NameCensus.

UK surname

Brigham

Derived from a place name meaning "bridge settlement" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 631 people recorded with the Brigham surname, ranking it #5,619 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 770, ranked #7,131, down from #5,619 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Nunburnholme, Gateshead and Beverley St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Riding of Yorkshire, Northumberland and Breckland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brigham is 856 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 22.0%.

1881 census count

631

Ranked #5,619

Modern count

770

2016, ranked #7,131

Peak year

1891

856 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brigham had 631 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,619 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 770 in 2016, ranked #7,131.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 856 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Brigham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brigham surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Brigham 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 485 #5,144
1861 historical 600 #4,419
1881 historical 631 #5,619
1891 historical 856 #4,786
1901 historical 771 #5,815
1911 historical 822 #5,359
1997 modern 743 #6,933
1998 modern 780 #6,897
1999 modern 796 #6,825
2000 modern 760 #7,032
2001 modern 730 #7,118
2002 modern 725 #7,308
2003 modern 741 #7,083
2004 modern 724 #7,201
2005 modern 704 #7,310
2006 modern 698 #7,366
2007 modern 712 #7,331
2008 modern 732 #7,244
2009 modern 759 #7,182
2010 modern 782 #7,158
2011 modern 779 #7,098
2012 modern 774 #7,050
2013 modern 784 #7,085
2014 modern 790 #7,078
2015 modern 768 #7,166
2016 modern 770 #7,131

Geography

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Where Brighams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Nunburnholme, Gateshead, Beverley St Mary, Leeds and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Riding of Yorkshire, Northumberland and Breckland. 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 Nunburnholme Yorkshire, East Riding
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Beverley St Mary Yorkshire, East Riding
4 Leeds Yorkshire, West Riding
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Riding of Yorkshire 008 East Riding of Yorkshire
2 East Riding of Yorkshire 011 East Riding of Yorkshire
3 Northumberland 002 Northumberland
4 East Riding of Yorkshire 041 East Riding of Yorkshire
5 Breckland 001 Breckland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Brigham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Brigham

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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, Brigham 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

Brigham 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

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

Meaning and origin of Brigham

The surname BRIGHAM originates from England, with its roots dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name derived from the place name Brigham, a parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire. The name Brigham itself is thought to be derived from the Old Norse words "bryggja" meaning bridge and "heimr" meaning homestead or settlement.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name BRIGHAM can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a great survey of landholdings and properties in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This suggests that the name had already been established in the region by the 11th century.

In the 13th century, a notable figure with the surname BRIGHAM was Robert de Brigham, who was a landowner and nobleman from Yorkshire. He was recorded as holding lands in Brigham and other nearby villages around the year 1240.

During the 16th century, the BRIGHAM family had established themselves as prominent landowners and gentry in various parts of Yorkshire. One notable member from this era was Thomas BRIGHAM, born in 1535, who was a member of the Yorkshire gentry and served as a justice of the peace.

Another significant figure was Thomas BRIGHAM, born in 1609, who was a Puritan minister and one of the founders of the town of Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the early days of the American colonies. He played a pivotal role in the establishment of the New England settlements and was a influential figure in the religious and political life of the region.

In the 18th century, the BRIGHAM surname gained further prominence with the birth of Amariah BRIGHAM (1798-1849), an American botanist and physician who made significant contributions to the study of plant life in the northeastern United States.

Throughout history, the BRIGHAM surname has maintained a strong presence, with various individuals making their mark in different fields, including politics, religion, academia, and the arts. The name continues to be prevalent in both the United Kingdom and the United States, reflecting its enduring legacy and rich historical roots.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Brigham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brigham 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. Yorkshire leads with 336 Brighams recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.50x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 336 5.50x
Northumberland 59 6.43x
Norfolk 43 4.54x
Durham 41 2.24x
Middlesex 36 0.58x
Lancashire 23 0.31x
Surrey 15 0.50x
Berkshire 13 2.81x
Cheshire 13 0.96x
Staffordshire 12 0.58x
Essex 10 0.82x
Hampshire 8 0.63x
Lincolnshire 6 0.61x
Kent 5 0.24x
Leicestershire 3 0.44x
Gloucestershire 2 0.17x
Sussex 2 0.19x
Cumberland 1 0.19x
Fife 1 0.27x
Midlothian 1 0.12x
Northamptonshire 1 0.17x
Suffolk 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Holy Island in Northumberland leads with 26 Brighams recorded in 1881 and an index of 2222.22x.

Place Total Index
Holy Island 26 2222.22x
Beverley St Mary 15 168.16x
Holy Trinity 14 9.53x
Slingsby 14 1111.11x
Brinnington 13 102.28x
Nunburnholme 13 2500.00x
Berwick Upon Tweed 12 61.73x
Millington W Little 12 3076.92x
Redcar 10 206.19x
West Derby 10 4.67x
Beverley St Nicholas 9 179.64x
Hunslet 9 9.45x
Market Weighton Arras 9 226.70x
Norwich St George Colegate 8 231.88x
Reading St Giles 8 17.62x
Whitechapel London 8 13.16x
Bishopwearmouth 7 4.45x
Chirton 7 33.72x
Gateshead 7 5.10x
Great Driffield 7 55.82x
Holgate 7 588.24x
Kyloe 7 331.75x
Westoe 7 6.73x
Willington 7 66.04x
York St Maurice 7 60.87x
Bishop Wilton Cum 6 508.47x
Clee With Weelsby 6 27.80x
Croydon 6 3.60x
Hornsea 6 155.04x
Menthorpe Cum Bowthorpe 6 6000.00x
Moor Town 6 8571.43x
Norton In Malton 6 80.97x
Portsea 6 2.42x
Sculcoates 6 6.19x
Southcoates 6 17.69x
Swinefleet 6 227.27x
Thornton Watlass 6 1538.46x
Ulverston 6 28.16x
Walthamstow 6 13.70x
Bermondsey 5 2.72x
Brooke 5 335.57x
Castle Church 5 39.97x
Handsworth 5 9.75x
Horton In Bradford 5 5.24x
Kilham 5 195.31x
Lyng 5 467.29x
Middleton St George 5 217.39x
North Newbald 5 364.96x
Northrepps 5 413.22x
Skelton In Great 5 793.65x
Spofforth 5 595.24x
Thwing 5 537.63x
Ulrome 5 1219.51x
Whitby 5 24.28x
Wylam 5 247.52x
Bowling 4 6.61x
Bridge Hewick 4 2666.67x
Brightside Bierlow 4 3.34x
Catton 4 1428.57x
Edmonton 4 8.05x
Elloughton Cum Brough 4 212.77x
Etton 4 380.95x
Huttons Ambo 4 454.55x
Kensington London 4 1.17x
Leeds 4 1.16x
Norwich St Peter 4 64.31x
Overstrand 4 816.33x
Paddington London 4 1.76x
Pocklington 4 69.32x
Shipton In Pocklington 4 444.44x
Stockton On Tees 4 4.52x
Thixendale 4 740.74x
Warter 4 312.50x
Dishforth 3 468.75x
Haisthorpe 3 1153.85x
Needham 3 441.18x
New Village 3 163.93x
Scargill 3 1363.64x
St George Hanover Square 3 2.76x
Stranton 3 4.86x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 51
Elizabeth 29
Jane 23
Annie 22
Sarah 18
Alice 13
Hannah 10
Emma 9
Eliza 8
Margaret 8
Emily 7
Esther 7
Edith 6
Ellen 6
Frances 6
Ada 5
Clara 5
Isabella 5
Lucy 5
Maria 5
Harriet 4
Ann 3
Anna 3
Charlotte 3
Fanny 3
Julia 3
Louisa 3
Sophia 3
Caroline 2
Eleanor 2
Gertrude 2
Grace 2
Jessie 2
Lilly 2
Martha 2
Rosa 2
Rose 2
Amy 1
Anah 1
Bella 1
Bessie 1
Elenor 1
Eliz. 1
Elizab. 1
Elizbeth 1
Elizth.Mary 1
Helen 1
Laura 1
Letitia 1
Zanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 44
John 38
Robert 29
George 28
Thomas 22
James 17
Henry 13
Richard 12
Charles 8
Joseph 8
Alfred 6
Arthur 6
Edwin 6
Harry 5
Francis 4
Tom 4
Frederick 3
David 2
Ernest 2
Leonard 2
Martin 2
Matthew 2
Alexander 1
Ben 1
Benjamin 1
Charley 1
Charls 1
Chris. 1
Daniel 1
Elgey 1
Fredk.B. 1
Fredrick 1
Harey 1
Harker 1
Herbert 1
Hy. 1
Isaac 1
Jennison 1
Jordan 1
Lenard 1
Malcolm 1
Ralph 1
Robt. 1
Saml. 1
Samuel 1
Septimus 1
Silbit 1
Theodore 1
Thos. 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Brigham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brigham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 631 people were recorded with the Brigham surname. That placed it at #5,619 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brigham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 770 in 2016. That gives Brigham a modern rank of #7,131.

What does the Brigham surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "bridge settlement" in Old English.

What does the Brigham map show?

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