UK surname
A surname derived from the German word "Brich" meaning a village or settlement.
In the 1881 census there were 12 people recorded with the Brich surname, ranking it #31,914 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 7, ranked #37,967, down from #31,914 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Burton-on-Trent, London parishes and Rawmarsh, Wath-on-Dearn (Swinton). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brich is 353 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 41.7%.
1881 census count
12
Ranked #31,914
Modern count
7
2016, ranked #37,967
Peak year
1891
353 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Brich surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Brich surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 263 | #8,439 |
| 1861 | historical | 37 | #29,339 |
| 1881 | historical | 12 | #31,914 |
| 1891 | historical | 353 | #9,760 |
| 1901 | historical | 114 | #21,166 |
| 1911 | historical | 182 | #15,859 |
| 1997 | modern | 46 | #33,077 |
| 1998 | modern | 30 | #34,833 |
| 1999 | modern | 17 | #36,261 |
| 2000 | modern | 8 | #37,264 |
| 2001 | modern | 6 | #37,456 |
| 2002 | modern | 5 | #37,723 |
| 2003 | modern | 6 | #37,586 |
| 2004 | modern | 4 | #38,013 |
| 2005 | modern | 6 | #37,724 |
| 2006 | modern | 10 | #37,224 |
| 2007 | modern | 9 | #37,435 |
| 2008 | modern | 7 | #37,735 |
| 2009 | modern | 11 | #37,336 |
| 2010 | modern | 15 | #37,038 |
| 2011 | modern | 11 | #37,397 |
| 2012 | modern | 6 | #38,008 |
| 2013 | modern | 7 | #37,909 |
| 2014 | modern | 7 | #37,929 |
| 2015 | modern | 7 | #37,920 |
| 2016 | modern | 7 | #37,967 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Burton-on-Trent, London parishes, Rawmarsh, Wath-on-Dearn (Swinton), Manchester and Norton-under-Cannock with Little Wyrley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Burton-on-Trent | Staffordshire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Rawmarsh, Wath-on-Dearn (Swinton) | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | Norton-under-Cannock with Little Wyrley | Staffordshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Brich surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Brich, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Brich surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Brich household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Brich is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Brich is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Brich, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Brich is believed to have originated in Germany, specifically in the region of Bavaria. It is thought to be derived from the Old German word "brich," which means "to break" or "to split." This association likely stems from an occupation or a descriptive characteristic related to someone who worked with breaking or splitting materials, such as wood or stone.
The earliest known records of the name Brich can be traced back to the 13th century in various German towns and villages. One of the earliest documented individuals with this surname was Heinrich Brich, a landowner who lived in the town of Augsburg in the late 1200s.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Brich appeared in various forms, such as "Briche," "Brichius," and "Bricher," reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation common during that time period. Some historical references to the name can be found in local church records and land deeds from that era.
In the 16th century, the name Brich gained prominence with the rise of Johann Brich, a renowned theologian and scholar who was born in Nuremberg in 1520. He was known for his work in reforming religious education and his contributions to the Protestant Reformation.
Another notable figure with the surname Brich was Christoph Brich, a German artist and engraver who lived in the 17th century. He was renowned for his intricate copper engravings and worked on several notable commissions for various patrons across Europe.
During the 18th century, the name Brich was associated with the Brich family, a prominent merchant clan based in the city of Hamburg. They were involved in the thriving trade networks of the time and gained significant wealth and influence in the region.
In the 19th century, Karl Brich, a German mathematician and astronomer, made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics. He was born in Berlin in 1812 and is remembered for his work on calculating the orbits of comets and asteroids.
As the surname Brich spread across Europe, it also found its way to other regions, including the Netherlands, where variations such as "Brichje" and "Brichman" emerged. Additionally, the name has been recorded in various historical documents and records in countries like France, Switzerland, and even as far as Russia, reflecting the migration patterns of families bearing this surname over the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brich surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Nottinghamshire leads with 5 Brichs recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.75x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Nottinghamshire | 5 | 31.75x |
| Lancashire | 4 | 2.88x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 5.47x |
| Kincardineshire | 1 | 70.42x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 3.39x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bulwell in Nottinghamshire leads with 5 Brichs recorded in 1881 and an index of 1470.59x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bulwell | 5 | 1470.59x |
| Lydiate | 4 | 10000.00x |
| Birmingham | 1 | 10.18x |
| Fordoun | 1 | 1250.00x |
| Litchurch | 1 | 135.14x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Brich surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Brich surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Brich households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 4 |
| Captains Wife | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Gardiner (7) | 1 |
| Pudler | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 12 people were recorded with the Brich surname. That placed it at #31,914 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 7 in 2016. That gives Brich a modern rank of #37,967.
A surname derived from the German word "Brich" meaning a village or settlement.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Brich bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.