NameCensus.

UK surname

Brine

An occupational surname relating to those who worked with salt or brine.

In the 1881 census there were 901 people recorded with the Brine surname, ranking it #4,231 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,019, ranked #5,722, down from #4,231 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Hampshire, Wyre Forest and South Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brine is 1,050 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 13.1%.

1881 census count

901

Ranked #4,231

Modern count

1,019

2016, ranked #5,722

Peak year

2014

1,050 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brine had 901 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,231 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,019 in 2016, ranked #5,722.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,023 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Brine surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brine surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Brine 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 756 #3,519
1861 historical 753 #3,632
1881 historical 901 #4,231
1891 historical 1,004 #4,131
1901 historical 984 #4,824
1911 historical 1,023 #4,464
1997 modern 979 #5,595
1998 modern 1,000 #5,674
1999 modern 966 #5,869
2000 modern 1,003 #5,672
2001 modern 982 #5,657
2002 modern 1,014 #5,626
2003 modern 1,003 #5,582
2004 modern 1,000 #5,598
2005 modern 972 #5,661
2006 modern 953 #5,781
2007 modern 956 #5,823
2008 modern 972 #5,773
2009 modern 1,009 #5,724
2010 modern 1,023 #5,772
2011 modern 1,027 #5,698
2012 modern 1,038 #5,560
2013 modern 1,039 #5,663
2014 modern 1,050 #5,624
2015 modern 1,019 #5,721
2016 modern 1,019 #5,722

Geography

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Where Brines are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, St Pancras, Sherborne and Winfrith Newburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Hampshire, Wyre Forest, South Somerset, Waverley and Monmouthshire. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Sherborne Dorset
5 Winfrith Newburgh Dorset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Hampshire 009 East Hampshire
2 Wyre Forest 011 Wyre Forest
3 South Somerset 005 South Somerset
4 Waverley 016 Waverley
5 Monmouthshire 004 Monmouthshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Brine

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Brine

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

Brine is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Brine 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 Brine is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Brine

The surname Brine is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English word "bryn," which means "a burn" or "a stream." This indicates that the name was likely given to someone who lived near a small stream or brook.

In the 13th century, the name Brine can be found in records from the county of Staffordshire, England. One of the earliest known references is in the Assize Rolls of 1292, which mention a William Brine from the village of Leigh.

As time passed, the name spread to other parts of England, with variations in spelling emerging. In the 14th century, records from Yorkshire show instances of the name spelled as "Bryne" and "Brynne."

One notable individual bearing this surname was John Brine, a prominent merchant and philanthropist from Bristol, England, who lived from 1617 to 1689. He was instrumental in establishing several charitable foundations in the city.

Another historically significant figure was Richard Brine, a 17th-century minister and author from Warwickshire, England. He wrote several religious works, including "The Doctrine of the Sabbath" and "The Covenant of Grace Opened," published in the mid-1600s.

In the 18th century, the name Brine gained recognition through Joseph Brine, a Baptist minister and theologian from Norfolk, England. He was born in 1703 and authored several influential theological works, including "A Treatise on Various Subjects" and "A Vindication of Divine Justice."

Crossing the Atlantic, one of the earliest recorded instances of the name in America was in 1635, when William Brine arrived in Massachusetts from England. He later settled in Rhode Island and became a prominent landowner and citizen.

Another notable American with this surname was James Brine, a Revolutionary War soldier from Massachusetts. He was born in 1758 and served in the Continental Army, participating in several key battles during the American Revolution.

Throughout its history, the surname Brine has maintained its connection to its Old English roots, signifying a close association with small bodies of water or streams. While the name has spread across various regions, its origins can be traced back to the rural areas of medieval England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Brine families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brine 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. Somerset leads with 198 Brines recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.81x.

County Total Index
Somerset 198 13.81x
Dorset 146 24.98x
Middlesex 145 1.63x
Hampshire 99 5.42x
Lancashire 53 0.50x
Surrey 47 1.08x
Wiltshire 40 5.08x
Kent 38 1.25x
Essex 18 1.02x
Cheshire 15 0.76x
Durham 14 0.53x
Devon 10 0.54x
Yorkshire 10 0.11x
Glamorgan 8 0.52x
Channel Islands 7 2.65x
Herefordshire 7 1.92x
Sussex 7 0.47x
Staffordshire 6 0.20x
Monmouthshire 5 0.78x
Nottinghamshire 5 0.42x
Warwickshire 5 0.22x
Northamptonshire 4 0.48x
Lanarkshire 3 0.10x
Royal Navy 3 2.83x
West Lothian 3 2.24x
Angus 2 0.24x
Hertfordshire 2 0.33x
Worcestershire 2 0.17x
Ayrshire 1 0.15x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.19x
Derbyshire 1 0.07x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.42x
East Lothian 1 0.85x
Gloucestershire 1 0.06x
Isle of Man 1 0.60x
Lincolnshire 1 0.07x
Norfolk 1 0.07x
Oxfordshire 1 0.18x
Renfrewshire 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bedminster in Somerset leads with 23 Brines recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.07x.

Place Total Index
Bedminster 23 17.07x
Sparkford 22 2857.14x
Trent 21 1468.53x
Winfrith Newburgh 21 716.72x
Motcombe 20 465.12x
Bromley London 19 9.70x
Iwerne Courtnay 17 431.47x
St Pancras London 17 2.37x
Swindon 17 27.83x
Lambeth 16 2.06x
Frome 15 43.74x
Kensington London 14 2.83x
Sherborne 14 81.30x
Wookey 14 443.04x
Manchester 13 2.74x
Portsea 13 3.63x
Charlton Horethorne 12 821.92x
Bethnal Green London 11 2.84x
Blandford Forum 11 95.40x
East Stoke 11 617.98x
Barking 10 19.44x
Castle Cary 10 160.00x
Ebbesborne Wake 10 1204.82x
Freshwater 10 119.90x
Hackney London 10 2.00x
Henstridge 10 252.53x
Wells St Cuthbert 10 102.25x
Alverstoke 9 13.62x
Bishopwearmouth 9 3.96x
Holdenhurst 9 18.80x
North Stoneham 9 216.87x
Christchurch 8 20.21x
Hawkhurst 8 84.75x
Islington London 8 0.93x
Lower Hardres 8 919.54x
Mile End New Town London 8 45.45x
Stockwood 8 3809.52x
Bromley 7 15.12x
Eling 7 37.86x
Gussage St Michael 7 886.08x
Keynsham 7 67.96x
Newton In Ashton Under 7 36.08x
Sandford Orcas 7 897.44x
Chelsea London 6 2.24x
Hammersmith London 6 2.73x
Kingston On Thames 6 5.76x
Much Birch 6 372.67x
Northwood 6 23.08x
Oldham 6 1.76x
Shoreditch London 6 1.55x
St Marylebone London 6 1.26x
Westbury 6 32.64x
Wincanton 6 81.30x
Yarlington 6 937.50x
Battersea 5 1.53x
Bedwellty 5 4.40x
Blandford St Mary 5 450.45x
Carisbrooke 5 19.73x
Clifton In York 5 27.09x
Nottingham St Mary 5 1.61x
Otterbourne 5 191.57x
Rishton 5 40.32x
St Helier 5 5.82x
Stoke Upon Trent 5 1.57x
Tendring St Nicolas 5 279.33x
Thorncombe 5 148.81x
Tottenham 5 3.52x
Warwick St Nicholas 5 30.36x
Bow London 4 3.53x
Caundle Bishop 4 392.16x
Enfield 4 6.84x
Hove 4 6.07x
Liverpool 4 0.62x
Mudford 4 344.83x
North Cadbury 4 145.99x
Richmond 4 6.58x
Roath 4 5.68x
Shepton Montague 4 400.00x
Tranmere 4 5.54x
Willesden 4 4.76x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 54
John 53
George 45
James 32
Charles 28
Henry 25
Thomas 18
Albert 11
Edward 11
Frederick 9
Robert 9
Samuel 8
Alfred 7
Arthur 7
Harry 7
Joseph 7
Frank 6
Edwin 5
Ernest 5
Sidney 5
Tom 5
Richard 4
Walter 4
Francis 3
Frederic 3
Herbert 3
Wm. 3
Archibald 2
Augustus 2
Bernard 2
Fred 2
Jno. 2
Michael 2
Percival 2
Percy 2
Philip 2
Thos. 2
Alfd. 1
Algernon 1
Andrew 1
Austin 1
Auther 1
Benjamen 1
Benjamin 1
Donald 1
Edmund 1
Edw. 1
Eli 1
Infant 1
Isaac 1

FAQ

Brine surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brine surname in 1881?

In 1881, 901 people were recorded with the Brine surname. That placed it at #4,231 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brine surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,019 in 2016. That gives Brine a modern rank of #5,722.

What does the Brine surname mean?

An occupational surname relating to those who worked with salt or brine.

What does the Brine map show?

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