NameCensus.

UK surname

Briscoe

Derived from a place name meaning "birch wood" or "birch-covered hill" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 1,932 people recorded with the Briscoe surname, ranking it #2,262 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,835, ranked #2,372, down from #2,262 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Dawley, Magna, Sedgley and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include St. Helens, West Lancashire and Wigan.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Briscoe is 2,933 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 46.7%.

1881 census count

1,932

Ranked #2,262

Modern count

2,835

2016, ranked #2,372

Peak year

2010

2,933 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Briscoe had 1,932 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,262 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,835 in 2016, ranked #2,372.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,693 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Briscoe surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Briscoe surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Briscoe 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 1,121 #2,514
1861 historical 1,106 #2,536
1881 historical 1,932 #2,262
1891 historical 1,703 #2,655
1901 historical 2,498 #2,188
1911 historical 2,693 #1,923
1997 modern 2,738 #2,340
1998 modern 2,832 #2,358
1999 modern 2,876 #2,349
2000 modern 2,798 #2,383
2001 modern 2,769 #2,366
2002 modern 2,799 #2,389
2003 modern 2,731 #2,391
2004 modern 2,721 #2,399
2005 modern 2,702 #2,391
2006 modern 2,719 #2,377
2007 modern 2,745 #2,386
2008 modern 2,765 #2,387
2009 modern 2,846 #2,372
2010 modern 2,933 #2,353
2011 modern 2,848 #2,387
2012 modern 2,828 #2,363
2013 modern 2,864 #2,374
2014 modern 2,858 #2,389
2015 modern 2,822 #2,399
2016 modern 2,835 #2,372

Geography

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Where Briscoes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Dawley, Magna, Sedgley, London parishes, Prescot and West Derby. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to St. Helens, West Lancashire, Wigan, Shropshire and Barnsley. 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 Dawley, Magna Shropshire
2 Sedgley Staffordshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Prescot Lancashire
5 West Derby Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 St. Helens 020 St. Helens
2 West Lancashire 011 West Lancashire
3 Wigan 010 Wigan
4 Shropshire 039 Shropshire
5 Barnsley 017 Barnsley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Briscoe

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Briscoe

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Briscoe 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

Briscoe is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Briscoe falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Briscoe is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Briscoe

The surname Briscoe is of English origin, derived from the Old French word "briscaud" meaning "a thin flat cake or biscuit." It is believed to have originated as a nickname for a baker or a miller in the 12th or 13th century.

In the Middle Ages, the name was often spelled as "Briscon," "Briscot," or "Briscow." One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where a person named "Briscon de Mara" is mentioned.

The surname Briscoe is closely associated with the county of Yorkshire in northern England, where it was particularly prevalent in the areas around Leeds, Bradford, and Halifax. The name can also be found in other parts of England, such as Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname Briscoe was John Briscoe (1670-1722), an English playwright and poet. He was born in Bedfordshire and is best known for his tragedy "The Gamester," which dealt with the theme of gambling addiction.

Another prominent individual was Sir Benjamin Briscoe (1828-1895), a British engineer and industrialist who played a significant role in the development of steam engines and railways in India during the 19th century.

In the United States, one of the earliest recorded instances of the Briscoe surname was in Virginia, where Richard Briscoe settled in the colony in the 17th century. His descendants included Robert Briscoe (1894-1968), a prominent Irish-American businessman and politician who served as the Lord Mayor of Dublin from 1956 to 1957 and 1961 to 1962.

The Briscoe surname is also associated with several notable places, such as Briscoe County in Texas, named after Andrew Briscoe (1810-1892), a soldier and pioneer who participated in the Texas Revolution.

Other individuals with the surname Briscoe who have made significant contributions throughout history include Walter Briscoe (1876-1962), an American architect known for his work in New York City, and Anita Briscoe (1882-1963), an American author and screenwriter active in the early 20th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Briscoe families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Briscoe 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. Lancashire leads with 447 Briscoes recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.01x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 447 2.01x
Shropshire 245 15.10x
Cheshire 232 5.60x
Middlesex 173 0.92x
Staffordshire 156 2.46x
Yorkshire 137 0.74x
Warwickshire 85 1.79x
Surrey 63 0.69x
Worcestershire 46 1.88x
Buckinghamshire 40 3.52x
Durham 33 0.59x
Kent 33 0.52x
Cumberland 32 1.98x
Hampshire 22 0.57x
Monmouthshire 21 1.55x
Denbighshire 19 2.68x
Somerset 19 0.63x
Berkshire 18 1.28x
Oxfordshire 17 1.47x
Gloucestershire 15 0.41x
Derbyshire 12 0.41x
Wiltshire 8 0.48x
Westmorland 7 1.70x
Essex 6 0.16x
Devon 5 0.13x
Lanarkshire 4 0.07x
Northumberland 4 0.14x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.16x
Flintshire 3 0.59x
Glamorgan 3 0.09x
Herefordshire 3 0.39x
Sussex 3 0.09x
Midlothian 2 0.08x
Montgomeryshire 2 0.46x
Anglesey 1 0.30x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.13x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.08x
Dorset 1 0.08x
Hertfordshire 1 0.08x
Leicestershire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dawley in Shropshire leads with 82 Briscoes recorded in 1881 and an index of 138.91x.

Place Total Index
Dawley 82 138.91x
Everton 59 8.31x
Sedgley 57 24.21x
Toxteth Park 43 5.70x
Birmingham 39 2.47x
Islington London 38 2.09x
Wellington 35 38.39x
Liverpool 32 2.36x
Ingleton 31 296.08x
Birkenhead 29 8.78x
West Derby 26 3.99x
Long Crendon 24 315.79x
Bromborough 22 255.52x
Stockport 22 10.31x
Haydock 21 54.70x
Great Neston 20 146.20x
Tarbock 20 495.05x
Blackburn 18 3.04x
Chelsea London 18 3.18x
Little Bolton 18 6.28x
Lambeth 17 1.04x
Portsea 17 2.25x
St Marylebone London 17 1.70x
Madeley 16 26.90x
Headingley Cum Burley 15 12.52x
Kingswinford 15 6.52x
Oldbury 15 12.43x
Runcorn 15 15.70x
Tranmere 15 9.85x
Aston 14 1.07x
Bethnal Green London 14 1.72x
Skelmersdale 14 37.71x
Bromley London 13 3.15x
Stoke Upon Trent 13 1.93x
Kensington London 12 1.15x
Lt Wenlock 12 336.13x
Mile End Old Town London 12 3.00x
Bedwellty 11 4.59x
Westbury 11 131.26x
Wolverhampton 11 2.26x
Ackton 10 219.30x
Ardsley 10 46.64x
Bentham 10 70.52x
Crook Billy Row 10 13.98x
Kirkdale 10 2.67x
Manchester 10 1.00x
Shifnal 10 22.71x
Uffington 10 273.97x
Windle 10 7.98x
Ashton Under Lyne 9 1.85x
Childer Thornton 9 225.56x
Hopton Wafers 9 323.74x
Maidstone 9 4.72x
Moreton 9 227.85x
Pontesbury 9 45.62x
Ulverston 9 13.87x
Warwick St Nicholas 9 25.91x
Whitchurch 9 28.59x
Camberwell 8 0.67x
Claughton With Grange 8 42.37x
Elton In Chester 8 629.92x
Litherland 8 17.17x
Sharples 8 33.10x
W Felton 8 116.28x
Westbury On Severn East 8 9.61x
Westoe 8 2.53x
Whiston 8 46.03x
Whitehaven 8 9.28x
Abergavenny 7 13.77x
Abram 7 40.94x
Arlecdon 7 16.28x
Ashton In Makerfield 7 11.03x
Clotton Hoofield 7 318.18x
Neithrop 7 17.96x
Oxton 7 29.86x
Ruyton Of Eleven Towns 7 97.63x
Solihull 7 20.56x
Walsall Foreign 7 2.14x
Walton On Hill 7 5.80x
Woolwich 7 2.96x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 137
Elizabeth 82
Sarah 73
Ann 45
Ellen 40
Emma 32
Martha 28
Margaret 27
Eliza 26
Alice 25
Annie 25
Jane 25
Fanny 23
Hannah 19
Esther 16
Emily 14
Harriet 14
Louisa 13
Lucy 11
Anne 10
Caroline 10
Catherine 10
Charlotte 10
Ada 8
Edith 8
Isabella 8
Maria 8
Eleanor 7
Frances 7
Amelia 6
Amy 6
Elizth. 6
Gertrude 6
Rebecca 6
Sophia 6
Susan 6
Agnes 5
Harriett 5
Minnie 5
Clara 4
Georgina 4
Helen 4
Kate 4
Matilda 4
E. 3
Francis 3
Grace 3
Henrietta 3
Laura 3
Rosa 3

Top male names

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

FAQ

Briscoe surname: questions and answers

How common was the Briscoe surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,932 people were recorded with the Briscoe surname. That placed it at #2,262 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Briscoe surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,835 in 2016. That gives Briscoe a modern rank of #2,372.

What does the Briscoe surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "birch wood" or "birch-covered hill" in Old English.

What does the Briscoe map show?

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