NameCensus.

UK surname

Brindley

From the Old English words for "burnt" and "wood clearing," likely referring to a person living near a clearing.

In the 1881 census there were 2,291 people recorded with the Brindley surname, ranking it #1,952 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,851, ranked #1,757, up from #1,952 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Wolstanton and Burslem. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Derbyshire Dales, Staffordshire Moorlands and Nuneaton and Bedworth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brindley is 4,091 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 68.1%.

1881 census count

2,291

Ranked #1,952

Modern count

3,851

2016, ranked #1,757

Peak year

1999

4,091 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brindley had 2,291 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,952 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,851 in 2016, ranked #1,757.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,408 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Brindley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brindley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Brindley 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 1,368 #2,096
1861 historical 1,370 #2,090
1881 historical 2,291 #1,952
1891 historical 2,515 #1,881
1901 historical 2,946 #1,902
1911 historical 3,408 #1,537
1997 modern 3,566 #1,816
1998 modern 4,065 #1,658
1999 modern 4,091 #1,658
2000 modern 4,069 #1,660
2001 modern 3,968 #1,669
2002 modern 4,068 #1,659
2003 modern 3,972 #1,670
2004 modern 3,959 #1,674
2005 modern 3,892 #1,675
2006 modern 3,862 #1,689
2007 modern 3,861 #1,708
2008 modern 3,869 #1,718
2009 modern 3,984 #1,704
2010 modern 4,013 #1,726
2011 modern 3,999 #1,712
2012 modern 3,900 #1,725
2013 modern 3,952 #1,734
2014 modern 3,960 #1,738
2015 modern 3,911 #1,734
2016 modern 3,851 #1,757

Geography

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Where Brindleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Wolstanton, Burslem, Cannock and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Derbyshire Dales, Staffordshire Moorlands, Nuneaton and Bedworth, High Peak and Stoke-on-Trent. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Wolstanton Staffordshire
3 Burslem Staffordshire
4 Cannock Staffordshire
5 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Derbyshire Dales 003 Derbyshire Dales
2 Staffordshire Moorlands 010 Staffordshire Moorlands
3 Nuneaton and Bedworth 001 Nuneaton and Bedworth
4 High Peak 010 High Peak
5 Stoke-on-Trent 004 Stoke-on-Trent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Brindley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Brindley

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Brindley is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Brindley 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

Brindley falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Brindley

The surname Brindley is believed to be of English origin, originating from the Old English words "brin" meaning burnt, and "leah" meaning a meadow or clearing. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a burnt or charred clearing in the woods.

The earliest recorded spelling of the name dates back to the 13th century, appearing as "de Brindeley" in the Feet of Fines for the county of Staffordshire in 1272. This suggests that the name may have been derived from a place name, possibly referring to the village of Brindle in Lancashire.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a record of landowners in England, there are no direct mentions of the surname Brindley. However, variations of the name, such as "Brindewood" and "Brindehurst," can be found, indicating that the name was present in some form during the Norman Conquest.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Brindley was William Brindley, born in 1480 in Leek, Staffordshire. He was a prominent landowner and is mentioned in several historical records from the late 15th century.

James Brindley (1716-1772) was a notable English engineer, often referred to as the "Father of English Inland Navigation." He designed and constructed several canals, including the Bridgewater Canal, which revolutionized the transportation of goods in the Industrial Revolution.

John Brindley (1804-1875) was an English architect and surveyor. He designed many churches and public buildings in the Midlands region, including the Leek Town Hall and the Church of St. Edward in Leek.

Charlotte Brindley (1833-1911) was a prominent English philanthropist and social reformer. She founded the North Staffordshire Infirmary and played a significant role in improving healthcare and education in the region.

Francis Brindley (1863-1934) was an English cricketer who played for Staffordshire County Cricket Club in the late 19th century. He was a right-handed batsman and a skilled wicket-keeper.

The surname Brindley has also been associated with various place names, such as Brindley Ford in Cheshire, Brindley Heath in Staffordshire, and Brindley Village in Worcestershire, further solidifying its English roots.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Brindley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brindley 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. Staffordshire leads with 1,038 Brindleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.77x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 1,038 13.77x
Lancashire 204 0.77x
Warwickshire 200 3.55x
Derbyshire 199 5.69x
Cheshire 196 3.98x
Middlesex 81 0.36x
Yorkshire 76 0.34x
Shropshire 46 2.38x
Worcestershire 37 1.27x
Kent 30 0.39x
Berkshire 25 1.49x
Surrey 25 0.23x
Buckinghamshire 16 1.19x
Nottinghamshire 15 0.50x
Oxfordshire 14 1.02x
Hampshire 12 0.26x
Norfolk 12 0.35x
Gloucestershire 11 0.25x
Devon 8 0.17x
Leicestershire 5 0.20x
Somerset 5 0.14x
Durham 4 0.06x
Northamptonshire 4 0.19x
Cornwall 3 0.12x
Herefordshire 3 0.33x
Midlothian 3 0.10x
Essex 2 0.05x
Fife 2 0.15x
Hertfordshire 2 0.13x
Isle of Man 2 0.48x
Lincolnshire 2 0.06x
Montgomeryshire 2 0.39x
Sussex 2 0.05x
Buteshire 1 0.74x
Dorset 1 0.07x
Northumberland 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 158 Brindleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.77x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Upon Trent 158 19.77x
Cannock 79 60.07x
Willenhall 79 55.96x
Birmingham 71 3.78x
Burslem 63 29.18x
Aston 59 3.81x
Audley 52 69.72x
Stockport 50 19.71x
Wolverhampton 50 8.63x
Norton In Moors 43 107.77x
Wolstanton 40 17.47x
Leek Lowe 35 34.90x
Derby St Alkmund 27 25.77x
Macclesfield 27 12.32x
Walsall Foreign 25 6.42x
Checkley 24 122.64x
Hulme 24 4.34x
Dukinfield 23 10.10x
Gorton 22 8.83x
Hartington Upper 21 125.90x
Kings Norton 21 8.03x
Wednesfield 21 18.93x
Congleton 20 23.49x
Derby St Werburgh 20 9.91x
Rocester 20 214.13x
Rugeley 17 31.43x
Salford 17 2.18x
Uttoxeter 17 44.06x
West Bromwich 17 3.94x
Kingswinford 15 5.48x
Camberwell 14 0.98x
Glossop Dale 14 8.55x
Hartington Nether 14 482.76x
Manchester 14 1.18x
Gillingham 13 8.28x
Hampstead London 13 3.74x
Kensington London 13 1.05x
Tamworth 13 32.26x
Ashton Under Lyne 12 2.07x
Beswick 12 17.71x
Castle Church 12 26.49x
Codnor Loscoe 12 43.35x
Drayton In Hales 12 30.17x
Nether Hallam 12 4.01x
Cotton 11 220.00x
Litchurch 11 7.82x
Marple 11 32.51x
Nether Whitacre 11 244.99x
Nuneaton 11 16.86x
Reading St Mary 11 8.19x
Wolstanton Chatterly 11 142.12x
Biddulph 10 23.51x
Derby St Peter 10 8.98x
Hatherton 10 306.75x
Islington London 10 0.46x
Normanton 10 33.86x
Norwich St Michael At 10 50.20x
Toxteth Park 10 1.11x
Wellington 10 9.22x
Bedworth 9 21.90x
Fawfieldhead 9 185.95x
Garston 9 11.51x
Hammersmith London 9 1.64x
Hughenden 9 65.31x
Ince In Makerfield 9 7.30x
Lambeth 9 0.46x
Marston Montgomery 9 306.12x
Mayfield 9 95.44x
Reddish 9 24.66x
Sheffield 9 1.28x
Stone 9 9.34x
Bradnop Cawdry 8 235.99x
Cheadle 8 22.10x
Ipstones 8 73.87x
Mansfield 8 7.68x
Newbury 8 14.90x
Sutton In Macclesfield 8 15.64x
Tettenhall 8 17.36x
Wistanstow 8 128.41x
Wolstanton Chesterton 8 20.77x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 156
Sarah 109
Elizabeth 94
Ann 65
Emma 38
Hannah 37
Eliza 34
Jane 33
Alice 31
Annie 31
Harriet 26
Martha 23
Ellen 21
Fanny 19
Charlotte 16
Emily 16
Caroline 14
Maria 14
Anne 13
Clara 13
Florence 13
Margaret 12
Lucy 11
Louisa 10
Edith 9
Ada 8
Gertrude 8
Harriett 8
Frances 7
Rose 7
Selina 7
Amelia 6
Catherine 6
Elizth. 6
Lydia 6
Francis 5
Julia 5
Kate 5
Lizzie 5
Matilda 5
Amy 4
May 4
Rachel 4
Ruth 4
Agnes 3
Betsy 3
Elizh. 3
Helen 3
Jessie 3
Lilly 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 134
William 126
Thomas 94
George 82
James 80
Joseph 58
Charles 52
Henry 37
Samuel 35
Arthur 25
Alfred 21
Edward 21
Albert 20
Frank 19
Walter 19
Robert 17
David 15
Ernest 15
Daniel 12
Frederick 12
Richard 12
Francis 11
Isaac 11
Harry 9
Thos. 9
Wm. 8
Benjamin 7
Herbert 7
Eli 5
Edwd. 4
Edwin 4
Enoch 4
Geo. 4
Job 4
Hugh 3
Jabez 3
Lewis 3
Oliver 3
Reginald 3
Tom 3
Andrew 2
Antonetti 2
Clement 2
Cyrus 2
Fred 2
Jeremiah 2
Joe 2
Percy 2
Sampson 2
Stephen 2

FAQ

Brindley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brindley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,291 people were recorded with the Brindley surname. That placed it at #1,952 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brindley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,851 in 2016. That gives Brindley a modern rank of #1,757.

What does the Brindley surname mean?

From the Old English words for "burnt" and "wood clearing," likely referring to a person living near a clearing.

What does the Brindley map show?

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