NameCensus.

UK surname

Britland

An English surname derived from a location name referring to a person from Britland.

In the 1881 census there were 252 people recorded with the Britland surname, ranking it #11,012 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 416, ranked #11,533, down from #11,012 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Werburgh, Runcorn and Wirksworth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Chesterfield, Derbyshire Dales and East Riding of Yorkshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Britland is 424 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 65.1%.

1881 census count

252

Ranked #11,012

Modern count

416

2016, ranked #11,533

Peak year

2010

424 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Britland had 252 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,012 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 416 in 2016, ranked #11,533.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 394 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Britland surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Britland surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Britland 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 195 #10,620
1861 historical 195 #12,263
1881 historical 252 #11,012
1891 historical 334 #10,198
1901 historical 365 #10,113
1911 historical 394 #9,394
1997 modern 401 #10,989
1998 modern 399 #11,354
1999 modern 400 #11,439
2000 modern 400 #11,402
2001 modern 392 #11,384
2002 modern 407 #11,294
2003 modern 399 #11,284
2004 modern 397 #11,345
2005 modern 382 #11,591
2006 modern 377 #11,743
2007 modern 392 #11,550
2008 modern 398 #11,525
2009 modern 421 #11,246
2010 modern 424 #11,449
2011 modern 420 #11,402
2012 modern 392 #11,898
2013 modern 405 #11,813
2014 modern 409 #11,808
2015 modern 408 #11,737
2016 modern 416 #11,533

Geography

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Where Britlands are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Werburgh, Runcorn, Wirksworth, Frodsham and Whalley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Chesterfield, Derbyshire Dales, East Riding of Yorkshire and Rochdale. 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 St Werburgh Derbyshire
2 Runcorn Cheshire
3 Wirksworth Derbyshire
4 Frodsham Cheshire
5 Whalley Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Chesterfield 013 Chesterfield
2 Chesterfield 002 Chesterfield
3 Derbyshire Dales 006 Derbyshire Dales
4 East Riding of Yorkshire 009 East Riding of Yorkshire
5 Rochdale 020 Rochdale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Britland

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Britland

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Britland surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Britland household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Britland 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

Britland is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Britland 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 Britland is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Britland

The surname Britland is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated as a locational name, derived from a place once called "Britland" or a similar spelling.

The name likely emerged in the regions of Dorset, Somerset, or Wiltshire, where there were settlements bearing names resembling "Britland" or "Brittenlande." These names are thought to stem from the Old English words "bryten" (a Briton) and "land" (land), suggesting that the name referred to an area once inhabited by Britons.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Britland can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, where a certain Roger de Brittelanda is mentioned. This entry provides evidence of the name's existence during the late 12th century.

In the 13th century, the Hundred Rolls of Wiltshire (1273) and the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire (1275) both contain references to individuals with the surname Britland or similar spellings such as Britelande and Bryttlond.

Notable individuals who bore the surname Britland throughout history include John Britland (c. 1530-1598), an English clergyman and author who served as the Vicar of Minehead in Somerset. Another prominent figure was William Britland (1677-1722), a British architect and surveyor responsible for designing several churches and public buildings in London during the early 18th century.

In the 19th century, James Britland (1807-1886) was a prominent English cricketer who played for Somerset County Cricket Club and is remembered for his exceptional bowling skills. Richard Britland (1848-1920), a successful industrialist and philanthropist from Birmingham, made significant contributions to the development of the city through his business ventures and charitable endeavors.

Additionally, Thomas Britland (1872-1936), a noted historian and scholar, authored several books on the history of Somerset and played a crucial role in preserving the region's cultural heritage.

The surname Britland, while not among the most common in England, has a rich and diverse history, spanning centuries and encompassing individuals from various walks of life, including clergymen, architects, sportsmen, industrialists, and scholars.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Britland families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Britland 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 84 Britlands recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.93x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 84 2.93x
Cheshire 71 13.29x
Derbyshire 68 17.95x
Yorkshire 6 0.25x
Warwickshire 5 0.82x
Middlesex 4 0.17x
Devon 3 0.60x
Glamorgan 2 0.47x
Shropshire 2 0.96x
Hampshire 1 0.20x
Leicestershire 1 0.37x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.31x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cromford in Derbyshire leads with 51 Britlands recorded in 1881 and an index of 5730.34x.

Place Total Index
Cromford 51 5730.34x
Alvanley 22 8148.15x
Ashton Under Lyne 20 31.88x
Runcorn 14 113.73x
Oldham 9 9.71x
Pilkington 9 82.57x
Acton In Northwich 8 1632.65x
Crowton 7 1842.11x
Haslingden 7 58.87x
Chadderton 6 42.77x
Ecclesall Bierlow 6 12.31x
Waverton 6 2222.22x
Wirksworth 6 174.42x
Preston 5 6.51x
Tonge With Haulgh 5 89.45x
Barnton 4 314.96x
Beswick 4 54.50x
Birmingham 4 1.97x
Bury 4 12.20x
Buxton 4 124.61x
Islington London 4 1.71x
Broughton In Salford 3 11.43x
Kirkdale 3 6.21x
Salford 3 3.55x
Tormoham 3 14.08x
Cardiff St Mary 2 8.62x
Darley 2 130.72x
Frodsham Lordship 2 222.22x
Little Leigh 2 526.32x
Little Lever 2 54.50x
Musbury 2 238.10x
Aldershot 1 6.02x
Bakewell 1 48.31x
Birkenhead 1 2.35x
Blackburn 1 1.31x
Bridgnorth St Mary 1 49.02x
Coventry St Michael 1 5.10x
Derby St Peter 1 8.29x
Derby St Werburgh 1 4.57x
Dishley Cum Thorpacre 1 555.56x
Helsby 1 149.25x
Hyde 1 6.35x
Kingswood 1 500.00x
Madeley 1 13.05x
Manley 1 400.00x
Matlock 1 19.65x
North Meols 1 3.56x
Norton 1 344.83x
Tansley 1 178.57x
Wollaton 1 169.49x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 23
Sarah 15
Elizabeth 8
Ann 7
Hannah 6
Jane 6
Martha 6
Annie 4
Emma 4
Susannah 3
Anne 2
Clara 2
Edith 2
Emily 2
Fanny 2
Louisa 2
Margaret 2
Maud 2
Nancy 2
Susanah 2
Alice 1
Angelina 1
Annette 1
Beatrice 1
Betsy 1
Caroline 1
Charlotte 1
Eliza 1
Ellen 1
Esther 1
Florence 1
Hanh. 1
Kate 1
Lily 1
Lydia 1
Marian 1
Matilda 1
Racheal 1
Rebecca 1
Ruth 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 15
John 14
Joseph 13
William 13
George 10
James 10
Robert 7
Charles 3
Abel 2
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Frederic 2
Harry 2
Henry 2
Herbert 2
Peter 2
Richard 2
Samuel 2
Thos. 2
Alvert 1
Anthony 1
Arthur 1
Christopher 1
Edmund 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Enoch 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Geo.W. 1
J.H. 1
Jas. 1
Luke 1
Saml. 1
Silvester 1
Sydney 1
W.M.Lowe 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Britland surname: questions and answers

How common was the Britland surname in 1881?

In 1881, 252 people were recorded with the Britland surname. That placed it at #11,012 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Britland surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 416 in 2016. That gives Britland a modern rank of #11,533.

What does the Britland surname mean?

An English surname derived from a location name referring to a person from Britland.

What does the Britland map show?

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