NameCensus.

UK surname

Brierton

A locative surname derived from a place name in Scotland.

In the 1881 census there were 50 people recorded with the Brierton surname, ranking it #26,587 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 106, ranked #29,927, down from #26,587 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Amber Valley, Wirral and Hyndburn.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brierton is 112 in 2006. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 112.0%.

1881 census count

50

Ranked #26,587

Modern count

106

2016, ranked #29,927

Peak year

2006

112 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brierton had 50 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #26,587 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 106 in 2016, ranked #29,927.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 68 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Brierton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brierton surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Brierton 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 43 #25,518
1861 historical 48 #27,896
1881 historical 50 #26,587
1891 historical 68 #28,300
1901 historical 53 #28,271
1911 historical 35 #29,478
1997 modern 98 #27,179
1998 modern 103 #27,141
1999 modern 107 #26,754
2000 modern 99 #27,845
2001 modern 101 #27,252
2002 modern 106 #26,985
2003 modern 102 #27,383
2004 modern 102 #27,637
2005 modern 107 #26,875
2006 modern 112 #26,415
2007 modern 109 #27,253
2008 modern 107 #27,844
2009 modern 107 #28,483
2010 modern 104 #29,618
2011 modern 102 #29,759
2012 modern 103 #29,733
2013 modern 107 #29,561
2014 modern 112 #28,934
2015 modern 110 #29,157
2016 modern 106 #29,927

Geography

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Where Briertons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Amber Valley, Wirral, Hyndburn and Knowsley. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Amber Valley 002 Amber Valley
2 Wirral 001 Wirral
3 Wirral 004 Wirral
4 Hyndburn 003 Hyndburn
5 Knowsley 007 Knowsley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Brierton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Brierton

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Brierton, 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 Brierton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Brierton household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Brierton 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

Brierton is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Brierton falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Brierton

The surname BRIERTON has its origins in the northern English county of Northumberland. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "brier" meaning a thorny bush, and "tun" meaning an enclosure or settlement, suggesting it referred to a town or village located near a briar patch or area of dense thorny bushes.

The earliest known recorded instance of the name dates back to the 13th century in the Northumbrian village of Brierton, which still exists today near the town of Bamburgh. It is possible the name was originally a locational surname given to someone who hailed from this village.

In the renowned Domesday Book of 1086, which recorded landowners and settlements in England after the Norman Conquest, there are no direct references to the name BRIERTON, but several entries mention locations with similar names like Briardene and Brierley, lending credence to the theory of the name's origin being related to briars.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Sir John BRIERTON, a knight who fought alongside King Edward III in the Battle of Crécy during the Hundred Years' War in 1346. Records show he was rewarded with land grants for his service.

Another notable figure was William BRIERTON (c.1520-1592), a wealthy merchant and alderman in the city of York during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He was known for his philanthropic efforts in supporting local charities and founding a school.

In the 17th century, Thomas BRIERTON (1627-1689) was a prominent Puritan minister who served as the rector of St. Mary's Church in Beverley, Yorkshire. He was an outspoken critic of the Church of England's liturgical practices and was briefly imprisoned for his views during the Restoration period.

During the English Civil War, Captain Robert BRIERTON (c.1610-1673) fought for the Parliamentarian forces under Oliver Cromwell. He was present at several major battles including Marston Moor in 1644 and later served as a member of the Rump Parliament after the execution of King Charles I.

In more recent history, Sir Arthur BRIERTON (1863-1941) was a British diplomat who served as the Ambassador to Russia from 1914 to 1917, playing a key role in diplomatic relations between the two countries during World War I and the Russian Revolution.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Brierton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brierton 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. Lanarkshire leads with 17 Briertons recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.78x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 17 10.78x
Lancashire 15 2.59x
Renfrewshire 8 21.17x
Cambridgeshire 4 12.95x
Staffordshire 2 1.22x
Cheshire 1 0.93x
Denbighshire 1 5.43x
Hampshire 1 1.00x
Middlesex 1 0.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 13 Briertons recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.57x.

Place Total Index
Barony 13 32.57x
Eastwood 7 300.43x
Chorlton On Medlock 4 43.53x
Liverpool 4 11.38x
St Andrewthe Less 4 113.31x
Glasgow 3 10.71x
Tottington Lower End 3 109.09x
West Derby 2 11.81x
Alverstoke 1 27.62x
Ardwick 1 19.16x
Ashton Under Lyne 1 7.91x
Bothwell 1 23.36x
Fulham London 1 14.14x
Newcastle Under Lyme 1 34.36x
Paisley High Church 1 33.22x
Ruabon 1 39.53x
Stockport 1 18.05x
Stoke Upon Trent 1 5.73x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ann 2
Ellen 2
Martha 2
Eliza 1
Emma 1
Ester 1
Frances 1
Hesther 1
Margaret 1
Margerette 1
Mary 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 2
Alexander 1
David 1
James 1
Joseph 1
Martin 1
Michael 1
Philip 1
William 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 Brierton households.

FAQ

Brierton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brierton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 50 people were recorded with the Brierton surname. That placed it at #26,587 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brierton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 106 in 2016. That gives Brierton a modern rank of #29,927.

What does the Brierton surname mean?

A locative surname derived from a place name in Scotland.

What does the Brierton map show?

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