NameCensus.

UK surname

Brinsley

In the 1881 census there were 143 people recorded with the Brinsley surname, ranking it #15,955 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 117, ranked #28,033, down from #15,955 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stockport, London parishes and Melcombe Regis. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Weymouth and Portland, East Northamptonshire and Redcar and Cleveland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brinsley is 224 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 18.2%.

1881 census count

143

Ranked #15,955

Modern count

117

2016, ranked #28,033

Peak year

1861

224 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brinsley had 143 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,955 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 117 in 2016, ranked #28,033.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 224 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Brinsley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brinsley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Brinsley 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 132 #14,174
1861 historical 224 #10,882
1881 historical 143 #15,955
1891 historical 187 #15,679
1901 historical 163 #17,205
1911 historical 200 #14,960
1997 modern 131 #22,927
1998 modern 137 #22,922
1999 modern 142 #22,607
2000 modern 148 #21,971
2001 modern 145 #21,951
2002 modern 148 #22,087
2003 modern 145 #22,172
2004 modern 145 #22,289
2005 modern 132 #23,623
2006 modern 129 #24,165
2007 modern 132 #24,166
2008 modern 134 #24,249
2009 modern 144 #23,577
2010 modern 139 #24,688
2011 modern 141 #24,294
2012 modern 125 #26,298
2013 modern 129 #26,211
2014 modern 122 #27,358
2015 modern 123 #27,088
2016 modern 117 #28,033

Geography

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Where Brinsleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stockport, London parishes, Melcombe Regis, Selston and Ashborne. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Weymouth and Portland, East Northamptonshire, Redcar and Cleveland, East Riding of Yorkshire and Mid Sussex. 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 Stockport Cheshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Melcombe Regis Dorset
4 Selston Nottinghamshire
5 Ashborne Derbyshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Weymouth and Portland 001 Weymouth and Portland
2 East Northamptonshire 002 East Northamptonshire
3 Redcar and Cleveland 006 Redcar and Cleveland
4 East Riding of Yorkshire 024 East Riding of Yorkshire
5 Mid Sussex 011 Mid Sussex

Forenames

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First names often paired with Brinsley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Brinsley

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Brinsley is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Brinsley is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Brinsley falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

1881 census detail

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Brinsley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brinsley 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 19 Brinsleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.04x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 19 4.04x
Middlesex 16 1.15x
Derbyshire 14 6.41x
Dorset 14 15.30x
Lincolnshire 14 6.28x
Cheshire 13 4.22x
Lancashire 12 0.73x
Northamptonshire 10 7.62x
Surrey 7 1.03x
Warwickshire 6 1.71x
Yorkshire 6 0.43x
Leicestershire 4 2.59x
Hampshire 3 1.05x
Nottinghamshire 3 1.60x
Glamorgan 1 0.41x
Worcestershire 1 0.55x

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 14 Brinsleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.04x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Upon Trent 14 28.04x
Melcombe Regis 10 263.85x
Ashborne 8 540.54x
St Maryle Wigford 8 462.43x
St Anne Soho London 7 87.94x
Stockport 7 44.19x
Aston 6 6.20x
Brightside Bierlow 6 22.13x
Camberwell 6 6.73x
St George Hanover Square 6 24.42x
Witton Cum Twambrooks 6 218.98x
Polebrook 5 2272.73x
Reddish 5 219.30x
Derby St Alkmund 4 61.16x
Swannington 4 701.75x
Litherland 3 86.71x
Market Deeping 3 517.24x
Peterborough 3 31.58x
Selston 3 142.86x
Handsworth 2 17.24x
Harborne 2 13.25x
Pointon 2 952.38x
Salford 2 4.11x
Southampton St Mary 2 11.12x
Weymouth 2 115.61x
Astley 1 78.13x
Bourn 1 55.56x
Crumpsall 1 25.64x
Denby 1 149.25x
Dudley 1 4.52x
Fenny Bentley 1 833.33x
Fordington 1 50.76x
Lambeth 1 0.82x
Llantwit Lower 1 46.95x
Milton 1 140.85x
Newborough 1 303.03x
Norwood 1 31.35x
Oundle 1 68.03x
Portland 1 20.33x
St Marylebone London 1 1.34x
West Bromwich 1 3.71x
Westminster St John 1 5.89x

Top female names

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

Name Count
George 7
William 7
Thomas 6
John 5
Charles 3
David 3
Henry 3
Joseph 3
Robert 3
Alfred 2
Christopher 2
Cornelius 2
Matthew 2
Walter 2
Arthur 1
Daniel 1
Danl. 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Geo. 1
Harter 1
Herbert 1
Isaac 1
James 1
Oakley 1
Samuel 1
Thos. 1

FAQ

Brinsley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brinsley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 143 people were recorded with the Brinsley surname. That placed it at #15,955 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brinsley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 117 in 2016. That gives Brinsley a modern rank of #28,033.

What does the Brinsley map show?

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