NameCensus.

UK surname

Brion

A surname derived from the French place name Brion, indicating ancestry from that town.

In the 1881 census there were 166 people recorded with the Brion surname, ranking it #14,496 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 140, ranked #24,865, down from #14,496 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Eton and Richmond. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lambeth, South Somerset and Wycombe.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brion is 254 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 15.7%.

1881 census count

166

Ranked #14,496

Modern count

140

2016, ranked #24,865

Peak year

1861

254 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brion had 166 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,496 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 140 in 2016, ranked #24,865.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 254 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Brion surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brion surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Brion 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 251 #8,761
1861 historical 254 #9,741
1881 historical 166 #14,496
1891 historical 181 #16,065
1901 historical 167 #16,943
1911 historical 182 #15,859
1997 modern 146 #21,494
1998 modern 160 #20,832
1999 modern 153 #21,551
2000 modern 149 #21,874
2001 modern 152 #21,294
2002 modern 152 #21,723
2003 modern 145 #22,172
2004 modern 145 #22,289
2005 modern 138 #22,999
2006 modern 138 #23,156
2007 modern 140 #23,231
2008 modern 141 #23,383
2009 modern 145 #23,473
2010 modern 148 #23,697
2011 modern 143 #24,056
2012 modern 135 #24,952
2013 modern 137 #25,149
2014 modern 142 #24,734
2015 modern 142 #24,617
2016 modern 140 #24,865

Geography

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Where Brions are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Eton, Richmond and Quainton, Shipton Lee. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Lambeth, South Somerset, Wycombe and Aylesbury Vale. 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 Eton Buckinghamshire
3 Richmond Surrey
4 London parishes London 3
5 Quainton, Shipton Lee Buckinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Lambeth 011 Lambeth
2 South Somerset 019 South Somerset
3 Wycombe 016 Wycombe
4 Wycombe 019 Wycombe
5 Aylesbury Vale 019 Aylesbury Vale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Brion

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Brion

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Brion surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Brion household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Brion is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Brion is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Brion falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Brion

The surname BRION originated in France during the medieval period. It is derived from the old French word "bron," which means "deep valley" or "ravine." The name likely referred to someone who lived near or owned land in a deep valley.

The earliest recorded instance of the name BRION can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The book mentions a landowner named Radulfus de Brion, suggesting that the name had already spread to England by the 11th century.

One of the earliest known bearers of the BRION surname was Guillaume de Brion, a French nobleman who lived in the 12th century. He was a prominent figure in the court of King Philip II of France and participated in the Third Crusade.

In the 13th century, the name BRION was associated with the village of Brion in the Normandy region of France. A notable bearer of the name from this time was Robert de Brion, a knight who fought alongside King Louis IX during the Seventh Crusade.

During the Renaissance period, the BRION family gained prominence in Italy. One of the most famous members was Raphael Santi, better known as the renowned painter Raphael (1483-1520). His full name was Raffaello Santi da Urbino, but he was also known as Raphael Brion due to his mother's surname.

Another notable figure with the BRION surname was Pierre Brion (1592-1662), a French historian and author who wrote extensively about the history of the Gallo-Roman period in France.

In the 18th century, Pierre-Edme Brion (1711-1800) was a French playwright and dramatist who wrote several successful plays that were performed in Paris.

The BRION surname has also been associated with various place names throughout history, such as Brionville in Normandy, Brion in Burgundy, and Brion-près-Thouët in the Poitou region of France.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Brion families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brion 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. Buckinghamshire leads with 51 Brions recorded in 1881 and an index of 51.48x.

County Total Index
Buckinghamshire 51 51.48x
Middlesex 40 2.44x
Surrey 21 2.63x
Berkshire 11 8.94x
Kent 8 1.43x
Monmouthshire 7 5.91x
Sussex 6 2.17x
Channel Islands 3 6.18x
Cheshire 3 0.83x
Durham 3 0.62x
Lancashire 3 0.15x
Yorkshire 3 0.18x
Lanarkshire 2 0.38x
Warwickshire 2 0.48x
Devon 1 0.29x
Essex 1 0.31x
Leicestershire 1 0.55x
Lincolnshire 1 0.38x
Staffordshire 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wycombe in Buckinghamshire leads with 24 Brions recorded in 1881 and an index of 325.20x.

Place Total Index
Wycombe 24 325.20x
Eton 11 488.89x
St Pancras London 11 8.34x
Aylesbury 8 182.23x
Bedwellty 7 33.48x
Clewer 7 138.89x
Quainton 7 1428.57x
Stoke 7 185.68x
Brighton 6 10.76x
Camberwell 6 5.73x
Deptford St Paul 5 11.60x
Mile End Old Town London 5 14.33x
Paddington London 5 8.30x
Lambeth 4 2.80x
St Marylebone London 4 4.57x
Greenwich 3 11.50x
Liverpool 3 2.54x
New Windsor 3 72.64x
St Andrew Holborn London 3 42.31x
St Peter Port 3 33.41x
Bollington In 2 62.11x
Clerkenwell London 2 5.17x
Govan 2 1.53x
Horton In Bradford 2 7.89x
Kensington London 2 2.20x
Richmond 2 17.87x
Shoreditch London 2 2.82x
Battersea 1 1.66x
Birmingham 1 0.73x
Blyborough 1 714.29x
Brandon Byshottles 1 16.37x
Dawdon 1 16.67x
Exhall 1 158.73x
Fulham London 1 4.21x
Great Missenden 1 81.97x
Hackney London 1 1.09x
Hammersmith London 1 2.48x
Hanwell 1 34.48x
Hugglescote 1 37.45x
Leyton 1 17.95x
Newington 1 1.65x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 3.81x
Sheffield 1 1.93x
Sunderland 1 11.61x
Thorpe Constantine 1 3333.33x
Tottenham 1 3.83x
Wallasey 1 81.30x
Westminster St John 1 5.01x
Winkfield 1 49.02x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 13
Elizabeth 10
Ellen 4
Charlotte 3
Jane 3
Margaret 3
Alice 2
Anne 2
Caroline 2
Catherine 2
Clara 2
Eliza 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Florence 2
Harriet 2
Maria 2
Sarah 2
Ada 1
Ann 1
Annie 1
Bertha 1
C. 1
Edith 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
Gertrude 1
Hannorah 1
Helena 1
Honora 1
Honorah 1
Jenny 1
Jesse 1
Kate 1
Laura 1
Lillian 1
Lousia 1
Lucy 1
Marian 1
Marion 1
Martha 1
Nelley 1
Rachial 1
Rosa 1
Thomas 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 9
James 6
William 6
Charles 5
Edward 5
George 5
Henry 5
Frederick 4
Joseph 3
Richard 3
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Edwin 2
Samuel 2
Thomas 2
Adolphe 1
Albert 1
Ali 1
Chas.Walter 1
Duymon 1
Edmund 1
Franklin 1
Harry 1
J. 1
Jens 1
Medric 1
Micheal 1
Ralph 1
Robert 1
Rupert 1
Stephen 1
Timothy 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Brion surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brion surname in 1881?

In 1881, 166 people were recorded with the Brion surname. That placed it at #14,496 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brion surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 140 in 2016. That gives Brion a modern rank of #24,865.

What does the Brion surname mean?

A surname derived from the French place name Brion, indicating ancestry from that town.

What does the Brion map show?

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