NameCensus.

UK surname

Brigden

An English topographic surname derived from a place meaning "bridge over a valley".

In the 1881 census there were 543 people recorded with the Brigden surname, ranking it #6,354 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 791, ranked #6,984, down from #6,354 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lewisham and Tunbridge, Bidborough. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Birmingham, Milton Keynes and Wealden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brigden is 874 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 45.7%.

1881 census count

543

Ranked #6,354

Modern count

791

2016, ranked #6,984

Peak year

1911

874 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brigden had 543 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,354 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 791 in 2016, ranked #6,984.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 874 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Brigden surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brigden surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Brigden 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 338 #6,943
1861 historical 345 #7,398
1881 historical 543 #6,354
1891 historical 689 #5,686
1901 historical 845 #5,387
1911 historical 874 #5,088
1997 modern 812 #6,458
1998 modern 836 #6,526
1999 modern 849 #6,493
2000 modern 819 #6,649
2001 modern 827 #6,488
2002 modern 860 #6,411
2003 modern 814 #6,558
2004 modern 801 #6,664
2005 modern 775 #6,773
2006 modern 800 #6,629
2007 modern 795 #6,727
2008 modern 805 #6,712
2009 modern 840 #6,625
2010 modern 849 #6,699
2011 modern 830 #6,732
2012 modern 818 #6,711
2013 modern 815 #6,832
2014 modern 818 #6,851
2015 modern 810 #6,854
2016 modern 791 #6,984

Geography

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Where Brigdens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Lewisham, Tunbridge, Bidborough and Wandsworth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Birmingham, Milton Keynes, Wealden, Forest Heath and Herefordshire. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Lewisham London (South Districts)
3 Tunbridge, Bidborough Kent
4 London parishes London 3
5 Wandsworth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Birmingham 121 Birmingham
2 Milton Keynes 017 Milton Keynes
3 Wealden 008 Wealden
4 Forest Heath 004 Forest Heath
5 Herefordshire 009 Herefordshire, County of

Forenames

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First names often paired with Brigden

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Brigden

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Brigden, 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 Brigden surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Brigden 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, Brigden 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

Brigden 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

Brigden falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Brigden

The surname Brigden has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from the village of Brigden or Brickden in the county of Hertfordshire. The name is thought to come from the Old English words "brycg" meaning bridge and "denu" meaning valley, suggesting that the name refers to a settlement in a valley near a bridge.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname Brigden can be found in the Hertfordshire Assize Rolls of 1285, where a Robert de Brigdene is listed. This indicates that the name was already well-established in that region by the late 13th century.

In the 16th century, various spellings of the name appear in historical documents, including Brigden, Brygden, and Brigdene. The Subsidy Rolls of 1524 for Hertfordshire list a John Brygden, while the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1543 for the same county record a Thomas Brigden.

A notable individual bearing the Brigden surname was Thomas Brigden, a prominent Puritan clergyman who lived from 1588 to 1637. He served as the vicar of Geddington in Northamptonshire and was known for his non-conformist views, which led to conflicts with the Church of England.

Another historical figure with the Brigden name was Samuel Brigden, born in 1737 in Wiltshire, England. He was a successful entrepreneur and industrialist who established a thriving textile manufacturing business in the town of Chippenham.

In the 19th century, the Brigden surname gained further recognition through the achievements of William Brigden (1821-1895), a prominent architect based in London. He was responsible for designing several notable buildings, including the Tredegar Estate in Richmond and the Charing Cross Hotel.

Other notable individuals with the Brigden surname include John Brigden (1788-1863), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars, and Emily Brigden (1839-1913), a British author and poet who wrote several works of fiction and non-fiction.

While the Brigden surname is predominantly found in England, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and settlement patterns over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Brigden families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brigden 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. Surrey leads with 200 Brigdens recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.73x.

County Total Index
Surrey 200 7.73x
Kent 150 8.28x
Sussex 74 8.27x
Middlesex 58 1.09x
Essex 14 1.34x
Worcestershire 9 1.30x
Berkshire 7 1.76x
Buckinghamshire 6 1.87x
Norfolk 6 0.74x
Warwickshire 6 0.45x
Derbyshire 5 0.60x
Lancashire 5 0.08x
Yorkshire 2 0.04x
Hertfordshire 1 0.27x
Royal Navy 1 1.58x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camberwell in Surrey leads with 52 Brigdens recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.34x.

Place Total Index
Camberwell 52 15.34x
Brighton 39 21.61x
Wandsworth 26 50.90x
Lewisham 25 25.89x
Croydon 20 13.93x
Lambeth 18 3.89x
Wrotham 17 283.33x
Bermondsey 16 10.13x
St Pancras London 13 3.04x
Barking 12 39.15x
Chatham 12 24.09x
Tonbridge 12 18.38x
Sutton At Hone 11 292.55x
Battersea 10 5.12x
Cuckfield 10 110.62x
Reigate Foreign 10 35.71x
Sittingbourne 10 69.93x
Keymer 9 142.41x
Aylesford 8 159.36x
Chartham 8 177.38x
Tooting Graveney 8 111.11x
Clerkenwell London 7 5.59x
Newington 7 3.57x
Aston 6 1.63x
Chalfont St Peter 6 227.27x
Chelsea London 6 3.75x
Cobham 6 141.51x
Gatton 6 1428.57x
Greenwich 6 7.10x
Kings Norton 6 9.66x
Stoke D Abernon 6 800.00x
Chiddingstone 5 210.97x
Chislehurst 5 51.49x
Derby St Alkmund 5 20.08x
Hadlow 5 111.36x
Penge 5 14.75x
Chorlton On Medlock 4 4.00x
Hackney London 4 1.34x
Hastings St Clement 4 47.51x
Kensington London 4 1.36x
Scole Cum Frenze 4 336.13x
St George Hanover Square 4 4.28x
St Pauls Cray 4 287.77x
Thatcham 4 65.15x
Westminster St Margaret 4 15.63x
Broadwater 3 14.62x
Halling 3 126.58x
Hurst 3 57.58x
Mile End New Town London 3 28.63x
St Mary Cray 3 86.71x
Streatham 3 7.62x
Dudley 2 2.37x
Harrow 2 24.66x
Harrow On The Hill 2 18.87x
Isfield 2 243.90x
Meopham 2 89.29x
Mile End Old Town London 2 1.77x
Mitcham 2 12.24x
Paddington London 2 1.03x
Storrington 2 81.63x
Tudeley 2 200.00x
West Ham 2 0.86x
West Peckham 2 238.10x
Willesborough 2 41.07x
Wimbledon 2 6.89x
Blofield 1 48.08x
Chorley 1 2.83x
Deptford St Paul 1 0.72x
Holy Trinity 1 0.79x
Huddersfield 1 1.31x
Leigh 1 11.89x
Little Horsted 1 185.19x
Orpington 1 18.05x
Royal Navy 1 1.85x
Shoreditch London 1 0.43x
St Luke London 1 1.17x
St Marylebone London 1 0.35x
Strood 1 9.68x
Westerham 1 23.92x
Withyam 1 26.11x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 27
Sarah 21
Elizabeth 17
Alice 12
Eliza 11
Ellen 9
Ann 8
Emily 8
Annie 7
Louisa 7
Clara 6
Edith 6
Harriet 6
Harriett 6
Maria 6
Agnes 5
Amelia 5
Anne 5
Emma 5
Fanny 5
Charlotte 4
Jane 4
Martha 4
Ada 3
Hannah 3
Sophia 3
Anna 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Jessie 2
Julia 2
Katie 2
Laura 2
Letitia 2
Lucy 2
Margaret 2
Matilda 2
Maud 2
Phoebe 2
Susan 2
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Ester 1
Florce. 1
Georgiana 1
Grace 1
Leonora 1
Lilian 1
Lililian 1
Zepporah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 32
Thomas 22
John 19
Henry 18
George 16
Alfred 13
Charles 12
Edward 12
Albert 11
James 11
Arthur 9
Frederick 6
Joseph 6
Edwin 5
Ernest 5
Francis 5
Walter 5
Benjamin 3
Fredrick 3
Harry 3
Herbert 3
Richard 3
Sidney 3
Stephen 3
Frank 2
Hy. 2
Robert 2
Samuel 2
Thos. 2
Wm. 2
Benj. 1
Charlie 1
Edwd 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
Georgie 1
Horace 1
Lewis 1
Louis 1
Maurice 1
Norman 1
Percy 1
Phillip 1
Reginald 1
Sebastian 1
Soloman 1
Solomon 1
Sydney 1

FAQ

Brigden surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brigden surname in 1881?

In 1881, 543 people were recorded with the Brigden surname. That placed it at #6,354 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brigden surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 791 in 2016. That gives Brigden a modern rank of #6,984.

What does the Brigden surname mean?

An English topographic surname derived from a place meaning "bridge over a valley".

What does the Brigden map show?

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