
Yorkshire 246 0.45x
Hampshire 194 1.71x
Hertfordshire 184 4.81x
Nottinghamshire 113 1.51x
Lincolnshire 112 1.26x
Dorset 101 2.77x
Durham 94 0.57x
Cheshire 87 0.71x
Staffordshire 67 0.36x
Cambridgeshire 65 1.85x
Leicestershire 55 0.89x
Warwickshire 55 0.39x
Gloucestershire 45 0.41x
Somerset 41 0.46x
Northumberland 34 0.41x
Channel Islands 31 1.89x
Wiltshire 29 0.59x
Worcestershire 25 0.35x
Shropshire 23 0.48x
Buckinghamshire 21 0.63x
Glamorgan 18 0.19x
Oxfordshire 18 0.53x
Northamptonshire 17 0.33x
Derbyshire 16 0.18x
Devon 13 0.11x
Monmouthshire 11 0.27x
Lanarkshire 10 0.06x
Berkshire 9 0.22x
Angus 7 0.14x
Cornwall 7 0.11x
Denbighshire 7 0.33x
Renfrewshire 6 0.14x
Royal Navy 6 0.91x
Caernarfonshire 5 0.22x
Midlothian 5 0.07x
Morayshire 5 0.58x
Cardiganshire 4 0.30x
Aberdeenshire 3 0.06x
Bedfordshire 3 0.10x
Cumberland 2 0.04x
Flintshire 2 0.13x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.07x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.06x
Ross-shire 1 0.07x
Sutherland 1 0.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 138 Bretts recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.57x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 138 2.57x
Hackney London 103 3.31x
Camberwell 101 2.85x
Newington 85 4.15x
St Pancras London 83 1.86x
Lambeth 66 1.36x
Bethnal Green London 63 2.61x
Minster In Sheppey 52 16.59x
Kensington London 48 1.56x
Shoreditch London 44 1.83x
Bromley London 42 3.44x
Clerkenwell London 41 3.13x
West Ham 41 1.70x
Tottenham 40 4.53x
Sible Hedingham 39 106.59x
Little Hadham 35 216.05x
Oldham 35 1.65x
Faversham 32 17.73x
Liverpool 32 0.80x
Dorking 31 17.08x
Manchester 31 1.05x
Southwark St George Martyr 30 2.69x
Stowmarket 30 38.43x
Ipswich St Margaret 29 12.65x
Paddington London 29 1.42x
Ramsgate 29 9.39x
St Marylebone London 29 0.98x
Birmingham 28 0.60x
Croydon 28 1.87x
Battersea 27 1.32x
Bow London 27 3.82x
Hastings St Mary 27 11.60x
Mile End Old Town London 27 2.29x
Warbleton 27 96.88x
Martlesham 26 274.55x
Blaby 25 100.97x
Everton 25 1.19x
Hastings St Mary In The 25 12.53x
Chelsea London 24 1.44x
Hampstead London 24 2.78x
Heigham 24 5.24x
Lewisham 24 2.38x
Margate St John Baptist 24 6.93x
Shalfleet 24 109.44x
St Luke London 24 2.70x
Enfield 23 6.32x
Helmington Row 23 29.92x
Manuden 23 168.01x
Gorton 22 3.56x
Wandsworth 21 3.93x
Folkestone 20 5.45x
Great Hormead 20 203.05x
Nottingham St Mary 20 1.03x
St George In East London 20 3.83x
Whippingham 20 23.23x
Brent Pelham 19 427.93x
Brighton 19 1.01x
Buckland In Dover 19 30.30x
Leeds 19 0.61x
Walthamstow 19 4.82x
Wolstanton 19 3.34x
Brockdish 18 218.45x
Deptford St Paul 18 1.23x
Great Yarmouth 18 2.55x
Norwich St Benedict 18 47.36x
St George Hanover Square 18 1.84x
Westminster St John 18 2.66x
Batley 17 3.25x
Brading 17 11.25x
Canterbury St Mildred 17 37.86x
Keighley 17 2.90x
Sheffield 17 0.97x
Yaverland 17 586.21x
Barrowford Booth 16 21.97x
Belbroughton 16 42.59x
Berden 16 232.22x
Edmonton 16 3.58x
Gorleston 16 9.32x
Hastings St Leonards 16 11.64x
Ingworth 16 586.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 355
Elizabeth 205
Sarah 187
Jane 108
Ellen 95
Emma 91
Emily 85
Alice 84
Ann 80
Eliza 73
Annie 71
Florence 53
Hannah 53
Charlotte 50
Louisa 48
Harriet 47
Martha 44
Catherine 42
Caroline 41
Edith 40
Margaret 40
Maria 35
Ada 34
Harriett 32
Clara 31
Susan 31
Fanny 30
Frances 30
Anne 26
Lucy 24
Agnes 21
Rose 21
Kate 18
Esther 14
Rebecca 14
Amelia 13
Anna 13
Minnie 13
Sophia 13
Jessie 12
Lydia 12
Gertrude 11
Matilda 11
Susannah 11
Beatrice 10
Bridget 10
Elizth. 9
Julia 9
Ethel 8
Laura 8

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 311
John 289
George 220
James 168
Thomas 162
Charles 146
Henry 124
Alfred 91
Frederick 77
Walter 73
Edward 72
Robert 69
Arthur 62
Joseph 56
Albert 44
Richard 42
Samuel 36
Harry 27
Benjamin 26
Herbert 25
Ernest 23
Francis 22
David 21
Patrick 21
Edwin 20
Frank 18
Stephen 17
Wm. 17
Michael 16
Percy 14
Isaac 13
Daniel 11
Thos. 11
Martin 10
Fredrick 9
Chas. 8
Edgar 8
Willm. 7
Edmund 6
Fred 6
Frederic 6
Josiah 6
Ralph 6
Sidney 6
Willie 6
Augustus 5
Geo. 5
Philip 5
Reginald 5
Robt. 5

FAQ

Brett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 5,656 people were recorded with the Brett surname. That placed it at #782 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 8,662 in 2016. That gives Brett a modern rank of #762.

What does the Brett surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a person who breeds or tends cattle.

What does the Brett map show?

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