NameCensus.

UK surname

Briercliffe

In the 1881 census there were 65 people recorded with the Briercliffe surname, ranking it #24,420 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 110, ranked #29,225, down from #24,420 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Bury and Blackburn. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bolton, Runnymede and Winchester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Briercliffe is 116 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 69.2%.

1881 census count

65

Ranked #24,420

Modern count

110

2016, ranked #29,225

Peak year

1901

116 bearers

Map years

3

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Briercliffe had 65 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #24,420 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 110 in 2016, ranked #29,225.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 116 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Briercliffe surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Briercliffe surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Briercliffe 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 50 #24,274
1861 historical 52 #27,369
1881 historical 65 #24,420
1891 historical 93 #24,965
1901 historical 116 #20,933
1911 historical 109 #21,611
1997 modern 85 #28,988
1998 modern 87 #29,240
1999 modern 93 #28,711
2000 modern 93 #28,701
2001 modern 99 #27,534
2002 modern 105 #27,123
2003 modern 107 #26,617
2004 modern 108 #26,741
2005 modern 100 #28,025
2006 modern 96 #28,946
2007 modern 103 #28,187
2008 modern 104 #28,341
2009 modern 109 #28,145
2010 modern 108 #28,996
2011 modern 103 #29,589
2012 modern 106 #29,187
2013 modern 108 #29,379
2014 modern 111 #29,113
2015 modern 107 #29,708
2016 modern 110 #29,225

Geography

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Where Briercliffes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Bury, Blackburn, Bolton-le-Moors and Ashton-under-Lyne. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bolton, Runnymede, Winchester and Burnley. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Bury Lancashire
3 Blackburn Lancashire
4 Bolton-le-Moors Lancashire
5 Ashton-under-Lyne Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bolton 021 Bolton
2 Runnymede 002 Runnymede
3 Bolton 018 Bolton
4 Winchester 010 Winchester
5 Burnley 001 Burnley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Briercliffe

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Briercliffe

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Briercliffe surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Briercliffe household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

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Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Briercliffe is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

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Group profile

These very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Briercliffe 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

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

1881 census detail

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Briercliffe families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Briercliffe 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 63 Briercliffes recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.37x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 63 8.37x
Kent 1 0.46x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 10.89x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bury in Lancashire leads with 15 Briercliffes recorded in 1881 and an index of 174.62x.

Place Total Index
Bury 15 174.62x
Ashton Under Lyne 7 42.58x
Everton 7 29.19x
Great Bolton 7 70.28x
Habergham Eaves 6 87.21x
Blackburn 5 24.99x
Farnworth 5 110.86x
Hulme 3 19.11x
Little Bolton 3 31.02x
Castleton 2 26.63x
Kirkmabreck 1 250.00x
Tottington Higher End 1 116.28x
Toxteth Park 1 3.93x
Walmer 1 106.38x
Walton On Hill 1 24.51x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Alice 4
Elizabeth 4
Sarah 4
Margaret 2
Ann 1
Betsy 1
Eliza 1
Ellen 1
Fanny 1
Hannah 1
Isabella 1
Jane 1
Margt. 1
Martha 1
Susan 1
Susanah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 8
William 5
James 3
Henry 2
Robert 2
Thomas 2
Donald 1
Edward 1
Francis 1
Franklin 1
Fredk. 1
George 1
Isaaca 1
Jane 1
Robt. 1
Thos. 1

FAQ

Briercliffe surname: questions and answers

How common was the Briercliffe surname in 1881?

In 1881, 65 people were recorded with the Briercliffe surname. That placed it at #24,420 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Briercliffe surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 110 in 2016. That gives Briercliffe a modern rank of #29,225.

What does the Briercliffe map show?

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