UK surname
Place name derived from Brisbie, Yorkshire, likely meaning "dwelling near the brushwood."
In the 1881 census there were 79 people recorded with the Brisby surname, ranking it #22,357 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 85, ranked #32,637, down from #22,357 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Pickering and Thornton Dale, Ellerburn (Farmanby). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brisby is 136 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 7.6%.
1881 census count
79
Ranked #22,357
Modern count
85
2016, ranked #32,637
Peak year
1861
136 bearers
Map years
3
1861 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Brisby surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Brisby surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 52 | #23,915 |
| 1861 | historical | 136 | #16,556 |
| 1881 | historical | 79 | #22,357 |
| 1891 | historical | 124 | #20,818 |
| 1901 | historical | 82 | #25,019 |
| 1911 | historical | 105 | #22,064 |
| 1997 | modern | 83 | #29,216 |
| 1998 | modern | 88 | #29,131 |
| 1999 | modern | 87 | #29,398 |
| 2000 | modern | 95 | #28,441 |
| 2001 | modern | 86 | #29,281 |
| 2002 | modern | 81 | #30,294 |
| 2003 | modern | 80 | #30,425 |
| 2004 | modern | 81 | #30,569 |
| 2005 | modern | 81 | #30,740 |
| 2006 | modern | 83 | #30,808 |
| 2007 | modern | 87 | #30,666 |
| 2008 | modern | 83 | #31,483 |
| 2009 | modern | 89 | #31,235 |
| 2010 | modern | 91 | #31,497 |
| 2011 | modern | 90 | #31,564 |
| 2012 | modern | 78 | #33,044 |
| 2013 | modern | 85 | #32,658 |
| 2014 | modern | 89 | #32,409 |
| 2015 | modern | 86 | #32,604 |
| 2016 | modern | 85 | #32,637 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Pickering, Thornton Dale, Ellerburn (Farmanby) and St John Hackney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 2 | Pickering | Yorkshire, North Riding |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | Thornton Dale, Ellerburn (Farmanby) | Yorkshire, North Riding |
| 5 | St John Hackney | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Brisby surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Brisby, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Brisby surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Brisby household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Brisby is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Brisby is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Brisby, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname BRISBY has its origins in England, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English words "bri" meaning "bridge" and "sby" meaning "dwelling" or "settlement." This suggests that the name originally referred to someone who lived near a bridge or a settlement with a bridge.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "Brisbie," which is believed to be an early spelling variation.
The BRISBY surname is closely associated with several place names in England, particularly in Lincolnshire and Leicestershire. For instance, there is a village called Brisby in Lincolnshire, which likely contributed to the widespread use of the name in that region.
One notable figure with the BRISBY surname was John Brisby, a 14th-century English landowner and member of the gentry. He was born around 1320 in Leicestershire and held significant estates in the county.
Another historically significant individual was William Brisby, a 16th-century English clergyman and academic. He was born in 1536 in Lincolnshire and served as the Dean of Lincoln Cathedral from 1578 until his death in 1604.
In the 17th century, Thomas Brisby (1597-1673) was a prominent English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Lincolnshire during the English Civil War. He was a staunch supporter of the Parliamentarian cause and played an active role in the conflict.
Moving into the 18th century, Sarah Brisby (1720-1792) was a notable English writer and poet from Leicestershire. Her work focused on themes of nature and rural life, reflecting her upbringing in the English countryside.
Lastly, in the 19th century, Richard Brisby (1825-1901) was a renowned English architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Albert Hall. His architectural style combined elements of Gothic Revival and Renaissance Revival, leaving a lasting impact on the city's skyline.
While these are just a few examples, the BRISBY surname has a rich history spanning centuries and is deeply rooted in various regions of England, particularly Lincolnshire and Leicestershire. Its origins can be traced back to the Old English language, reflecting the name's connection to the country's linguistic and geographical heritage.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brisby surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Yorkshire leads with 39 Brisbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.11x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 39 | 5.11x |
| Middlesex | 21 | 2.73x |
| Kent | 6 | 2.28x |
| Surrey | 5 | 1.33x |
| Sussex | 3 | 2.31x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.22x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 1.03x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.63x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barughs Ambo in Yorkshire leads with 11 Brisbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 15714.29x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Barughs Ambo | 11 | 15714.29x |
| Pickering Marishes | 10 | 12500.00x |
| Hackney London | 7 | 16.21x |
| Helmsley | 6 | 1463.41x |
| Chelsea London | 5 | 21.54x |
| Mile End Old Town London | 5 | 30.49x |
| Thornton Dale | 5 | 2500.00x |
| Lambeth | 4 | 5.96x |
| Minster In Sheppey | 4 | 91.95x |
| Old Byland | 4 | 10000.00x |
| Hammersmith London | 3 | 15.81x |
| Liverpool | 2 | 3.60x |
| Rosedale West Side | 2 | 2500.00x |
| Aston | 1 | 1.87x |
| Birmingham | 1 | 1.54x |
| Chichester St Andrew | 1 | 714.29x |
| Hawkinge | 1 | 3333.33x |
| Holdenhurst | 1 | 24.15x |
| Hornsey | 1 | 10.27x |
| Kirby Grindalyth | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Limpsfield | 1 | 277.78x |
| Midhurst | 1 | 232.56x |
| Petworth | 1 | 128.21x |
| St Lawrence | 1 | 55.25x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Brisby surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Brisby surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Brisby households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 7 |
| Farmer Daur | 6 |
| Farmer Son | 3 |
| Farmers Son | 3 |
| General Servant | 2 |
| Agr Labr | 1 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Brewer | 1 |
| Butcher | 1 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Cook Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Dealer Clothes | 1 |
| Domestic Serv Housemaid | 1 |
| Draper | 1 |
| Farm Servant (Indoor) | 1 |
| Farme Of 80 Acres | 1 |
| Farmer 228 Ac 1 Man 4 Boys | 1 |
| Farmer 234 Acres | 1 |
| Farmer Of 172 Acres | 1 |
| Farmer Of 330 Empg 4 Lab | 1 |
| Farmer Wife | 1 |
| Farmers Wife | 1 |
| Gatekeeper | 1 |
| Hawker General | 1 |
| Infant | 1 |
| Ironstone Labr | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Linen Draper | 1 |
| Nurse Dom | 1 |
| Paper Boy (Messenger) | 1 |
| Servant | 1 |
| Shipwright | 1 |
| Telegraph Clerk (Serv) | 1 |
| Veterinary Inspector | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 79 people were recorded with the Brisby surname. That placed it at #22,357 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 85 in 2016. That gives Brisby a modern rank of #32,637.
Place name derived from Brisbie, Yorkshire, likely meaning "dwelling near the brushwood."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Brisby bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.