NameCensus.

UK surname

Bridson

A surname derived from a place name or topographic feature involving a bridge.

In the 1881 census there were 171 people recorded with the Bridson surname, ranking it #14,212 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 504, ranked #9,938, up from #14,212 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Bees, Toxteth Park and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Powys, Liverpool and Copeland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bridson is 531 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 194.7%.

1881 census count

171

Ranked #14,212

Modern count

504

2016, ranked #9,938

Peak year

2010

531 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bridson had 171 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,212 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 504 in 2016, ranked #9,938.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 385 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Bridson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bridson surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bridson 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 86 #18,820
1861 historical 137 #16,465
1881 historical 171 #14,212
1891 historical 267 #12,136
1901 historical 357 #10,280
1911 historical 385 #9,551
1997 modern 517 #9,079
1998 modern 520 #9,316
1999 modern 528 #9,260
2000 modern 517 #9,384
2001 modern 498 #9,498
2002 modern 514 #9,451
2003 modern 514 #9,299
2004 modern 503 #9,480
2005 modern 497 #9,479
2006 modern 488 #9,648
2007 modern 497 #9,615
2008 modern 493 #9,757
2009 modern 510 #9,699
2010 modern 531 #9,615
2011 modern 521 #9,660
2012 modern 510 #9,722
2013 modern 531 #9,597
2014 modern 527 #9,716
2015 modern 523 #9,694
2016 modern 504 #9,938

Geography

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Where Bridsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Bees, Toxteth Park, Manchester, Liverpool and West Derby. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Powys, Liverpool and Copeland. 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 St Bees Cumberland
2 Toxteth Park Lancashire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 West Derby Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Powys 013 Powys
2 Liverpool 030 Liverpool
3 Copeland 003 Copeland
4 Copeland 002 Copeland
5 Copeland 005 Copeland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bridson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bridson

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Bridson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Bridson household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Bridson 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

Bridson is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bridson falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Bridson

The surname Bridson has its origins in England, tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from the village of Brydsone in Lancashire. The name is thought to be of Old English origin, with the elements "bryd" meaning "bridge" and "sone" meaning "son" or "dweller at." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near a bridge or a ford.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Lancashire Pipe Rolls of 1246, where a Robert de Brydesone is mentioned. The name also appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire in 1332, with an entry for Richard de Brydesone.

In the 16th century, the spelling of the name evolved to its modern form, Bridson. Records from this period show the name being used in various parts of Lancashire, including the parishes of Eccleston and Leyland.

The Bridson family played a significant role in the history of Lancashire, with several members holding positions of prominence. One notable figure was William Bridson (1580-1657), who served as a Member of Parliament for Wigan during the English Civil War.

Another prominent individual was John Bridson (1670-1743), a successful businessman and landowner in Leyland. His grandson, also named John Bridson (1704-1786), was a respected attorney and served as a Justice of the Peace for Lancashire.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Bridson family continued to be influential in the region. James Bridson (1740-1820) was a notable scholar and clergyman, serving as the Rector of Childwall near Liverpool.

Moving into more recent history, Sir Samuel Egerton Bridson (1862-1945) was a distinguished civil engineer and played a crucial role in the construction of several major infrastructure projects in Britain, including the Mersey Tunnel and the Manchester Ship Canal.

While the name Bridson is most commonly associated with Lancashire, it has also been found in other parts of England, as well as in areas with strong historical connections to the county, such as parts of North America and Australia.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bridson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bridson 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. Isle of Man leads with 503 Bridsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 411.35x.

County Total Index
Isle of Man 503 411.35x
Lancashire 109 1.40x
Cheshire 24 1.65x
Cumberland 16 2.82x
Durham 5 0.26x
Middlesex 5 0.08x
Westmorland 5 3.46x
Yorkshire 3 0.05x
Royal Navy 2 2.55x
Berkshire 1 0.20x
Devon 1 0.07x
Essex 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Onchan in Isle of Man leads with 157 Bridsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 445.77x.

Place Total Index
Onchan 157 445.77x
Malew 118 1104.87x
Rushen 40 483.68x
Arbory 39 1466.17x
Patrick 34 570.47x
Braddan 32 479.04x
Toxteth Park 30 11.34x
German 26 389.81x
Everton 15 6.02x
Douglas 13 734.46x
St Anne 13 984.85x
Whitehaven 13 43.02x
West Derby 12 5.25x
Maughold 11 116.65x
Great Neston 10 208.33x
Tranmere 10 18.72x
Heaton Norris 7 15.74x
Liverpool 7 1.48x
Pilkington 7 23.58x
Salford 6 2.61x
Lonan 5 67.48x
Wavertree 5 19.99x
Applethwaite 4 92.59x
Tudhoe 4 23.34x
Bride 3 179.64x
Islington London 3 0.47x
Lezayre 3 54.64x
Little Bolton 3 2.99x
Marown 3 134.53x
Warrington 3 3.24x
Dalton In Furness 2 6.63x
Egremont 2 14.79x
German Peel 2 28.41x
Great Crosby 2 9.39x
Ilkley 2 18.76x
Kirkdale 2 1.52x
Malew Castletown 2 909.09x
Paddington London 2 0.83x
Royal Navy 2 2.98x
Adlington 1 51.28x
Ashton Under Lyne 1 0.59x
Ballaugh 1 45.87x
Birkenhead 1 0.86x
Blackburn 1 0.48x
Bootle Cum Linacre 1 1.61x
Bowdon 1 17.33x
Cleator 1 4.24x
Dawlish 1 9.78x
Delamere 1 76.34x
Ecclesall Bierlow 1 0.75x
Jurby 1 67.57x
Moss Side 1 2.43x
Newton In Makerfield 1 4.18x
North Meols 1 1.31x
Sandhurst 1 10.45x
Thornton In Fylde 1 5.85x
Undermilbeck 1 20.96x
West Ham 1 0.35x
Whitburn 1 21.88x
Whittingham 1 29.07x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Margaret 44
Catherine 35
Elizabeth 31
Ann 26
Jane 25
Mary 20
Sarah 14
Eleanor 12
Annie 10
Isabella 10
Esther 9
Emily 8
Christian 7
Eliza 7
Louisa 5
Alice 4
Cathrine 4
Charlotte 4
Ellen 4
Agnes 3
Clara 3
Emma 3
Martha 3
Ada 2
Amy 2
Anne 2
Beatrice 2
Constance 2
Edith 2
Eliz. 2
Elizth. 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Kate 2
Maggie 2
Margret 2
Margt. 2
Marguerite 2
Sophia 2
Cathrin 1
Elizebeth 1
Elizth 1
Ella 1
Elleanor 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Hope 1
Isaline 1
James 1
Thomas 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 59
Thomas 51
William 50
Robert 32
James 20
George 14
Charles 7
Joseph 7
Richard 7
Thos. 6
Henry 5
Paul 5
Edward 4
Frederick 4
Arthur 3
Walter 3
Alfred 2
Jno. 2
Robt. 2
Wm. 2
Abner 1
Andrew 1
Augustus 1
Caesar 1
Chas. 1
Christopher 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Edmund 1
Enos 1
Evan 1
Frank 1
Fredrick 1
Jno 1
Mathew 1
Matthew 1
Matthias 1
Oliver 1
Philip 1
Phillip 1
Ridguay 1
Samuel 1
Stephen 1
W. 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Bridson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bridson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 171 people were recorded with the Bridson surname. That placed it at #14,212 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bridson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 504 in 2016. That gives Bridson a modern rank of #9,938.

What does the Bridson surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name or topographic feature involving a bridge.

What does the Bridson map show?

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