NameCensus.

UK surname

Brickell

A surname derived from the Old English "brycgel," meaning a small bridge or causeway.

In the 1881 census there were 472 people recorded with the Brickell surname, ranking it #7,076 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 655, ranked #8,123, down from #7,076 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Northenden and Shaftesbury St James. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lewes, North Dorset and Blaenau Gwent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brickell is 729 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 38.8%.

1881 census count

472

Ranked #7,076

Modern count

655

2016, ranked #8,123

Peak year

1911

729 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brickell had 472 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,076 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 655 in 2016, ranked #8,123.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 729 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Brickell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brickell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Brickell 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 273 #8,212
1861 historical 251 #9,830
1881 historical 472 #7,076
1891 historical 584 #6,539
1901 historical 721 #6,132
1911 historical 729 #5,874
1997 modern 626 #7,904
1998 modern 677 #7,673
1999 modern 684 #7,651
2000 modern 672 #7,730
2001 modern 669 #7,626
2002 modern 679 #7,698
2003 modern 672 #7,634
2004 modern 657 #7,773
2005 modern 635 #7,922
2006 modern 632 #7,973
2007 modern 651 #7,857
2008 modern 657 #7,851
2009 modern 661 #7,969
2010 modern 659 #8,152
2011 modern 651 #8,148
2012 modern 637 #8,192
2013 modern 651 #8,213
2014 modern 663 #8,125
2015 modern 664 #8,056
2016 modern 655 #8,123

Geography

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Where Brickells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Northenden, Shaftesbury St James and Bedwelty. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Lewes, North Dorset, Blaenau Gwent and Havant. 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 Northenden Cheshire
4 Shaftesbury St James Dorset
5 Bedwelty Monmouthshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Lewes 004 Lewes
2 North Dorset 003 North Dorset
3 North Dorset 007 North Dorset
4 Blaenau Gwent 009 Blaenau Gwent
5 Havant 003 Havant

Forenames

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First names often paired with Brickell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Brickell

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Brickell 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

Brickell is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Brickell

The surname Brickell originated in England, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the 13th century. The name is derived from the Old English words "bric" meaning "brick" and "hill" meaning "hill" or "elevated ground". This suggests that the name was likely given to someone who resided near a brick hill or a brick-making site on a hill.

One of the earliest known references to the name Brickell can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire, England, from the year 1273, where it is recorded as "Brikhull". This early spelling variation highlights the name's connection to the word "brick hill".

In the 14th century, the name appears in various records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire, where it is listed as "Brikhulle" in 1327. The Lay Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire from 1332 also mention a "Thomas de Brikhulle".

During the 15th century, the name continued to evolve in its spelling, with variations such as "Bryckhyll" and "Brikhill" appearing in records. One notable individual from this period was John Brickhill, a clergyman who was appointed as the Rector of Staveley in Derbyshire in 1472.

In the 16th century, the name took on a more recognizable form, as seen in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Warwickshire from 1524, which record a "Thomas Brickhill". Another notable figure from this era was Richard Brickhill, a merchant and alderman of the City of London, who lived from around 1535 to 1598.

The 17th century saw the emergence of several prominent individuals with the surname Brickell. One such individual was John Brickell, a clergyman who served as the Rector of Stanstead Abbots in Hertfordshire from 1615 to 1645.

In the 18th century, the name Brickell appeared in various historical records, including parish registers and legal documents. One notable individual from this period was Samuel Brickell, a landowner and planter in North Carolina who lived from around 1715 to 1758.

As the centuries progressed, the name Brickell continued to be associated with various locations and place names, such as Brickhill in Bedfordshire, Brickhills in Buckinghamshire, and Brickhall in Derbyshire, further reinforcing its connection to the concept of a "brick hill" or a location related to brick-making.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Brickell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brickell 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. Dorset leads with 227 Brickells recorded in 1881 and an index of 75.44x.

County Total Index
Dorset 227 75.44x
Lancashire 55 1.01x
Middlesex 51 1.11x
Hampshire 32 3.41x
Wiltshire 20 4.93x
Essex 19 2.10x
Surrey 15 0.67x
Kent 14 0.90x
Gloucestershire 12 1.33x
Cheshire 9 0.89x
Warwickshire 6 0.52x
Derbyshire 4 0.56x
Anglesey 2 2.46x
Durham 1 0.07x
Lincolnshire 1 0.14x
Somerset 1 0.14x
Staffordshire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Motcombe in Dorset leads with 73 Brickells recorded in 1881 and an index of 3303.17x.

Place Total Index
Motcombe 73 3303.17x
Shaftesbury St James 54 3439.49x
Shaftesbury Holy Trinity 42 2709.68x
Cann 37 4204.55x
Fulham London 20 30.08x
Salford 13 8.12x
Ashton Under Lyne 12 10.09x
Newington 9 5.31x
Shaftesbury St Peter 9 642.86x
East Ham 8 47.62x
Heaton Norris 8 25.83x
Little Ilford 8 512.82x
Eling 7 73.53x
Flixton 7 250.90x
Lewisham 7 8.39x
Owslebury 7 526.32x
Southampton St Mary 7 11.85x
Aston 6 1.88x
Bromley 6 25.17x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 6 36.47x
Oldham 6 3.42x
Parkstone 6 170.94x
Westminster St Margaret 6 27.12x
Charmouth 5 510.20x
Donhead St Andrew 5 400.00x
Hindon 5 574.71x
Kensington London 5 1.96x
Northenden 5 270.27x
Shrewton 5 471.70x
Battersea 4 2.37x
Bethnal Green London 4 2.01x
Chale 4 373.83x
Glossop Dale 4 11.90x
Harrow On The Hill 4 43.67x
Manchester 4 1.63x
Marshfield 4 166.67x
Portsea 4 2.17x
St George Hanover Square 4 4.95x
Bollington In 3 33.30x
Ealing 3 7.32x
Gorton 3 5.87x
West Ashton 3 625.00x
West Ham 3 1.50x
Beaumaris 2 66.89x
Clapham 2 3.49x
Hendon 2 12.12x
Highclere 2 338.98x
St George Martyr London 2 21.53x
Bishopwearmouth 1 0.85x
Charlton Next Woolwich 1 6.13x
Clifton 1 2.20x
Ebbesborne Wake 1 232.56x
Henstridge 1 49.02x
Hurstbourne Tarrant 1 76.34x
Longfleet 1 28.65x
Newcastle Under Lyme 1 3.65x
Pendleton In Salford 1 1.54x
Sale 1 8.05x
Semley 1 92.59x
Somerby In Grantham 1 53.48x
St Anne Soho London 1 3.82x
Thornton In Fylde 1 8.40x
Westbury On Trym 1 3.28x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 20
Charles 19
John 19
Thomas 17
James 16
George 12
Henry 12
Alfred 11
Harry 8
Albert 7
Robert 6
Edwin 5
Eli 5
Frederick 5
Arthur 3
Edward 3
Joseph 3
Richard 3
Sidney 3
Tom 3
Aaron 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Fred 2
Frederic 2
Fredk. 2
Philip 2
Walter 2
Charle 1
Daniel 1
Edgar 1
Edwd. 1
Frankes 1
Fred. 1
Fredk 1
Geo. 1
Herbert 1
Job 1
Levi 1
Lewis 1
Mary 1
Percy 1
Ralph 1
Sam 1
Samuel 1
Simeon 1
Stanford 1
Stanley 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Brickell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brickell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 472 people were recorded with the Brickell surname. That placed it at #7,076 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brickell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 655 in 2016. That gives Brickell a modern rank of #8,123.

What does the Brickell surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old English "brycgel," meaning a small bridge or causeway.

What does the Brickell map show?

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