NameCensus.

UK surname

Brickles

A habitational surname denoting someone from a place associated with bricks or brickmaking.

In the 1881 census there were 97 people recorded with the Brickles surname, ranking it #20,127 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 148, ranked #23,958, down from #20,127 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Billinghay, Manchester and Helpringham and Thorpe Latimere. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Fylde, South Holland and South Kesteven.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brickles is 182 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 52.6%.

1881 census count

97

Ranked #20,127

Modern count

148

2016, ranked #23,958

Peak year

1999

182 bearers

Map years

7

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brickles had 97 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,127 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 148 in 2016, ranked #23,958.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 161 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Small Town Suburbia.

Brickles surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brickles surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Brickles 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 77 #19,998
1861 historical 102 #20,797
1881 historical 97 #20,127
1891 historical 128 #20,393
1901 historical 145 #18,426
1911 historical 161 #17,072
1997 modern 167 #19,722
1998 modern 176 #19,584
1999 modern 182 #19,317
2000 modern 168 #20,252
2001 modern 168 #19,986
2002 modern 181 #19,463
2003 modern 173 #19,834
2004 modern 171 #20,079
2005 modern 168 #20,227
2006 modern 169 #20,294
2007 modern 160 #21,296
2008 modern 158 #21,690
2009 modern 168 #21,290
2010 modern 171 #21,481
2011 modern 163 #21,983
2012 modern 157 #22,551
2013 modern 157 #22,904
2014 modern 154 #23,439
2015 modern 151 #23,613
2016 modern 148 #23,958

Geography

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Where Brickles' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Billinghay, Manchester, Helpringham and Thorpe Latimere, Middlesborough and Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Fylde, South Holland, South Kesteven, Bolsover and Broxtowe. 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 Billinghay Lincolnshire
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Helpringham and Thorpe Latimere Lincolnshire
4 Middlesborough Durham
5 Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth) Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Fylde 007 Fylde
2 South Holland 006 South Holland
3 South Kesteven 006 South Kesteven
4 Bolsover 007 Bolsover
5 Broxtowe 009 Broxtowe

Forenames

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First names often paired with Brickles

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Brickles

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

Small Town Suburbia

Nationally, the Brickles surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Small Town Suburbia, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Brickles 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 is predominantly comprised of married couples with no resident dependent children, living in areas characterised neither by under-occupancy nor overcrowding throughout the UK in or adjacent to small towns. White ethnic groups and affiliation with Christianity predominates. Housing tends to be predominantly semi-detached or detached and workers are employed principally in managerial and professional occupations, with semi-skilled occupations also in evidence. These areas of the Supergroup are of higher population density.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Brickles is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Brickles 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

Brickles falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Brickles is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Brickles, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Brickles

The surname BRICKLES is of English origin, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have originated in the county of Yorkshire, specifically in the area around the town of Brickles, which was once a thriving center of brick-making.

The name BRICKLES is likely derived from the Old English words "bric" and "leah," meaning "brick" and "meadow" or "clearing," respectively. This suggests that the earliest bearers of the name may have lived or worked in a clearing or meadow where bricks were produced or stored.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, dated 1273, which mentions a John de Brickles as a landowner in the region. This indicates that the BRICKLES family had already established itself as a prominent local name by the late 13th century.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various manorial records and tax rolls across Yorkshire, including the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1327, which list a Robert Brickles as a taxpayer in the village of Brickles.

Over the centuries, the spelling of the name has evolved, with variations such as Brickels, Brickells, and Brickles appearing in historical documents. One notable individual bearing this surname was Sir William Brickles (1540-1612), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Wakefield, Yorkshire, who served as a member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another prominent figure was Thomas Brickles (1660-1738), a renowned clockmaker from Leeds, whose intricate timepieces were highly sought after by the aristocracy of the time. His grandson, John Brickles (1710-1782), followed in his footsteps and became a renowned watchmaker, contributing to the family's legacy in the field of horology.

In the 18th century, the BRICKLES name spread beyond Yorkshire, with records indicating families bearing the name in other parts of England, such as Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire. One such individual was Elizabeth Brickles (1725-1801), a philanthropist from Nottingham who founded several charitable institutions for the poor and destitute.

During the 19th century, several BRICKLES families emigrated to the United States and Canada, including James Brickles (1810-1892), a farmer from Yorkshire who settled in Ohio and became a respected member of his local community.

Throughout its history, the surname BRICKLES has been associated with various occupations, from brick-making and construction to merchanting and watchmaking, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of its bearers over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Brickles families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brickles 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. Lancashire leads with 51 Brickles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.54x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 51 4.54x
Lincolnshire 38 25.12x
Leicestershire 3 2.86x
Yorkshire 3 0.32x
Middlesex 1 0.11x
Suffolk 1 0.87x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Oldham in Lancashire leads with 12 Brickles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.12x.

Place Total Index
Oldham 12 33.12x
Billinghay 10 2127.66x
Hulme 10 42.68x
Bennington Grange 7 0.00x
Cheetham 7 83.63x
Pilkington 7 164.32x
Pointon 6 4285.71x
Broughton In Salford 4 38.99x
Halliwell 4 97.80x
Somerby In Grantham 4 1052.63x
Stixwould 4 5714.29x
Glen Parva 3 1200.00x
Prestwich 3 107.14x
St Botolph Lincoln 3 275.23x
Helpringham 2 666.67x
Layton With Warbreck 2 48.54x
Digby 1 1000.00x
Horsington 1 833.33x
Ipswich St Clement 1 34.13x
Linthorpe 1 17.89x
Paddington London 1 2.88x
Rusholme 1 33.44x
Sandal Magna 1 71.94x
Stretford 1 16.18x
Wakefield 1 13.89x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 9
Sarah 8
Elizabeth 4
Betsy 3
Fanny 3
Alice 2
Charlotte 2
Emily 2
Frances 2
Martha 2
Clara 1
Ellen 1
Emma 1
Florence 1
Gertrde 1
Hannah 1
Isiadora 1
Lillian 1
Lydia 1
Malinda 1
Matilda 1
Roseane 1
Sophia 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 8
James 5
Joseph 5
Alfred 4
Thomas 4
William 4
Edward 3
Walter 3
Daniel 2
George 1
Henry 1
Kelham 1
Oswald 1
Ralph 1
Robert 1
Stephen 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Brickles surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brickles surname in 1881?

In 1881, 97 people were recorded with the Brickles surname. That placed it at #20,127 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brickles surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 148 in 2016. That gives Brickles a modern rank of #23,958.

What does the Brickles surname mean?

A habitational surname denoting someone from a place associated with bricks or brickmaking.

What does the Brickles map show?

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