NameCensus.

UK surname

Brettell

A surname derived from a place name, likely referring to someone from a location called Brettle or Brittell.

In the 1881 census there were 395 people recorded with the Brettell surname, ranking it #8,037 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 636, ranked #8,321, down from #8,037 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Dudley, Oldswinford and Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shropshire, Dudley and Wolverhampton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brettell is 717 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 61.0%.

1881 census count

395

Ranked #8,037

Modern count

636

2016, ranked #8,321

Peak year

1901

717 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brettell had 395 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,037 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 636 in 2016, ranked #8,321.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 717 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Brettell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brettell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Brettell 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 254 #8,683
1861 historical 255 #9,699
1881 historical 395 #8,037
1891 historical 490 #7,550
1901 historical 717 #6,159
1911 historical 690 #6,151
1997 modern 678 #7,427
1998 modern 705 #7,437
1999 modern 706 #7,470
2000 modern 716 #7,380
2001 modern 696 #7,401
2002 modern 710 #7,428
2003 modern 694 #7,433
2004 modern 694 #7,456
2005 modern 681 #7,508
2006 modern 689 #7,457
2007 modern 678 #7,633
2008 modern 671 #7,721
2009 modern 683 #7,791
2010 modern 707 #7,724
2011 modern 689 #7,782
2012 modern 647 #8,103
2013 modern 655 #8,163
2014 modern 644 #8,324
2015 modern 635 #8,350
2016 modern 636 #8,321

Geography

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Where Brettells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Dudley, Oldswinford, Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire), Birmingham Town: Birmingham and Birmingham Town: Aston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Shropshire, Dudley and Wolverhampton. 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 Dudley Staffordshire
2 Oldswinford Worcestershire
3 Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire) Staffordshire
4 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire
5 Birmingham Town: Aston Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Shropshire 013 Shropshire
2 Dudley 032 Dudley
3 Dudley 028 Dudley
4 Wolverhampton 033 Wolverhampton
5 Dudley 037 Dudley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Brettell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Brettell

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Brettell is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Brettell is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Brettell falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Brettell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Brettell

The surname Brettell originated in England, specifically in the county of Staffordshire, during the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "bred" and "tel," which together translate to "broad glade" or "wide clearing." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a broad meadow or open area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Brettell can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which were medieval census records. The entry mentions a person named Adam de Brettel, indicating the use of the name in Staffordshire during that time.

In the 16th century, the Brettell surname appeared in various parish records across Staffordshire and neighboring counties. For example, the baptism of John Brettell was recorded in Sedgley, Staffordshire, in 1578. Additionally, the marriage of Richard Brettell and Margaret Cowper was documented in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, in 1594.

The Brettell family has a long history in the West Midlands region of England, particularly in Staffordshire and Worcestershire. One notable individual was Sir John Brettell (1634-1691), a wealthy landowner and politician who served as High Sheriff of Worcestershire in 1682.

Another prominent figure was William Brettell (1719-1789), a banker and member of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths in London. He was born in Wolverhampton and made significant contributions to the city's development during the 18th century.

In the 19th century, the Brettell surname was associated with several notable individuals, including John Brettell (1811-1884), a British engineer and inventor who patented several improvements to steam engines and boilers.

Furthermore, Thomas Brettell (1828-1898) was a prominent English architect responsible for designing numerous churches and public buildings in the West Midlands region, including the Wolverhampton Art Gallery and Museum.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Brettell surname in the United States can be traced back to John Brettell, who arrived in Virginia in 1635. Over time, variations of the spelling emerged, such as Brettle and Brittell, reflecting regional dialects and phonetic adaptations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Brettell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brettell 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. Worcestershire leads with 167 Brettells recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.27x.

County Total Index
Worcestershire 167 33.27x
Staffordshire 76 5.86x
Warwickshire 58 5.98x
Middlesex 23 0.60x
Yorkshire 16 0.42x
Durham 13 1.14x
Lancashire 12 0.26x
Surrey 10 0.53x
Kent 9 0.69x
Monmouthshire 6 2.16x
Gloucestershire 3 0.40x
Shropshire 1 0.30x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wollescote in Worcestershire leads with 68 Brettells recorded in 1881 and an index of 1683.17x.

Place Total Index
Wollescote 68 1683.17x
Dudley 32 52.44x
Birmingham 29 8.98x
Rowley Regis 21 58.09x
West Bromwich 21 28.28x
Aston 15 5.62x
Lye 15 179.64x
Wolverhampton 12 12.03x
Bishopwearmouth 10 10.19x
Deptford St Paul 9 8.90x
Kings Norton 9 20.00x
Cradley 8 176.21x
Harborne 8 19.24x
Everton 7 4.82x
Rotherham 7 32.60x
St Luke London 7 11.35x
Halesowen 6 136.05x
Hasbury 6 182.93x
Kingswinford 6 12.74x
Lambeth 6 1.79x
St Pancras London 6 1.94x
St Woollos 6 19.35x
Claines 5 36.31x
Hunslet 5 8.42x
Pedmore 5 757.58x
Walsall Foreign 5 7.46x
Bethnal Green London 4 2.40x
Hampton In Arden 4 470.59x
Liverpool 4 1.44x
Middlesbrough 4 8.06x
Redditch 4 39.29x
Richmond 4 15.24x
The Hill 4 124.22x
Knowle 3 150.75x
Lichfield St Mary 3 80.21x
Bromsgrove 2 11.84x
Darlington 2 4.53x
Edgbaston 2 6.66x
Hackney London 2 0.93x
Meriden 2 181.82x
Mile End Old Town London 2 2.45x
Yardley 2 15.58x
Clifton 1 2.62x
Grendon 1 120.48x
Hewelsfield 1 188.68x
Hylton 1 49.51x
Islington London 1 0.27x
Kidderminster Borough 1 3.40x
Oswestry Town 1 9.41x
Paddington London 1 0.71x
Salford 1 0.75x
Solihull 1 14.35x
Sutton Coldfield 1 9.81x
Tidenham Beachley 1 121.95x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 25
Sarah 20
Elizabeth 11
Eliza 10
Emma 10
Alice 8
Jane 7
Ellen 5
Matilda 5
Ada 4
Ann 4
Annie 4
Caroline 4
Maria 4
Martha 4
Anne 3
Catherine 3
Emily 3
Fanny 3
Hannah 3
Phoebe 3
Frances 2
Honour 2
Lilly 2
Louisa 2
Margaret 2
Selina 2
Cela 1
Christian 1
Clera 1
E.B. 1
Elizth. 1
Elleanor 1
Elsa 1
Esther 1
Eva 1
Evelyn 1
Florence 1
Harriett 1
Honer 1
Ida 1
Isabel 1
Kezia 1
Laura 1
Lottie 1
Lucy 1
May 1
Minnie 1
N.Maud 1
Sushannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Joseph 27
William 24
Samuel 17
John 13
Charles 12
Thomas 11
Alfred 9
James 8
George 7
Henry 7
Edward 6
Walter 5
Arthur 4
Edwin 4
Harry 4
Benjamin 2
David 2
Francis 2
Frederick 2
Albert 1
Andrew 1
Benjn. 1
Caleb 1
Edwd. 1
Eli 1
Elijah 1
Frank 1
Gorge 1
H. 1
Habbrt 1
Herbert 1
Jabez 1
Jacob 1
Jas. 1
Jeremiah 1
Joshua 1
Josiah 1
Leonard 1
Nathaniel 1
Norris 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Sidney 1
Sydney 1
T. 1
Timothy 1
Tom 1
W. 1
W.H.T. 1
Wm.G. 1

FAQ

Brettell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brettell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 395 people were recorded with the Brettell surname. That placed it at #8,037 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brettell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 636 in 2016. That gives Brettell a modern rank of #8,321.

What does the Brettell surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name, likely referring to someone from a location called Brettle or Brittell.

What does the Brettell map show?

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