NameCensus.

UK surname

Brierley

An English habitational surname indicating someone from or associated with any of several places named with "briar-lea".

In the 1881 census there were 5,333 people recorded with the Brierley surname, ranking it #834 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,025, ranked #1,348, down from #834 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth) and Ashton-under-Lyne. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rochdale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brierley is 6,614 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 5.8%.

1881 census count

5,333

Ranked #834

Modern count

5,025

2016, ranked #1,348

Peak year

1911

6,614 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brierley had 5,333 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #834 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,025 in 2016, ranked #1,348.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 6,614 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Brierley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brierley surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Brierley 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 3,022 #961
1861 historical 2,771 #1,054
1881 historical 5,333 #834
1891 historical 5,541 #852
1901 historical 6,590 #841
1911 historical 6,614 #781
1997 modern 5,127 #1,273
1998 modern 5,253 #1,294
1999 modern 5,340 #1,284
2000 modern 5,279 #1,286
2001 modern 5,208 #1,277
2002 modern 5,260 #1,295
2003 modern 5,079 #1,303
2004 modern 5,053 #1,308
2005 modern 4,966 #1,315
2006 modern 4,997 #1,309
2007 modern 5,032 #1,312
2008 modern 5,059 #1,318
2009 modern 5,128 #1,327
2010 modern 5,229 #1,330
2011 modern 5,141 #1,335
2012 modern 4,953 #1,352
2013 modern 5,049 #1,348
2014 modern 5,107 #1,343
2015 modern 5,055 #1,346
2016 modern 5,025 #1,348

Geography

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Where Brierleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth), Ashton-under-Lyne and Prestwich. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rochdale. 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 Rochdale Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth) Lancashire
4 Ashton-under-Lyne Lancashire
5 Prestwich Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rochdale 005 Rochdale
2 Rochdale 007 Rochdale
3 Rochdale 004 Rochdale
4 Rochdale 017 Rochdale
5 Rochdale 009 Rochdale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Brierley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Brierley

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Brierley 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

Brierley 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

Brierley 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 Brierley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Brierley

The surname Brierley is of English origin, deriving from a place name that first emerged in the medieval period. The name is thought to have originated from the Old English words "brier" meaning thorny bush or bramble, and "leah" referring to a woodland clearing or meadow. This suggests the name initially referred to someone who lived near or worked in a place where briar thickets or bushes were prevalent.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Breredesleia" in Essex. Over time, various spellings emerged, including Brierdeley, Brirley, and Brearley, before settling into the modern form of Brierley.

The Brierley name was particularly concentrated in Lancashire and Yorkshire, where several villages and townships bore the name, such as Brierley Hill in the West Midlands and Brierley in South Yorkshire. This suggests the name may have originated from one or more of these locations.

Notable historical figures with the Brierley surname include William Brierley (1609-1678), an English writer and puritan clergyman who served as minister in several parishes. John Brierley (1786-1856) was a British coal mine owner and industrialist who played a role in the early development of the steam locomotive.

In the literary world, Benjamin Brierley (1825-1896) was a notable English writer and poet from Lancashire, known for his works in the local dialect. J. Leslie Brierley (1869-1957) was a British journalist and author who wrote extensively about the Lake District.

The artist and painter Walter Brierley (1862-1926) was a prominent figure in the Newlyn School of artists in Cornwall, famous for his seascapes and coastal scenes.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have borne the Brierley surname throughout history, reflecting its long-standing English origins and connections to various regions of the country.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Brierley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brierley 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 3,965 Brierleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.44x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 3,965 6.44x
Yorkshire 629 1.22x
Cheshire 266 2.32x
Staffordshire 70 0.40x
Warwickshire 69 0.53x
Derbyshire 62 0.76x
Nottinghamshire 57 0.82x
Middlesex 52 0.10x
Leicestershire 23 0.40x
Kent 18 0.10x
Worcestershire 15 0.22x
Lincolnshire 10 0.12x
Essex 9 0.09x
Hampshire 8 0.08x
Herefordshire 8 0.38x
Durham 7 0.05x
Midlothian 7 0.10x
Shropshire 7 0.16x
Cumberland 6 0.13x
Montgomeryshire 6 0.50x
Surrey 6 0.02x
Caernarfonshire 4 0.19x
Northamptonshire 4 0.08x
Devon 2 0.02x
Northumberland 2 0.03x
Westmorland 2 0.18x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.03x
Cornwall 1 0.02x
Flintshire 1 0.07x
Gloucestershire 1 0.01x
Norfolk 1 0.01x

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 715 Brierleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.98x.

Place Total Index
Oldham 715 35.98x
Spotland 381 55.66x
Castleton 332 53.99x
Ashton Under Lyne 256 19.02x
Wardleworth 239 67.93x
Saddleworth 209 52.70x
Bury 144 20.47x
Wuerdle Wardle 138 73.84x
Manchester 133 4.80x
Chadderton 86 28.57x
Butterworth 79 52.66x
Salford 71 3.92x
Crompton 66 37.64x
Hulme 65 5.06x
Heap 55 16.84x
Pendleton In Salford 55 7.50x
Little Bolton 52 6.57x
Haslingden 47 18.44x
Preston 47 2.85x
Blackburn 43 2.63x
Dukinfield 38 7.18x
Royton 38 20.18x
Golcar 37 27.22x
Walton Le Dale 36 21.76x
Failsworth 35 24.85x
Huddersfield 32 4.27x
Blatchinworth 29 20.69x
Ardwick 28 5.04x
Nottingham St Mary 28 1.55x
Broughton In Salford 27 4.80x
Worsthorne Cum 27 137.97x
Gorton 26 4.49x
Lepton 26 48.41x
Pilkington 26 11.12x
West Derby 26 1.44x
Clitheroe 25 13.80x
Stockport 25 4.24x
Birmingham 24 0.55x
Leeds 23 0.79x
Wigan 22 2.56x
Worsley 21 5.53x
Altrincham 20 9.99x
Newton 20 4.21x
Hurdsfield 19 26.96x
Hyde 19 5.62x
Burnley 18 3.47x
Dalton In Huddersfield 18 15.63x
Chorley 17 4.92x
Droylsden 17 8.46x
Great Bolton 17 2.08x
Holme In Huddersfield 17 141.20x
Northowram 17 4.72x
Briercliffe Cum 15 73.49x
Farnworth 15 4.07x
Newchurch 15 2.98x
Openshaw 15 5.20x
St Marylebone London 15 0.54x
Stretford 15 4.43x
Grappenhall 14 100.00x
Pilsworth 14 103.47x
Stayley 14 10.69x
Aston 13 0.36x
Bradford 13 4.51x
Cumberworth 13 49.66x
Didsbury 13 15.90x
Elton 13 6.11x
Fazeley 13 40.82x
Moss Side 13 4.01x
Sheffield 13 0.79x
Claylane 12 10.63x
Clifton In Halifax 12 39.05x
Heaton Norris 12 3.42x
Lower Darwen 12 14.85x
Tottington Lower End 12 4.10x
Frodsham 11 24.79x
Fulstone 11 29.24x
Glossop Dale 11 2.89x
Halifax 11 1.46x
Layton With Warbreck 11 4.87x
Whitwick 11 15.04x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 476
Sarah 285
Elizabeth 207
Alice 169
Ann 126
Hannah 107
Jane 103
Ellen 90
Martha 88
Emma 66
Eliza 62
Margaret 59
Annie 57
Betty 51
Emily 38
Ada 30
Harriet 30
Clara 25
Fanny 23
Betsy 22
Maria 21
Esther 20
Catherine 19
Nancy 17
Frances 16
Rachel 16
Agnes 15
Charlotte 15
Edith 15
Lucy 13
Susan 13
Isabella 12
Louisa 12
Elizth. 10
Amelia 9
Anne 9
Susannah 9
Anna 8
Bertha 8
Florence 8
Kate 8
Amy 6
Gertrude 6
Lydia 6
Selina 6
Sophia 6
Eliz. 5
Ethel 5
Harriett 5
Rebecca 5

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 378
James 292
William 205
Joseph 170
Thomas 169
Robert 97
George 90
Samuel 82
Henry 71
Charles 66
Arthur 40
Benjamin 36
Alfred 34
Edward 32
Harry 32
Richard 32
Walter 31
Albert 28
Fred 28
Frank 27
Edmund 24
Herbert 21
Abraham 20
Edwin 19
Isaac 19
Daniel 17
Frederick 15
Wm. 15
Ernest 14
Joshua 14
Ben 12
David 12
Peter 12
Eli 11
Abram 8
Jas. 8
Joe 8
Jonathan 8
Matthew 8
Robt. 8
Tom 8
Abel 7
Ralph 7
Francis 6
Harold 6
Jesse 6
Sam 6
Thos. 6
Lewis 5
Luke 5

FAQ

Brierley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brierley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 5,333 people were recorded with the Brierley surname. That placed it at #834 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brierley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,025 in 2016. That gives Brierley a modern rank of #1,348.

What does the Brierley surname mean?

An English habitational surname indicating someone from or associated with any of several places named with "briar-lea".

What does the Brierley map show?

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