NameCensus.

UK surname

Brewster

An occupational surname referring to a brewer of beer or ale.

In the 1881 census there were 2,901 people recorded with the Brewster surname, ranking it #1,544 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,495, ranked #1,512, up from #1,544 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Newark-on-Trent, East Stoke (East Stoke), Park Leys, Rolleston (Fiskerton), Morton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Chelmsford, Craven and Blair Atholl, Strathardle and Glenshee.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brewster is 4,751 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 54.9%.

1881 census count

2,901

Ranked #1,544

Modern count

4,495

2016, ranked #1,512

Peak year

2000

4,751 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brewster had 2,901 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,544 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,495 in 2016, ranked #1,512.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,537 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Brewster surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brewster surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Brewster 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 1,844 #1,564
1861 historical 1,581 #1,804
1881 historical 2,901 #1,544
1891 historical 2,969 #1,587
1901 historical 3,537 #1,578
1911 historical 3,455 #1,517
1997 modern 4,564 #1,435
1998 modern 4,696 #1,451
1999 modern 4,732 #1,450
2000 modern 4,751 #1,431
2001 modern 4,611 #1,443
2002 modern 4,731 #1,442
2003 modern 4,602 #1,447
2004 modern 4,582 #1,451
2005 modern 4,501 #1,455
2006 modern 4,486 #1,462
2007 modern 4,470 #1,478
2008 modern 4,514 #1,476
2009 modern 4,592 #1,488
2010 modern 4,736 #1,473
2011 modern 4,673 #1,470
2012 modern 4,510 #1,500
2013 modern 4,599 #1,496
2014 modern 4,621 #1,497
2015 modern 4,576 #1,494
2016 modern 4,495 #1,512

Geography

Back to top

Where Brewsters are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Newark-on-Trent, East Stoke (East Stoke), Park Leys, Rolleston (Fiskerton), Morton and St Pancras. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Chelmsford, Craven, Blair Atholl, Strathardle and Glenshee, Amber Valley and Selby. 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 London parishes London 3
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 Newark-on-Trent, East Stoke (East Stoke), Park Leys, Rolleston (Fiskerton), Morton Nottinghamshire
5 St Pancras London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Chelmsford 005 Chelmsford
2 Craven 004 Craven
3 Blair Atholl, Strathardle and Glenshee Perth and Kinross
4 Amber Valley 003 Amber Valley
5 Selby 008 Selby

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Brewster

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Brewster

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

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Brewster is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Brewster is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Brewster falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Brewster 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 Brewster, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Brewster

The surname Brewster originated in England during the medieval period, deriving from the Old English words "brēowan" meaning "to brew" and "hūs" meaning "house". It initially referred to someone who brewed ale or beer, often working at an inn or public house. The name was localized in various parts of England, including Nottinghamshire, Yorkshire, Norfolk, and Suffolk.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Brewster appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Breviator" and "Breu(u)ator". The name is also found in various medieval records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1195, where it is spelled "Breuuestre".

In the 13th century, a prominent figure bearing the name was Sir John Brewster, a knight from Nottinghamshire who fought in the Barons' War against King Henry III. In the 14th century, William Brewster of Scrooby, Nottinghamshire (c. 1567-1644), was a influential figure in the English Separatist movement and later became a leader of the Pilgrims who sailed to the New World on the Mayflower in 1620.

Another notable Brewster was Sir David Brewster (1781-1868), a Scottish physicist, mathematician, and inventor, best known for his contributions to the field of optics and the invention of the kaleidoscope. He was also a respected writer and served as the Principal of the University of St. Andrews.

In the United States, one of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Brewster was Benjamin Brewster (1593-1683), a colonial settler who arrived in Massachusetts in 1632 and became a prominent figure in the early history of the colony.

The surname Brewster has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Brewster's Hill in Nottinghamshire and Brewster's Farm in Suffolk. Additionally, the name has been spelled in various ways over the centuries, including Bruster, Bruwster, and Breuester.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Brewster families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brewster 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 373 Brewsters recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.32x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 373 1.32x
Essex 369 6.61x
Yorkshire 299 1.07x
Suffolk 199 5.78x
Lincolnshire 163 3.60x
Lancashire 152 0.45x
Surrey 125 0.91x
Nottinghamshire 124 3.25x
Norfolk 115 2.64x
Durham 83 0.99x
Worcestershire 73 1.98x
Kent 68 0.70x
Staffordshire 66 0.69x
Rutland 61 29.37x
Aberdeenshire 54 2.06x
Lanarkshire 50 0.55x
Derbyshire 44 0.99x
Leicestershire 43 1.37x
Hertfordshire 41 2.10x
Northamptonshire 41 1.54x
Fife 39 2.33x
Renfrewshire 32 1.46x
Angus 31 1.18x
Midlothian 29 0.77x
Cambridgeshire 28 1.56x
Gloucestershire 24 0.43x
Perthshire 24 1.89x
Sussex 15 0.31x
Bedfordshire 12 0.82x
Warwickshire 11 0.15x
Ayrshire 9 0.43x
Flintshire 9 1.18x
Oxfordshire 8 0.46x
Berkshire 7 0.33x
Cumberland 7 0.29x
Hampshire 7 0.12x
Northumberland 7 0.17x
Wiltshire 7 0.28x
Cheshire 6 0.10x
Devon 5 0.08x
Pembrokeshire 5 0.56x
Ross-shire 5 0.64x
Shropshire 5 0.20x
Banffshire 3 0.51x
Dorset 3 0.16x
Huntingdonshire 3 0.53x
Inverness-shire 3 0.36x
Stirlingshire 3 0.29x
Westmorland 2 0.32x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.06x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.09x
Cornwall 1 0.03x
Denbighshire 1 0.09x
Herefordshire 1 0.09x
Kincardineshire 1 0.29x
Morayshire 1 0.23x
Roxburghshire 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Glemsford in Suffolk leads with 54 Brewsters recorded in 1881 and an index of 223.14x.

Place Total Index
Glemsford 54 223.14x
Newark Upon Trent 41 29.92x
St Pancras London 37 1.62x
Wolverhampton 37 5.04x
Camberwell 35 1.94x
Mile End Old Town London 34 5.65x
Droylsden 30 27.39x
Islington London 30 1.09x
Holy Trinity 26 3.86x
Stonesby 26 1244.02x
Sculcoates 24 5.40x
Chelsea London 22 2.58x
Kidderminster Borough 21 9.71x
Cheltenham 20 4.67x
Hackney London 20 1.26x
Liff Benvie 20 5.03x
West Ham 20 1.62x
Kensington London 19 1.21x
Redditch 19 25.37x
Good Easter 18 357.14x
Liddington 18 353.63x
Govan 17 0.75x
Shoreditch London 17 1.39x
Aberdeen Old Machar 16 2.93x
Kilmalcolm 16 60.91x
Lewisham 16 3.11x
St Luke London 16 3.53x
Bury St Edmunds St James 15 16.30x
Preston 15 1.67x
Snenton 15 10.01x
St Marylebone London 15 0.99x
Bethnal Green London 14 1.14x
Dagenham 14 42.13x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 14 0.92x
Hatfield Broad Oak 14 74.31x
Paddington London 14 1.35x
Shenfield 14 96.62x
Westborough 14 800.00x
Broxbourne 13 33.64x
Harwich St Nicholas 13 30.14x
Heigham 13 5.57x
Newington 13 1.24x
Whitby 13 13.76x
Barking 12 7.34x
Brettenham 12 392.16x
Byers Green 12 50.55x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 12 15.36x
Fylingdales 12 85.90x
Nottingham St Mary 12 1.22x
Poplar London 12 2.25x
Ridgmont 12 166.21x
Romford 12 13.59x
Rotherhithe 12 3.43x
St George Hanover Square 12 2.41x
Standground 12 94.19x
Stratton St Mary 12 199.34x
West Greenock 12 3.05x
Bishopwearmouth 11 1.52x
Glasgow 11 0.68x
Handsworth 11 4.67x
Plumstead 11 3.42x
Wolverley 11 33.92x
Wrentham 11 115.06x
Bingham 10 61.69x
Blackmore 10 180.83x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 10 15.46x
Dover St Mary Virgin 10 10.70x
Great Yarmouth 10 2.78x
Hemingstone 10 346.02x
Hopwood 10 22.78x
Leeds 10 0.63x
St Anne Soho London 10 6.19x
Willingale Doe 10 243.90x
Bootle Cum Linacre 9 3.38x
Brightside Bierlow 9 1.64x
Chignal Smealy 9 456.85x
Dry Doddington 9 412.84x
Grundisburgh 9 112.92x
Ipswich St Margaret 9 7.70x
Woodhouse Hall 9 720.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 167
John 156
George 111
James 78
Thomas 73
Charles 53
Henry 50
Arthur 36
Frederick 34
Robert 32
Alfred 30
Samuel 26
Joseph 25
Richard 23
Edward 22
Harry 20
Walter 18
Albert 16
Ernest 15
Herbert 15
David 13
Frank 11
Matthew 9
Wm. 8
Alexander 7
Francis 7
Fredk. 7
Isaac 7
Abraham 6
Geo. 6
Benjamin 5
Daniel 5
Tom 5
Chas. 4
Edgar 4
Fred 4
Fredrick 4
Jeremiah 4
Peter 4
Sidney 4
Stephen 4
Sydney 4
Thos. 4
Edmund 3
Edwin 3
Hubert 3
Jonathan 3
Mark 2
Obadiah 2
Philip 2

FAQ

Brewster surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brewster surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,901 people were recorded with the Brewster surname. That placed it at #1,544 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brewster surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,495 in 2016. That gives Brewster a modern rank of #1,512.

What does the Brewster surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a brewer of beer or ale.

What does the Brewster map show?

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