NameCensus.

UK surname

Brick

An occupational surname referring to someone who made or worked with bricks or built with brick.

In the 1881 census there were 416 people recorded with the Brick surname, ranking it #7,749 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 482, ranked #10,255, down from #7,749 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lambeth and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Powys, Pembrokeshire and Shropshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brick is 1,201 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 15.9%.

1881 census count

416

Ranked #7,749

Modern count

482

2016, ranked #10,255

Peak year

1861

1,201 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brick had 416 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,749 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 482 in 2016, ranked #10,255.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,201 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Brick surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brick surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Brick 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 439 #5,600
1861 historical 1,201 #2,365
1881 historical 416 #7,749
1891 historical 883 #4,664
1901 historical 604 #7,038
1911 historical 575 #7,063
1997 modern 448 #10,113
1998 modern 460 #10,232
1999 modern 449 #10,464
2000 modern 453 #10,371
2001 modern 445 #10,327
2002 modern 449 #10,465
2003 modern 436 #10,552
2004 modern 448 #10,355
2005 modern 442 #10,346
2006 modern 441 #10,411
2007 modern 450 #10,335
2008 modern 451 #10,394
2009 modern 461 #10,462
2010 modern 483 #10,301
2011 modern 461 #10,582
2012 modern 469 #10,348
2013 modern 474 #10,421
2014 modern 481 #10,387
2015 modern 468 #10,518
2016 modern 482 #10,255

Geography

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Where Bricks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Lambeth, Liverpool, St Mary Islington and Upton-on-Severn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Powys, Pembrokeshire, Shropshire and Herefordshire. 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 3
2 Lambeth London (South Districts)
3 Liverpool Lancashire
4 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)
5 Upton-on-Severn Worcestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Powys 011 Powys
2 Pembrokeshire 009 Pembrokeshire
3 Shropshire 029 Shropshire
4 Shropshire 036 Shropshire
5 Herefordshire 001 Herefordshire, County of

Forenames

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First names often paired with Brick

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Brick

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Brick surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Brick household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Brick 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

Brick 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

Brick falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Brick

The surname Brick is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "brice," which means "brick" or "tile." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who worked with bricks or tiles, such as a bricklayer or a tilemaker.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Brick can be traced back to the 13th century. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Walter le Brickman, who was mentioned in the Hundredorum Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1279. The "le" prefix in his name suggests that he was likely a bricklayer or worked with bricks in some capacity.

In the 14th century, the surname Brick began to appear in various forms, such as Bryk, Brike, and Brycke. These variations were likely due to regional dialects and spelling conventions of the time. One notable individual from this period was John Brike, who was listed in the Court Rolls of Wakefield, Yorkshire, in 1379.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname Brick became more widespread across England. It was often associated with specific locations, such as Brickhill in Buckinghamshire and Brickworth in Wiltshire. These place names further reinforce the connection between the surname and the brick-making trade.

One prominent figure with the surname Brick was Richard Brick, a renowned English architect and surveyor who lived from 1679 to 1759. He was responsible for designing several notable buildings, including St. Paul's Church in Deptford and the Royal Naval Hospital in Greenwich.

Another notable individual was John Brick, a wealthy merchant and landowner who lived in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. He owned extensive properties in Gloucestershire and was instrumental in the development of the town of Stroud.

In the 19th century, the Brick surname gained recognition through individuals such as Joseph Brick, a British engineer who contributed to the development of early steam engines, and Mary Brick, a prominent social reformer and advocate for women's rights.

Throughout its history, the surname Brick has been associated with various occupations, from bricklayers and tilemakers to architects and merchants. Its origins can be traced back to the medieval period in England, and it has since spread across the world, with notable bearers of the name appearing in various fields and industries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Brick families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brick 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 60 Bricks recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.51x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 60 1.51x
Radnorshire 56 174.40x
Gloucestershire 38 4.87x
Shropshire 35 10.18x
Montgomeryshire 34 37.28x
Surrey 30 1.55x
Worcestershire 20 3.85x
Kent 18 1.33x
Lancashire 16 0.34x
Cheshire 13 1.48x
Essex 12 1.53x
Hampshire 10 1.23x
Durham 9 0.76x
Staffordshire 9 0.67x
Herefordshire 7 4.29x
Oxfordshire 6 2.44x
Warwickshire 6 0.60x
Brecknockshire 5 6.28x
Monmouthshire 5 1.74x
Nottinghamshire 5 0.93x
Derbyshire 2 0.32x
Norfolk 2 0.33x
Yorkshire 2 0.05x
Cornwall 1 0.22x
Cumberland 1 0.29x
Glamorgan 1 0.14x
Inverness-shire 1 0.84x
Lanarkshire 1 0.08x
Leicestershire 1 0.23x
Midlothian 1 0.19x
Royal Navy 1 2.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 25 Bricks recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.48x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 25 6.48x
Llanllwchaiarn 18 455.70x
Llanbadarn Fawr 14 1686.75x
Dodderhill 11 495.50x
N Lydbury 11 820.90x
Llanbister 10 900.90x
Newington 10 6.80x
Cheltenham 9 14.95x
Tewkesbury 9 129.12x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 8 10.89x
Cefnllys 8 860.22x
Llangunllo 8 1212.12x
Pool 8 116.28x
Portsea 8 5.00x
Barking 7 30.45x
Highley 7 1400.00x
Llanfihangel Rhydithon 7 1400.00x
Birmingham 6 1.79x
Clerkenwell London 6 6.39x
Kerry 6 218.98x
Lambeth 6 1.73x
Carlton 5 81.70x
Kingham 5 595.24x
Llanwrtyd 5 431.03x
Upper Slaughter 5 1428.57x
Ashton On Mersey 4 88.11x
Bedwellty 4 7.87x
Charlton 4 44.35x
Chingford 4 211.64x
Diddlebury 4 353.98x
Gillingham 4 14.29x
Hampstead London 4 6.45x
Lydham 4 2500.00x
Monkwearmouth Shore 4 17.31x
Paddington London 4 2.73x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 5.00x
St George In East London 4 10.69x
St Pancras London 4 1.25x
Stranton 4 10.04x
Tranmere 4 12.39x
Wolstanton Chesterton 4 58.22x
Brampton Bryan 3 517.24x
Broadway 3 133.93x
Bromsgrove 3 17.15x
Deptford St Paul 3 2.86x
Knighton 3 115.38x
Leek Lowe 3 16.79x
Lewisham 3 4.14x
Liscard 3 18.95x
Llandrindod 3 731.71x
Pendleton In Salford 3 5.33x
Spotland 3 5.71x
Willersey 3 555.56x
Accrington 2 4.66x
Atcham 2 357.14x
Barrow In Furness 2 3.11x
Bristol St Paul In 2 9.62x
Chatham 2 5.35x
Dorking 2 15.36x
Everton 2 1.33x
Hackney London 2 0.90x
Hadnall 2 277.78x
Hereford St Peter 2 45.87x
Kingston On Thames 2 4.29x
Litchurch 2 7.98x
Llanbadarnfynydd 2 243.90x
Mortlake 2 23.15x
Newtown 2 34.31x
Pilkington 2 11.15x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 2 19.80x
St Marylebone London 2 0.94x
Upton On Severn 2 58.82x
Aldershot 1 3.66x
Almeley 1 121.95x
Croydon 1 0.93x
Deal 1 8.64x
Newport 1 7.28x
Portsmouth 1 5.32x
St Martin In Fields 1 4.20x
Tottenham 1 1.58x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 32
Elizabeth 20
Sarah 17
Ann 12
Margaret 12
Jane 9
Annie 7
Eliza 7
Ellen 6
Emma 6
Fanny 4
Florence 4
Susan 4
Martha 3
Agnes 2
Alice 2
Catherine 2
Emily 2
Harriet 2
Louisa 2
Maud 2
Minnie 2
Susannah 2
Barbara 1
Eliz. 1
Emiley 1
Esther 1
Florance 1
Frika 1
Georgina 1
Gusta 1
H. 1
Hannah 1
Honour 1
Isabella 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Laura 1
Lillian 1
Lissie 1
Louise 1
Lucien 1
Lucy 1
M. 1
Margret 1
Margt. 1
Maria 1
Patience 1
Phoebe 1
William 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 30
John 28
Thomas 14
Edward 13
James 10
Joseph 9
Samuel 9
George 8
Charles 6
Richard 6
Patrick 5
Daniel 4
David 4
Henry 4
Walter 3
Alfred 2
Frank 2
Frederick 2
Lewis 2
Robert 2
Willm. 2
Allen 1
Ambro 1
Arthur 1
Austin 1
Benjamin 1
Charls 1
Dominick 1
Edwin 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
Geo.T. 1
Geore 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Israel 1
J.R. 1
Josheph 1
Josiah 1
M. 1
Michael 1
Owen 1
Patric 1
Pearl 1
Penary 1
Percy 1
Price 1
Richd. 1
Thos. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Brick surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brick surname in 1881?

In 1881, 416 people were recorded with the Brick surname. That placed it at #7,749 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brick surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 482 in 2016. That gives Brick a modern rank of #10,255.

What does the Brick surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to someone who made or worked with bricks or built with brick.

What does the Brick map show?

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