NameCensus.

UK surname

Brissett

An English place name referring to a location named Brescia.

In the 1881 census there were 7 people recorded with the Brissett surname, ranking it #32,765 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 255, ranked #16,576, up from #32,765 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Dudley, Sheffield and Hackney.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brissett is 273 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 3542.9%.

1881 census count

7

Ranked #32,765

Modern count

255

2016, ranked #16,576

Peak year

2010

273 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brissett had 7 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,765 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 255 in 2016, ranked #16,576.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 17 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Brissett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brissett surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Brissett 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 #33,412
1861 historical 12 #32,329
1881 historical 7 #32,765
1891 historical 17 #32,787
1901 historical 8 #33,289
1997 modern 150 #21,119
1998 modern 160 #20,832
1999 modern 169 #20,233
2000 modern 174 #19,829
2001 modern 178 #19,288
2002 modern 190 #18,889
2003 modern 196 #18,358
2004 modern 222 #17,020
2005 modern 222 #16,983
2006 modern 231 #16,636
2007 modern 232 #16,795
2008 modern 237 #16,688
2009 modern 249 #16,466
2010 modern 273 #15,764
2011 modern 261 #16,145
2012 modern 238 #17,092
2013 modern 242 #17,158
2014 modern 246 #17,079
2015 modern 253 #16,669
2016 modern 255 #16,576

Geography

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Where Brissetts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Dudley, Sheffield, Hackney and Brent. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Dudley 011 Dudley
2 Sheffield 075 Sheffield
3 Hackney 025 Hackney
4 Dudley 017 Dudley
5 Brent 031 Brent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Brissett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Brissett

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

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Brissett surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Brissett household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

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, Brissett 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

Brissett 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

Brissett falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Brissett 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
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Brissett

The surname Brissett has its origins in France, emerging in the late medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "briser," meaning "to break." This surname likely originated as a descriptive name for someone who worked as a breaker or crusher of materials such as flax or hemp.

The earliest known record of the Brissett name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, a manuscript recording a survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. It mentions a landowner named Radulfus Brisset, indicating the presence of this surname in Normandy, France, at that time.

In the 12th century, the name Brissett began appearing in various records across northern France, particularly in the regions of Normandy and Picardy. The variations in spelling included Brisset, Brisseyt, and Brissette, reflecting the influence of local dialects and scribal practices.

One notable figure bearing this surname was Guillaume Brisset (c. 1260-1324), a French theologian and philosopher who served as the chancellor of the University of Paris. Another was Jean Brisset (c. 1385-1456), a French diplomat and counselor to King Charles VII during the Hundred Years' War.

In England, the Brissett surname can be traced back to the Norman Conquest of 1066, when many French and Norman families settled in the country. One of the earliest recorded instances was Robert Brisset, who was granted lands in Gloucestershire in the late 11th century.

Over the centuries, the Brissett name spread across various regions of England, with some variations in spelling emerging, such as Brissitt and Brisset. One notable English figure was Sir Thomas Brissett (c. 1550-1609), a courtier and member of Parliament during the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I.

In the 17th century, the Brissett surname found its way to the American colonies, with early records showing settlers bearing this name arriving in Virginia and Massachusetts. One of the earliest recorded individuals was Thomas Brissett, who was listed as a landowner in Virginia in 1635.

While the Brissett surname has its roots in France, it has been present in various parts of Europe and the Americas for several centuries, with variations in spelling and pronunciation reflecting the diverse regions and cultures it has encountered throughout its history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Brissett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brissett 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. Surrey leads with 4 Brissetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.06x.

County Total Index
Surrey 4 12.06x
Devon 2 14.11x
Middlesex 1 1.47x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Newington in Surrey leads with 4 Brissetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 159.36x.

Place Total Index
Newington 4 159.36x
Exeter St Mary Major 2 2222.22x
St Pancras London 1 18.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Evan 1
Geo. 1
George 1
Isaac 1
Thomas 1

Top occupations

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 Brissett households.

FAQ

Brissett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brissett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 7 people were recorded with the Brissett surname. That placed it at #32,765 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brissett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 255 in 2016. That gives Brissett a modern rank of #16,576.

What does the Brissett surname mean?

An English place name referring to a location named Brescia.

What does the Brissett map show?

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