NameCensus.

UK surname

Brickley

An English occupational surname referring to a brickmaker or bricklayer.

In the 1881 census there were 244 people recorded with the Brickley surname, ranking it #11,258 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 332, ranked #13,706, down from #11,258 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors, Bury and Cannock. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stoke-on-Trent, Eastbourne and Powys.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brickley is 701 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 36.1%.

1881 census count

244

Ranked #11,258

Modern count

332

2016, ranked #13,706

Peak year

1861

701 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brickley had 244 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,258 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 332 in 2016, ranked #13,706.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 701 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Brickley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brickley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Brickley 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 313 #7,385
1861 historical 701 #3,863
1881 historical 244 #11,258
1891 historical 516 #7,234
1901 historical 366 #10,099
1911 historical 463 #8,325
1997 modern 318 #13,024
1998 modern 363 #12,228
1999 modern 353 #12,522
2000 modern 348 #12,614
2001 modern 336 #12,721
2002 modern 347 #12,699
2003 modern 355 #12,285
2004 modern 349 #12,473
2005 modern 340 #12,642
2006 modern 341 #12,684
2007 modern 334 #13,036
2008 modern 333 #13,175
2009 modern 344 #13,138
2010 modern 363 #12,878
2011 modern 361 #12,800
2012 modern 332 #13,501
2013 modern 336 #13,574
2014 modern 345 #13,396
2015 modern 336 #13,593
2016 modern 332 #13,706

Geography

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Where Brickleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors, Bury, Cannock, Rochdale and St Woollos (incl. Newport). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stoke-on-Trent, Eastbourne, Powys, Bradford and Basingstoke and Deane. 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 Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors Shropshire
2 Bury Lancashire
3 Cannock Staffordshire
4 Rochdale Yorkshire, West Riding
5 St Woollos (incl. Newport) Monmouthshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stoke-on-Trent 026 Stoke-on-Trent
2 Eastbourne 010 Eastbourne
3 Powys 013 Powys
4 Bradford 047 Bradford
5 Basingstoke and Deane 005 Basingstoke and Deane

Forenames

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First names often paired with Brickley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Brickley

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Brickley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Brickley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Brickley is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Brickley 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

Brickley falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Brickley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Brickley

The surname Brickley originates from England and can be traced back to the late 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "brice" meaning brick, and "leah" meaning a meadow or clearing. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a brickyard or brick-making area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Brickley can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire in 1195, where it was spelled as "Briccheleia". This suggests that the name was already established in the region at that time.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms such as "Brickeleia", "Brikelee", and "Brikeley" in various county records and manorial rolls across England. These variations in spelling were common during that period.

The Brickley surname is also linked to several place names in England, such as Brickley in Hampshire and Brickleigh in Devon. These locations may have been named after early bearers of the surname or vice versa.

Notable historical figures with the surname Brickley include:

1. Sir John Brickley (c. 1490-1558), an English politician and member of Parliament for Hampshire during the reign of Queen Mary I.

2. William Brickley (1587-1649), an English clergyman and writer who served as the Rector of St. Michael's in Coventry.

3. Richard Brickley (1619-1683), an English merchant and landowner who served as the Mayor of Bristol in 1677.

4. Elizabeth Brickley (c. 1650-1718), an English painter known for her still-life paintings and portraits.

5. Thomas Brickley (1789-1857), a British Army officer who fought in the Napoleonic Wars and later became a colonial administrator in Canada.

While the name Brickley is not as common as some other English surnames, it has persisted throughout the centuries and can be found in various historical records, reflecting its long-standing presence in England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Brickley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brickley 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 53 Brickleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.22x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 53 2.22x
Lancashire 27 0.95x
Monmouthshire 24 13.89x
Shropshire 20 9.69x
Staffordshire 14 1.74x
Yorkshire 14 0.59x
Sussex 13 3.23x
Essex 11 2.33x
Kent 11 1.35x
Surrey 9 0.77x
Glamorgan 8 1.92x
Cheshire 7 1.33x
Nottinghamshire 6 1.86x
Worcestershire 6 1.92x
Lanarkshire 4 0.52x
Brecknockshire 3 6.28x
Cornwall 3 1.11x
Warwickshire 3 0.50x
Devon 2 0.40x
Gloucestershire 2 0.43x
Caernarfonshire 1 1.03x
Derbyshire 1 0.27x
Hampshire 1 0.20x
Royal Navy 1 3.51x
Wiltshire 1 0.47x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Woollos in Monmouthshire leads with 16 Brickleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 82.99x.

Place Total Index
St Woollos 16 82.99x
Brighton 13 15.99x
St Mary Cray 10 641.03x
West Ham 10 9.60x
Willenhall 10 66.18x
Madeley 9 118.89x
Westleigh 9 139.75x
Bradford 8 13.95x
Camberwell 7 4.59x
Dawley 7 93.21x
Bromsgrove 6 57.14x
Fulham London 6 17.31x
Kensington London 6 4.52x
Mile End Old Town London 6 11.80x
Liverpool 5 2.90x
Over 5 93.28x
St George In East London 5 22.24x
Bromley London 4 7.61x
Cardiff St Mary 4 17.45x
Govan 4 2.09x
Hackney London 4 2.99x
Islington London 4 1.73x
Manchester 4 3.14x
Mynyddyslwyn 4 58.74x
Panteg 4 147.06x
Poplar London 4 8.87x
Rawmarsh 4 47.79x
Snenton 4 31.60x
Spitalfields London 4 22.26x
Wellington 4 34.48x
Aberyscir 3 2307.69x
Alkrington 3 967.74x
Birmingham 3 1.49x
Merthyr Tydfil 3 7.50x
St Anne Soho London 3 21.98x
St Just In Penwith 3 57.14x
Ashton In Makerfield 2 24.78x
Cheltenham 2 5.53x
Leeds 2 1.50x
Nottingham St Peter 2 55.71x
Paddington London 2 2.28x
Stoke Upon Trent 2 2.34x
Wednesbury 2 9.92x
Alverstoke 1 5.64x
Birkenhead 1 2.38x
Blackburn 1 1.33x
Bromley 1 8.05x
Chelsea London 1 1.39x
Croydon 1 1.55x
Devizes St Mary 1 46.73x
Devonport 1 17.48x
Eccleston In Prescot 1 7.02x
Everton 1 1.11x
Heston 1 12.59x
Hoole 1 50.25x
Kirby Le Soken 1 147.06x
Lambeth 1 0.48x
Litchurch 1 6.64x
Llandudno 1 29.07x
Llansamlet Higher 1 32.26x
Oldham 1 1.09x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 2.61x
Royal Navy 1 4.11x
Shadwell London 1 14.95x
Shoreditch London 1 0.97x
St Botolph Aldgate London 1 20.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 20
Margaret 16
Ellen 14
Sarah 9
Elizabeth 6
Ann 5
Catherine 5
Jane 5
Eliza 4
Hannah 4
Annie 3
Johanna 3
Kate 3
Charlotte 2
Julia 2
Lydia 2
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Annis 1
Betty 1
Caroline 1
Constance 1
Elizth.A. 1
Emily 1
Esther 1
Florence 1
Honora 1
Jessie 1
Johannah 1
Laura 1
Louisa 1
Maryann 1
Millicent 1
Norah 1
Rosanna 1
Seleina 1
Susan 1
Wilhemima 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Brickley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brickley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 244 people were recorded with the Brickley surname. That placed it at #11,258 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brickley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 332 in 2016. That gives Brickley a modern rank of #13,706.

What does the Brickley surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a brickmaker or bricklayer.

What does the Brickley map show?

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