NameCensus.

UK surname

Brewin

An English surname derived from an occupation related to brewing beer or ale.

In the 1881 census there were 1,082 people recorded with the Brewin surname, ranking it #3,670 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,641, ranked #3,796, down from #3,670 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Burton-on-Trent, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Loughborough. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Blaby, Hinckley and Bosworth and Bolsover.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brewin is 1,798 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 51.7%.

1881 census count

1,082

Ranked #3,670

Modern count

1,641

2016, ranked #3,796

Peak year

1999

1,798 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brewin had 1,082 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,670 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,641 in 2016, ranked #3,796.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,714 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Brewin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brewin surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Brewin 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 665 #3,904
1861 historical 626 #4,275
1881 historical 1,082 #3,670
1891 historical 1,205 #3,559
1901 historical 1,426 #3,562
1911 historical 1,714 #2,857
1997 modern 1,737 #3,434
1998 modern 1,787 #3,468
1999 modern 1,798 #3,479
2000 modern 1,771 #3,511
2001 modern 1,725 #3,530
2002 modern 1,743 #3,577
2003 modern 1,678 #3,620
2004 modern 1,660 #3,652
2005 modern 1,636 #3,662
2006 modern 1,619 #3,704
2007 modern 1,639 #3,697
2008 modern 1,628 #3,739
2009 modern 1,669 #3,742
2010 modern 1,693 #3,777
2011 modern 1,687 #3,732
2012 modern 1,697 #3,649
2013 modern 1,707 #3,694
2014 modern 1,685 #3,745
2015 modern 1,666 #3,759
2016 modern 1,641 #3,796

Geography

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Where Brewins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Burton-on-Trent, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Loughborough, Barrow-on-Soar (Barrow-on-Soar, Mountsorrel, Woodhouse, Woodhouse Eaves, Maplewell), Beaumanor, Roth and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Blaby, Hinckley and Bosworth, Bolsover and Newark and Sherwood. 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 Burton-on-Trent Staffordshire
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 Loughborough Leicestershire
4 Barrow-on-Soar (Barrow-on-Soar, Mountsorrel, Woodhouse, Woodhouse Eaves, Maplewell), Beaumanor, Roth Leicestershire
5 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Blaby 013 Blaby
2 Hinckley and Bosworth 001 Hinckley and Bosworth
3 Hinckley and Bosworth 002 Hinckley and Bosworth
4 Bolsover 006 Bolsover
5 Newark and Sherwood 001 Newark and Sherwood

Forenames

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First names often paired with Brewin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Brewin

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

Brewin is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Brewin

The surname Brewin originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "brew" and "wyn," which collectively refer to the occupation of a brewer or tavern keeper. The name is thought to have first appeared in areas of England where brewing and alehouses were prevalent, such as Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Brewin can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1230, which mention a Roger le Brewin. Additionally, the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire from 1327 list a Thomas Brewyn, suggesting that variations in spelling were common during this time.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, including Brewyn, Brewyne, and Brewynge, reflecting the influence of regional dialects and the lack of standardized spelling conventions. During this period, some notable individuals bearing the name included John Brewyn, a merchant from Bristol recorded in 1379, and William Brewyn, a landowner in Worcestershire mentioned in the Court Rolls of 1401.

As brewing became a more established industry, the Brewin surname gained prominence. In the 16th century, records show a Thomas Brewin who owned a brewery in Nottinghamshire, and a John Brewin who was a prominent figure in the brewing trade in London. The latter's descendant, William Brewin (1565-1632), became a respected citizen and alderman in the city.

Over the centuries, several individuals with the Brewin surname made significant contributions to various fields. Robert Brewin (1721-1799) was a renowned English architect responsible for designing several notable buildings in London. John Brewin (1776-1858) was a prominent Welsh Baptist minister and author, known for his work in promoting education and religious freedom.

In the literary world, the name is associated with Robert Brevyn (fl. 1340), an English poet and author of the romance "The Chevelere Assigne." Additionally, John Brewin (1572-1627) was a notable English writer and translator, best known for his English translation of Rabelais' "Gargantua and Pantagruel."

The Brewin surname has also been carried by notable figures in more recent history, such as Sir Robert Brewin (1880-1957), a British industrialist and philanthropist, and John Brewin (1905-1989), a prominent Australian journalist and war correspondent during World War II.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Brewin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brewin 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. Leicestershire leads with 537 Brewins recorded in 1881 and an index of 46.06x.

County Total Index
Leicestershire 537 46.06x
Lincolnshire 111 6.60x
Yorkshire 88 0.84x
Derbyshire 66 4.01x
Nottinghamshire 64 4.52x
Staffordshire 38 1.07x
Lancashire 24 0.19x
Surrey 22 0.43x
Middlesex 17 0.16x
Gloucestershire 14 0.68x
Kent 11 0.31x
Northamptonshire 11 1.11x
Cambridgeshire 10 1.50x
Cheshire 10 0.43x
Warwickshire 10 0.38x
Berkshire 6 0.76x
Sussex 6 0.34x
Brecknockshire 5 2.38x
Shropshire 5 0.55x
Cumberland 4 0.44x
Oxfordshire 4 0.62x
Buckinghamshire 3 0.47x
Durham 2 0.06x
Hampshire 2 0.09x
Norfolk 2 0.12x
Bedfordshire 1 0.18x
Dorset 1 0.14x
Monmouthshire 1 0.13x
Rutland 1 1.30x
Somerset 1 0.06x
Worcestershire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leicester St Margaret in Leicestershire leads with 113 Brewins recorded in 1881 and an index of 39.74x.

Place Total Index
Leicester St Margaret 113 39.74x
Loughborough 67 126.63x
Leicester St Mary 42 44.59x
Melton Mowbray 33 157.44x
Burton Upon Trent 28 33.71x
Manthorpe Cum Little 22 171.21x
Ecclesall Bierlow 20 9.44x
Sheffield 20 6.03x
Wigston Magna 18 116.43x
Radford 17 23.61x
Heanor 16 64.99x
Nottingham St Mary 16 4.36x
Deeping St Nicholas 15 304.88x
Leicester St Nicholas 15 227.27x
Rothley 15 395.78x
Dishley Cum Thorpacre 13 1710.53x
Glenfield 13 575.22x
Spittlegate 13 55.89x
Castle Donnington 12 124.10x
Ashby De La Zouch 11 40.70x
Thornton 11 705.13x
Thrussington 11 502.28x
Horninglow 9 53.83x
Liscard 9 21.52x
Nether Broughton 9 552.15x
Peterborough 9 12.57x
Swannington 9 208.82x
Aston 8 1.10x
Barsby 8 879.12x
Boston 8 15.68x
Church Gresley 8 30.55x
Horfield 8 38.54x
Thringstone 8 179.37x
Winshill 8 76.19x
Anstey 7 151.84x
Barwell 7 113.45x
Deptford St Paul 7 2.53x
Derby St Alkmund 7 14.19x
Eaton 7 555.56x
Evington 7 432.10x
Giggleswick 7 198.86x
Great Ponton 7 406.98x
Liverpool 7 0.92x
March 7 31.39x
Newchurch 7 6.86x
Newstead 7 201.15x
Quorndon 7 107.03x
Ruskington 7 163.17x
Sandal Magna 7 45.43x
Tooting Graveney 7 49.09x
Baston 6 215.05x
Belgrave 6 22.81x
Bulwell 6 19.47x
Colsterworth 6 168.54x
Derby St Werburgh 6 6.31x
Gainsborough 6 15.14x
Goadby Marwood 6 1071.43x
Grantham 6 27.38x
Great Bowden 6 56.60x
Hucknall Torkard 6 16.69x
Mountsorrel North End 6 266.67x
Nether Hallam 6 4.26x
Richmond 6 8.36x
Stanton Under Bardon 6 645.16x
Arundel 5 50.35x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 5 5.15x
Cirencester 5 17.91x
Devynnock 5 99.60x
Fulham London 5 3.28x
Hoby 5 446.43x
Kintbury 5 81.97x
Mile End Old Town London 5 2.23x
Normanton 5 15.97x
Wakefield 5 6.25x
Basford 4 6.12x
Blaby 4 85.29x
Blackfordby 4 107.53x
Ilkeston 4 8.67x
Mitcham 4 12.35x
Scalford 4 161.94x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 69
John 66
Thomas 46
George 40
James 28
Joseph 27
Edward 24
Alfred 17
Arthur 14
Charles 14
Frederick 13
Samuel 12
Harry 11
Robert 10
Albert 9
Henry 9
Richard 8
Benjamin 6
Edwin 6
Ernest 5
Wm. 5
Francis 4
Fred 4
Herbert 4
Thos. 4
Tom 4
Walter 4
Bartholemew 2
Daniel 2
Edmund 2
Ephraim 2
Frank 2
Geo. 2
Jacob 2
Joshua 2
Oliver 2
Percy 2
Sidney 2
Thos.J. 2
Ambrose 1
Amos 1
Auther 1
Ben 1
David 1
Earnest 1
Ed. 1
Edgar 1
Eli 1
Geoe. 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Brewin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brewin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,082 people were recorded with the Brewin surname. That placed it at #3,670 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brewin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,641 in 2016. That gives Brewin a modern rank of #3,796.

What does the Brewin surname mean?

An English surname derived from an occupation related to brewing beer or ale.

What does the Brewin map show?

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