NameCensus.

UK surname

Brito

A surname of Portuguese origin referring to someone who lived near heather or heathland.

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Brito surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 392, ranked #12,052, up from #34,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Leicester, Cardiff and Poole.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brito is 392 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 39100.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

392

2016, ranked #12,052

Peak year

2016

392 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brito had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 392 in 2016, ranked #12,052.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Brito surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brito surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Brito 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 2 #34,135
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1911 historical 4 #33,595
1997 modern 102 #26,638
1998 modern 120 #24,793
1999 modern 121 #24,855
2000 modern 123 #24,585
2001 modern 124 #24,114
2002 modern 120 #25,110
2003 modern 127 #24,019
2004 modern 156 #21,261
2005 modern 186 #18,985
2006 modern 211 #17,662
2007 modern 218 #17,477
2008 modern 237 #16,688
2009 modern 262 #15,888
2010 modern 304 #14,591
2011 modern 299 #14,631
2012 modern 313 #14,095
2013 modern 339 #13,477
2014 modern 371 #12,689
2015 modern 371 #12,567
2016 modern 392 #12,052

Geography

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Where Britos 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 Leicester, Cardiff, Poole and Boston. 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 Leicester 017 Leicester
2 Cardiff 049 Cardiff
3 Poole 009 Poole
4 Cardiff 031 Cardiff
5 Boston 003 Boston

Forenames

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First names often paired with Brito

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Brito

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Brito surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Brito 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 includes many younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Brito is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Brito 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

Brito 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 Brito 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Brito

The surname Brito has its origins in Portugal, where it first appeared in the 12th century. It is derived from the Latin word "brittus," meaning "Briton," and is believed to have been initially used as a nickname for someone who had come from Britain or had British ancestry.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Brito can be found in a 12th-century document from the Portuguese town of Coimbra, where a nobleman named Fernão Brito is mentioned. This document suggests that the name was already in use among the Portuguese nobility at that time.

Another notable early reference to the name Brito comes from the 14th century, when a Portuguese navigator and explorer named João Brito participated in several expeditions along the West African coast. His voyages helped expand Portuguese knowledge of the region and paved the way for future colonial endeavors.

In the 15th century, the surname Brito gained prominence through the exploits of Nuno Brito, a Portuguese military commander who played a significant role in the conquest of Ceuta from the Moors in 1415. His bravery and leadership during this campaign earned him recognition and cemented the name's association with military valor.

During the 16th century, the Brito family produced several notable figures, including Pedro de Brito e Nicote (1485-1556), a Portuguese explorer and diplomat who served as ambassador to the Kingdom of Kongo, and Bernardo Brito (1569-1617), a Jesuit priest and historian who wrote extensively on Portuguese history and culture.

Other prominent individuals bearing the surname Brito include Manuel de Brito Alão (1630-1706), a Portuguese jurist and diplomat who served as ambassador to France, and José Joaquim Rodrigues de Brito (1753-1813), a Brazilian writer and journalist who played a significant role in the country's literary and political circles during the colonial era.

Throughout its history, the surname Brito has been associated with various place names and geographical locations, such as Brito in Portugal, Brito in Spain, and several towns and villages in Brazil and other Portuguese-speaking countries. This reflects the widespread distribution of the name across the former Portuguese empire.

While the surname Brito has its roots in Portugal, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. Today, it can be found in many countries with historical ties to Portugal, as well as in regions with significant Portuguese immigration.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Brito families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brito 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. Cornwall leads with 1 Britos recorded in 1881 and an index of 91.74x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 1 91.74x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Falmouth in Cornwall leads with 1 Britos recorded in 1881 and an index of 2500.00x.

Place Total Index
Falmouth 1 2500.00x

Top male names

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

Name Count
Manuel 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 Brito households.

Occupation Count
Cook (MS) 1

FAQ

Brito surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brito surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Brito surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brito surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 392 in 2016. That gives Brito a modern rank of #12,052.

What does the Brito surname mean?

A surname of Portuguese origin referring to someone who lived near heather or heathland.

What does the Brito map show?

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