NameCensus.

UK surname

Bricks

An occupational surname derived from the brick-making trade or someone who worked with bricks.

In the 1881 census there were 15 people recorded with the Bricks surname, ranking it #31,451 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 7, ranked #37,967, down from #31,451 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lancaster Borough, St Leonard Shoreditch and Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bricks is 218 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 53.3%.

1881 census count

15

Ranked #31,451

Modern count

7

2016, ranked #37,967

Peak year

1861

218 bearers

Map years

1

1861 to 1861

Key insights

  • Bricks had 15 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,451 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 7 in 2016, ranked #37,967.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 218 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is No data.

Bricks surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bricks surname density by area, 1861 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bricks 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 20 #29,743
1861 historical 218 #11,175
1881 historical 15 #31,451
1891 historical 69 #28,188
1901 historical 3 #34,063
1911 historical 54 #27,423
1997 modern 1 #38,839
1998 modern 1 #38,814
1999 modern 1 #38,820
2000 modern 1 #38,790
2001 modern 1 #38,647
2002 modern 1 #38,709
2003 modern 1 #38,735
2004 modern 2 #38,464
2005 modern 2 #38,532
2006 modern 2 #38,590
2007 modern 4 #38,169
2008 modern 5 #38,027
2009 modern 5 #38,122
2010 modern 4 #38,371
2011 modern 5 #38,168
2012 modern 4 #38,335
2013 modern 5 #38,195
2014 modern 4 #38,376
2015 modern 5 #38,221
2016 modern 7 #37,967

Geography

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Where Bricks' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lancaster Borough, St Leonard Shoreditch, Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a, Tanfield, West and Manchester. 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.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Lancaster Borough Lancashire
2 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
3 Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a Essex
4 Tanfield, West Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 No data No data

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bricks

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

Recent female names

No Forenames Found

Recent male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bricks

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

No data

Group

No data

Nationally, the Bricks surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Bricks household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

No data

Group

No data

Within London, Bricks 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

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bricks is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Bricks

The surname "Bricks" is of English origin, with its roots dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "bricce," meaning "a bridge" or "a causeway." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with someone who lived near or worked on a bridge or causeway.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire, compiled in the late 13th century. These rolls mention individuals with the surname "Bricge" and "Brugge," which are likely variations of the modern spelling "Bricks."

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was John Brycge, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire in 1292. This record suggests that the Bricks family may have originated or had a presence in the county of Staffordshire during the medieval period.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various forms, such as "Briggs," "Brygges," and "Brugge." One notable individual from this time was William Brugge, a merchant and alderman of London, who lived from around 1350 to 1428.

As time progressed, the spelling of the name evolved further, and by the 16th century, it had taken on its modern form, "Bricks." One of the earliest recorded instances of this spelling was Robert Bricks, who was mentioned in the Parish Registers of St. Margaret's, Westminster, in 1560.

Another notable bearer of the name was Sir Henry Bricks, an English politician and member of Parliament who lived from 1589 to 1646. He played a significant role in the English Civil War and was a staunch supporter of the Parliamentary cause.

In the 18th century, the Bricks surname was prominent in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Staffordshire, Warwickshire, and Worcestershire. One notable figure from this period was John Bricks, a renowned clockmaker from Whitchurch, Shropshire, who lived from 1720 to 1795.

The 19th century saw the Bricks surname spread further across England and beyond. One prominent individual was Sir John Bricks, a British army officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars and was involved in the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. He later became a Member of Parliament and lived from 1789 to 1867.

While the surname "Bricks" has remained relatively uncommon throughout history, it has a rich and diverse heritage, with its origins rooted in medieval England and connections to various professions and notable individuals over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bricks families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bricks 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 7 Bricks' recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.65x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 7 4.65x
Norfolk 3 15.39x
Northamptonshire 2 16.76x
Middlesex 1 0.79x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Church in Lancashire leads with 5 Bricks' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2380.95x.

Place Total Index
Church 5 2380.95x
Heigham 3 285.71x
Northampton Priory St 2 277.78x
Lancaster 1 111.11x
Paddington London 1 21.46x
West Derby 1 22.73x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 3
Alice 1
Ann 1
Isabella 1
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 2
William 2
Chas. 1
Walter 1

Top occupations

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 Bricks households.

FAQ

Bricks surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bricks surname in 1881?

In 1881, 15 people were recorded with the Bricks surname. That placed it at #31,451 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bricks surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 7 in 2016. That gives Bricks a modern rank of #37,967.

What does the Bricks surname mean?

An occupational surname derived from the brick-making trade or someone who worked with bricks.

What does the Bricks map show?

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