NameCensus.

UK surname

Brill

A topographic surname referring to someone living on or near a hill or slope.

In the 1881 census there were 384 people recorded with the Brill surname, ranking it #8,195 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 794, ranked #6,962, up from #8,195 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Ealing, Chiswick and Aston Clinton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ipswich, Reigate and Banstead and Black Isle South.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brill is 827 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 106.8%.

1881 census count

384

Ranked #8,195

Modern count

794

2016, ranked #6,962

Peak year

2013

827 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brill had 384 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,195 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 794 in 2016, ranked #6,962.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 642 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Brill surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brill surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Brill 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 249 #8,816
1861 historical 342 #7,460
1881 historical 384 #8,195
1891 historical 510 #7,307
1901 historical 579 #7,261
1911 historical 642 #6,506
1997 modern 767 #6,758
1998 modern 782 #6,884
1999 modern 788 #6,880
2000 modern 786 #6,873
2001 modern 764 #6,890
2002 modern 783 #6,896
2003 modern 757 #6,960
2004 modern 791 #6,740
2005 modern 770 #6,813
2006 modern 787 #6,715
2007 modern 784 #6,805
2008 modern 819 #6,608
2009 modern 817 #6,762
2010 modern 814 #6,921
2011 modern 821 #6,797
2012 modern 800 #6,827
2013 modern 827 #6,765
2014 modern 827 #6,797
2015 modern 806 #6,896
2016 modern 794 #6,962

Geography

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Where Brills are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Ealing, Chiswick, Aston Clinton and Ruislip. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ipswich, Reigate and Banstead and Black Isle South. 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 London parishes London 3
3 Ealing, Chiswick Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
4 Aston Clinton Buckinghamshire
5 Ruislip Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ipswich 001 Ipswich
2 Reigate and Banstead 005 Reigate and Banstead
3 Ipswich 006 Ipswich
4 Ipswich 003 Ipswich
5 Black Isle South Highland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Brill

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Brill

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Brill surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Brill household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Brill is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Brill is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Brill falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Brill is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Brill

The surname Brill is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word 'brill' or 'brylle,' which referred to a small stream or brook. The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the 13th century, when it was often spelled as 'Brille' or 'Bryl.'

During the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century, many place names were influenced by the Norman French language. It is possible that the name Brill may have originated from a Norman-influenced place name, such as Brill in Buckinghamshire, which was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as 'Bruhella.'

One of the earliest known bearers of the name Brill was William de Brille, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1194. Other early records include Walter de Brill, documented in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1279.

Over the centuries, the Brill surname has been associated with several notable individuals. Sir Matthew Brill (1572-1629) was an English lawyer and Member of Parliament during the reign of King James I. Another prominent figure was Richard Brill (1619-1699), an English clergyman and author of several theological works.

In the 18th century, John Brill (1734-1794) was a renowned English musician and composer, known for his contributions to the development of the violin concerto. A century later, Reginald Brill (1858-1942) was a distinguished English architect responsible for designing several notable buildings, including the Croydon Town Hall.

Across the Atlantic, one of the earliest recorded instances of the Brill surname in America was that of John Brill, who arrived in Pennsylvania from England in 1683. Another early American bearer of the name was Benjamin Brill (1725-1809), a Revolutionary War soldier and farmer from New Jersey.

Throughout its history, the surname Brill has been associated with various occupations and professions, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and experiences of its bearers. Whether derived from a geographical location or an Old English word, the name Brill has left an indelible mark on the annals of history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Brill families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brill 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. Middlesex leads with 128 Brills recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.43x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 128 3.43x
Buckinghamshire 60 26.57x
Surrey 54 2.97x
Sussex 30 4.76x
Berkshire 24 8.56x
Kent 24 1.88x
Suffolk 16 3.52x
Yorkshire 11 0.30x
Essex 9 1.22x
Glamorgan 9 1.38x
Oxfordshire 6 2.60x
Devon 2 0.26x
Gloucestershire 2 0.27x
Lancashire 2 0.05x
Bedfordshire 1 0.52x
Cheshire 1 0.12x
Durham 1 0.09x
Hertfordshire 1 0.39x
Leicestershire 1 0.24x
Staffordshire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ruislip in Middlesex leads with 24 Brills recorded in 1881 and an index of 1290.32x.

Place Total Index
Ruislip 24 1290.32x
Brighton 21 16.53x
Woolwich 21 44.60x
Fulham London 19 35.07x
Aston Clinton 14 732.98x
Ealing 13 38.93x
Ipswich St Clement 13 112.36x
Kingston On Thames 13 29.73x
Reading St Mary 13 57.88x
Bierton With Broughton 10 961.54x
Mile End Old Town London 10 12.58x
Cwmdu 9 113.64x
Weston Turville 9 857.14x
Coleshill 8 1250.00x
Shoreditch London 8 4.94x
Lambeth 7 2.15x
St Marylebone London 7 3.51x
West Ham 7 4.30x
Paddington London 6 4.37x
Staines 6 101.35x
Hove 5 18.09x
Mortlake 5 61.65x
Skircoat 5 34.25x
Buckland 4 363.64x
Hammersmith London 4 4.35x
Newington 4 2.90x
Putney 4 23.49x
Reading St Giles 4 14.54x
Reigate Foreign 4 20.29x
St Pancras London 4 1.33x
Wandsworth 4 11.12x
Carshalton 3 43.04x
Caversham 3 64.94x
Chelsea London 3 2.66x
Chesham 3 36.06x
Chiswick 3 14.70x
Gate Fulford 3 34.72x
Great Missenden 3 107.91x
Hurstpierpoint 3 85.47x
Kensington London 3 1.44x
Reigate Borough 3 71.43x
St George Hanover Square 3 4.56x
Twickenham 3 18.73x
Wycombe 3 17.81x
Acton 2 9.13x
Arborfield 2 571.43x
Bray 2 24.27x
Croydon 2 1.98x
Halberton 2 110.50x
Ham 2 246.91x
Hayes 2 52.49x
Rotherfield Greys 2 81.97x
St Giles In Fields London 2 10.91x
Stone 2 114.29x
Waltham St Lawrence 2 181.82x
Albourne 1 256.41x
Audley 1 8.01x
Aylesbury 1 9.99x
Battersea 1 0.73x
Burnham 1 36.76x
Darlington 1 2.33x
Hackney London 1 0.48x
Halifax 1 1.84x
Ipswich St Helen 1 18.55x
Ipswich St Mary At Elms 1 68.97x
Liverpool 1 0.37x
Manchester 1 0.50x
Middlesbrough 1 2.07x
Northolt 1 158.73x
Ovenden 1 6.07x
Oxford St Ebbe 1 14.73x
Richmond 1 3.92x
Rochford 1 46.51x
Saunderton 1 185.19x
St Clement Danes London 1 12.94x
Stone In Dartford 1 30.58x
Upton Cum Chalvey 1 11.11x
Wimbledon 1 4.89x
Wokingham 1 15.63x
Wooburn 1 32.15x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 23
William 23
Henry 22
John 15
James 11
Thomas 11
Edward 9
Joseph 8
Charles 5
Frederick 5
Alfred 3
Arthur 3
Francis 3
Albert 2
Harry 2
Israel 2
Josiah 2
Peter 2
Richard 2
Walter 2
Wm. 2
Abraham 1
Adolphe 1
Daniel 1
Danuel 1
David 1
Edgar 1
Edwin 1
Emanuel 1
Ernest 1
Frances 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Fredrick 1
Isiah 1
Jesse 1
Jessie 1
Percy 1
Robert 1
Robt. 1
Samuel 1
Short 1
Sidney 1
Wm.Alfr. 1

FAQ

Brill surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brill surname in 1881?

In 1881, 384 people were recorded with the Brill surname. That placed it at #8,195 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brill surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 794 in 2016. That gives Brill a modern rank of #6,962.

What does the Brill surname mean?

A topographic surname referring to someone living on or near a hill or slope.

What does the Brill map show?

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