NameCensus.

UK surname

Bristo

A surname derived from a place name, likely referring to someone from the town of Bristo in England.

In the 1881 census there were 119 people recorded with the Bristo surname, ranking it #17,841 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 128, ranked #26,401, down from #17,841 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ipswich St Helen, Woodhorn and Bingley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ribble Valley and Great Yarmouth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bristo is 148 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 7.6%.

1881 census count

119

Ranked #17,841

Modern count

128

2016, ranked #26,401

Peak year

2010

148 bearers

Map years

7

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bristo had 119 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,841 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 128 in 2016, ranked #26,401.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 121 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Bristo surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bristo surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bristo 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 113 #15,815
1861 historical 52 #27,369
1881 historical 119 #17,841
1891 historical 121 #21,169
1901 historical 111 #21,492
1911 historical 99 #22,850
1997 modern 121 #24,019
1998 modern 124 #24,316
1999 modern 121 #24,855
2000 modern 115 #25,591
2001 modern 119 #24,733
2002 modern 134 #23,492
2003 modern 120 #24,909
2004 modern 116 #25,580
2005 modern 118 #25,301
2006 modern 123 #24,873
2007 modern 126 #24,860
2008 modern 128 #24,901
2009 modern 138 #24,276
2010 modern 148 #23,697
2011 modern 146 #23,736
2012 modern 139 #24,485
2013 modern 139 #24,912
2014 modern 141 #24,855
2015 modern 136 #25,352
2016 modern 128 #26,401

Geography

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Where Bristos are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ipswich St Helen, Woodhorn, Bingley, St James Clerkenwell and Ipswich St Clement and Warren House. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ribble Valley and Great Yarmouth. 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 Ipswich St Helen Suffolk
2 Woodhorn Northumberland
3 Bingley Yorkshire, West Riding
4 St James Clerkenwell London (Central Districts)
5 Ipswich St Clement and Warren House Suffolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ribble Valley 006 Ribble Valley
2 Great Yarmouth 005 Great Yarmouth
3 Great Yarmouth 006 Great Yarmouth
4 Great Yarmouth 007 Great Yarmouth
5 Ribble Valley 004 Ribble Valley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bristo

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bristo

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Bristo surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Bristo household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Bristo is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Bristo is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bristo falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bristo is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Bristo

The surname Bristo is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, specifically in the county of Lincolnshire. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "brycg" or "brig," meaning bridge, suggesting the name may have referred to someone who lived near or worked on a bridge.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bristo can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Bricstow" or "Bricgestou," referring to a settlement near a bridge. This provides evidence that the name was already in use by the late 11th century.

During the 13th century, the name Bristo was associated with the village of Brisstow or Bristow in Lincolnshire. The spelling variations, such as "Brissto" and "Bristowe," were common in historical records from this period.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Bristo include John Bristo, a merchant and landowner who lived in the village of Brisstow in the late 14th century. Records show that he was involved in local affairs and held substantial property in the area.

In the 16th century, a branch of the Bristo family settled in the nearby county of Yorkshire, where the name was sometimes spelled "Bristoe." One notable member was William Bristoe (c. 1520-1589), a prominent landowner and justice of the peace in Yorkshire.

Another individual of note was Sir Richard Bristo (1635-1711), a wealthy merchant and member of the East India Company. He was born in Lincolnshire and made a significant fortune through his trade ventures in the East Indies.

During the 18th century, the Bristo surname was also found in Scotland, particularly in the region of Ayrshire. One notable Scottish bearer of the name was James Bristo (1760-1827), a respected minister and scholar who served as the principal of the University of Edinburgh.

In the 19th century, the Bristo name continued to be present in various parts of England and Scotland. One notable figure was Sir John Bristo (1812-1888), a successful businessman and philanthropist from Yorkshire who made significant contributions to educational institutions in the region.

Throughout its history, the surname Bristo has been associated with various place names and locations, reflecting the family's roots and migrations over the centuries. While the name has evolved in spelling and pronunciation, its origins can be traced back to the medieval period in England, where it was closely tied to the concept of bridges and settlements near bridges.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bristo families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bristo 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. Suffolk leads with 34 Bristos recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.65x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 34 23.65x
Cumberland 14 13.78x
Middlesex 13 1.10x
Surrey 10 1.74x
Berkshire 7 7.90x
Lancashire 7 0.50x
Yorkshire 7 0.60x
Somerset 6 3.16x
Westmorland 5 19.28x
Hampshire 4 1.65x
Northumberland 4 2.28x
Norfolk 3 1.65x
Channel Islands 2 5.72x
Kent 2 0.50x
Devon 1 0.41x
Dunbartonshire 1 3.15x
Warwickshire 1 0.34x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ipswich St Helen in Suffolk leads with 16 Bristos recorded in 1881 and an index of 941.18x.

Place Total Index
Ipswich St Helen 16 941.18x
Ipswich St Margaret 10 204.92x
Clerkenwell London 8 28.72x
Bingley 7 93.96x
Bray 7 269.23x
Ipswich St Clement 7 191.78x
Lambeth 6 5.83x
Winsford 6 3000.00x
Briery Cottages 5 12500.00x
Goosnargh 5 1111.11x
Borrowdale 4 2222.22x
Camberwell 4 5.31x
Newbiggin In Morpeth 4 714.29x
St George Hanover Square 4 19.24x
Grasmere 3 1000.00x
Smallburgh 3 1428.57x
Hutton Roof 2 2857.14x
Portsea 2 4.22x
Portsmouth 2 35.91x
St Helier 2 17.56x
Undermilbeck 2 232.56x
Birmingham 1 1.01x
Brigham 1 208.33x
Clifton 1 95.24x
Dumbarton 1 22.68x
Eskdale Wasdale 1 454.55x
Hythe St Leonard 1 70.42x
Ipswich St Mary Key 1 270.27x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 5.29x
Ramsgate 1 15.22x
St Pancras London 1 1.05x
Warrington 1 6.02x
Wythburn 1 1250.00x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

FAQ

Bristo surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bristo surname in 1881?

In 1881, 119 people were recorded with the Bristo surname. That placed it at #17,841 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bristo surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 128 in 2016. That gives Bristo a modern rank of #26,401.

What does the Bristo surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name, likely referring to someone from the town of Bristo in England.

What does the Bristo map show?

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