UK surname
A habitational surname originating from a place named Brison in France.
In the 1881 census there were 62 people recorded with the Brison surname, ranking it #24,843 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 76, ranked #33,304, down from #24,843 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Prestbury, Kyloe, Holy Island, Ancroft and Glasgow. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brison is 219 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 22.6%.
1881 census count
62
Ranked #24,843
Modern count
76
2016, ranked #33,304
Peak year
1861
219 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Brison surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Brison 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 | 139 | #13,659 |
| 1861 | historical | 219 | #11,124 |
| 1881 | historical | 62 | #24,843 |
| 1891 | historical | 89 | #25,542 |
| 1901 | historical | 115 | #21,050 |
| 1911 | historical | 106 | #21,948 |
| 1997 | modern | 79 | #29,672 |
| 1998 | modern | 92 | #28,680 |
| 1999 | modern | 89 | #29,168 |
| 2000 | modern | 86 | #29,484 |
| 2001 | modern | 88 | #29,056 |
| 2002 | modern | 89 | #29,428 |
| 2003 | modern | 89 | #29,380 |
| 2004 | modern | 91 | #29,345 |
| 2005 | modern | 82 | #30,617 |
| 2006 | modern | 85 | #30,556 |
| 2007 | modern | 88 | #30,515 |
| 2008 | modern | 83 | #31,483 |
| 2009 | modern | 84 | #31,842 |
| 2010 | modern | 89 | #31,745 |
| 2011 | modern | 84 | #32,237 |
| 2012 | modern | 85 | #32,395 |
| 2013 | modern | 81 | #32,996 |
| 2014 | modern | 78 | #33,270 |
| 2015 | modern | 78 | #33,210 |
| 2016 | modern | 76 | #33,304 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Prestbury, Kyloe, Holy Island, Ancroft, Glasgow, Tweedmouth and Bishop Wearmouth. 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 | Prestbury | Cheshire |
| 2 | Kyloe, Holy Island, Ancroft | Northumberland |
| 3 | Glasgow | Lanark |
| 4 | Tweedmouth | Northumberland |
| 5 | Bishop Wearmouth | Durham |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Brison 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 Brison, 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 Brison surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Brison 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, Brison 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 Brison is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Brison, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Brison has its origins in France, emerging during the medieval period of the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the French word "briser," which means "to break" or "to shatter." This could suggest that the name was initially associated with occupations related to breaking or demolition, such as a stone breaker or a wood cutter.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Brison can be traced back to the region of Normandy, France. It appeared in various historical documents and records from that area, including parish registers and tax rolls. One notable example is the mention of a Jean Brison in the records of the town of Caen, Normandy, in the year 1246.
In the 13th century, the name Brison also surfaced in England, likely brought over by Norman settlers after the Norman Conquest of 1066. One of the earliest known bearers of the name in England was Robert Brison, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1197.
Over the centuries, the name Brison has undergone various spellings, such as Brisson, Brysson, and Brizon. These variations were common due to the inconsistencies in written records and the influence of local dialects.
Notable individuals throughout history who bore the surname Brison include:
1. Guillaume Brison (c. 1560-1629), a French lawyer and jurist who served as the President of the Parlement of Paris. 2. Jean Brison (1594-1662), a French mathematician and astronomer who contributed to the development of logarithms. 3. Marie-Victoire Brison (1759-1824), a French writer and poet known for her works on education and women's rights. 4. Charles-Frédéric Brison (1783-1854), a French painter and engraver who specialized in landscape and architectural scenes. 5. Alfred Brison (1857-1930), a Belgian architect and urban planner who designed several notable buildings in Brussels.
While the Brison surname has its roots in France, it has since spread to various parts of the world, including other European countries, North America, and beyond. However, the historical accounts and records from its early origins in medieval France provide valuable insights into the origins and evolution of this surname over time.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brison 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. Northumberland leads with 17 Brisons recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.60x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Northumberland | 17 | 18.60x |
| Gloucestershire | 16 | 13.28x |
| Hampshire | 11 | 8.74x |
| Durham | 7 | 3.83x |
| Yorkshire | 3 | 0.49x |
| Middlesex | 2 | 0.33x |
| Berwickshire | 1 | 13.44x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.74x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.82x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.14x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 1.47x |
| Renfrewshire | 1 | 2.10x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 13.66x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portsea in Hampshire leads with 10 Brisons recorded in 1881 and an index of 40.52x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Portsea | 10 | 40.52x |
| Detchant | 7 | 35000.00x |
| Horfield | 7 | 578.51x |
| Stapleton | 6 | 262.01x |
| Stamford | 5 | 16666.67x |
| Easington | 4 | 1481.48x |
| Tweedmouth | 4 | 350.88x |
| Hawthorn | 3 | 5000.00x |
| Middlesbrough | 3 | 37.83x |
| Bristol St Philip Jacob | 2 | 17.64x |
| Islington London | 2 | 3.36x |
| Alverstoke | 1 | 21.93x |
| Bristol St Paul In | 1 | 31.15x |
| Colchester St Nicholas | 1 | 909.09x |
| East Greenock | 1 | 22.22x |
| Kyloe | 1 | 476.19x |
| Leicester St Margaret | 1 | 6.02x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 2.26x |
| Nantwich | 1 | 63.29x |
| Nenthorn | 1 | 1000.00x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 15.97x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Brison 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 Brison 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 Brison households.
FAQ
In 1881, 62 people were recorded with the Brison surname. That placed it at #24,843 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 76 in 2016. That gives Brison a modern rank of #33,304.
A habitational surname originating from a place named Brison in France.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Brison 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.