NameCensus.

UK surname

Brettle

In the 1881 census there were 310 people recorded with the Brettle surname, ranking it #9,488 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 546, ranked #9,334, up from #9,488 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Sedgley, Dudley and Rowley Regis. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Dudley and Carmarthenshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brettle is 570 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 76.1%.

1881 census count

310

Ranked #9,488

Modern count

546

2016, ranked #9,334

Peak year

1998

570 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brettle had 310 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,488 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 546 in 2016, ranked #9,334.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 461 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Brettle surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brettle surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Brettle 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 166 #11,986
1861 historical 155 #14,881
1881 historical 310 #9,488
1891 historical 305 #10,976
1901 historical 354 #10,347
1911 historical 461 #8,344
1997 modern 565 #8,493
1998 modern 570 #8,685
1999 modern 570 #8,736
2000 modern 560 #8,819
2001 modern 549 #8,811
2002 modern 565 #8,802
2003 modern 561 #8,711
2004 modern 560 #8,754
2005 modern 551 #8,767
2006 modern 549 #8,824
2007 modern 539 #9,025
2008 modern 539 #9,098
2009 modern 547 #9,215
2010 modern 549 #9,380
2011 modern 554 #9,212
2012 modern 543 #9,264
2013 modern 560 #9,196
2014 modern 565 #9,191
2015 modern 562 #9,141
2016 modern 546 #9,334

Geography

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Where Brettles are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Sedgley, Dudley, Rowley Regis, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Oldswinford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Dudley and Carmarthenshire. 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 Sedgley Staffordshire
2 Dudley Staffordshire
3 Rowley Regis Staffordshire
4 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
5 Oldswinford Worcestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Dudley 039 Dudley
2 Dudley 034 Dudley
3 Dudley 033 Dudley
4 Dudley 043 Dudley
5 Carmarthenshire 015 Carmarthenshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Brettle

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Brettle

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Brettle surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Brettle household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

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Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Brettle is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Brettle 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

Brettle falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Brettle is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

1881 census detail

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Brettle families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brettle 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 151 Brettles recorded in 1881 and an index of 38.12x.

County Total Index
Worcestershire 151 38.12x
Staffordshire 102 9.96x
Warwickshire 11 1.44x
Yorkshire 8 0.27x
Lancashire 7 0.19x
Nottinghamshire 6 1.47x
Surrey 6 0.41x
Middlesex 5 0.16x
Monmouthshire 5 2.28x
Cheshire 3 0.45x
Buckinghamshire 2 1.09x
Herefordshire 2 1.61x
Lanarkshire 2 0.20x
Norfolk 1 0.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lye in Worcestershire leads with 50 Brettles recorded in 1881 and an index of 758.73x.

Place Total Index
Lye 50 758.73x
Sedgley 46 120.96x
Halesowen 28 804.60x
Rowley Regis 23 80.59x
Wollescote 20 626.96x
Dudley 15 31.15x
Upperswinford 11 328.36x
Birmingham 10 3.92x
Hasbury 8 308.88x
Hawn 8 1081.08x
Thurgoland 8 394.09x
Harborne 7 21.33x
Kinver 6 203.39x
Carlton 5 107.07x
Christchurch 5 73.75x
Claines 5 46.00x
Newington 5 4.46x
West Bromwich 5 8.53x
Horninglow 4 82.99x
Wolverhampton 4 5.08x
Bilston 3 15.12x
Chester Holy Trinity 3 95.54x
Mile End Old Town London 3 4.65x
Parr 3 23.29x
Walsall Foreign 3 5.67x
Belbroughton 2 97.56x
Cradley 2 55.87x
Govan 2 0.82x
Great Missenden 2 88.50x
Hereford All Sts 2 35.09x
Islington London 2 0.68x
Much Woolton 2 40.98x
Gradley 1 52.36x
Kidderminster Borough 1 4.31x
Kingswinford 1 2.69x
Leamington Priors 1 5.31x
Little Hulton 1 16.78x
Liverpool 1 0.46x
Nottingham St Mary 1 0.95x
Rollesby 1 172.41x
Sutton 1 9.35x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 27
Elizabeth 17
Sarah 10
Ann 7
Hannah 7
Jane 6
Alice 4
Eliza 4
Emma 4
Catherine 3
Esther 3
Maria 3
Martha 3
Matilda 3
Susannah 3
Annie 2
Betsey 2
Edith 2
Ellen 2
Harriet 2
Harriett 2
Lydia 2
Mercy 2
Myra 2
Phoebe 2
Anne 1
Bettey 1
Burtha 1
Caroline 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Dinah 1
Ellenor 1
Emila 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Georgeni 1
J.E. 1
Jessmine 1
Linda 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Margaret 1
Margarett 1
Margret 1
Mariah 1
May 1
Meria 1
Mona 1
Susehannah 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Brettle surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brettle surname in 1881?

In 1881, 310 people were recorded with the Brettle surname. That placed it at #9,488 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brettle surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 546 in 2016. That gives Brettle a modern rank of #9,334.

What does the Brettle map show?

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