NameCensus.

UK surname

Brock

A topographic surname derived from place names meaning "badger" in Old English or "brook" in Old Norse.

In the 1881 census there were 3,462 people recorded with the Brock surname, ranking it #1,315 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,650, ranked #1,462, down from #1,315 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Uttlesford, Pembrokeshire and Crieff South.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brock is 4,907 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 34.3%.

1881 census count

3,462

Ranked #1,315

Modern count

4,650

2016, ranked #1,462

Peak year

1999

4,907 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brock had 3,462 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,315 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,650 in 2016, ranked #1,462.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,184 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Brock surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brock surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Brock 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 2,676 #1,103
1861 historical 2,274 #1,294
1881 historical 3,462 #1,315
1891 historical 3,609 #1,331
1901 historical 4,184 #1,345
1911 historical 3,974 #1,286
1997 modern 4,618 #1,418
1998 modern 4,884 #1,394
1999 modern 4,907 #1,395
2000 modern 4,875 #1,398
2001 modern 4,764 #1,395
2002 modern 4,865 #1,397
2003 modern 4,701 #1,409
2004 modern 4,684 #1,413
2005 modern 4,588 #1,425
2006 modern 4,562 #1,437
2007 modern 4,615 #1,427
2008 modern 4,630 #1,430
2009 modern 4,756 #1,435
2010 modern 4,847 #1,438
2011 modern 4,792 #1,438
2012 modern 4,601 #1,459
2013 modern 4,725 #1,453
2014 modern 4,720 #1,463
2015 modern 4,687 #1,456
2016 modern 4,650 #1,462

Geography

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Where Brocks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Uttlesford, Pembrokeshire, Crieff South, Cherwell and West Devon. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Govan Combination Lanark
5 Edinburgh Edinburgh

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Uttlesford 004 Uttlesford
2 Pembrokeshire 009 Pembrokeshire
3 Crieff South Perth and Kinross
4 Cherwell 010 Cherwell
5 West Devon 001 West Devon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Brock

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Brock

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Brock surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Brock 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Brock 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

Brock is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Brock falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Brock 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 Brock, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Brock

The surname Brock is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Old English word "broc," meaning a badger or a small stream. The name is believed to have originated in England during the early medieval period, with some of the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 11th century.

The name Brock is thought to have been initially used as a descriptive surname, either referring to someone who lived near a small stream or someone who exhibited characteristics reminiscent of a badger, such as tenacity or fierce determination. It was also likely used as a locational surname for individuals who resided near a place called Brock or Brockholes.

One of the earliest known references to the name Brock can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholdings and property ownership in England compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a landowner named Brocchus, believed to be an early spelling variation of the surname Brock.

During the 13th century, the name Brock appeared in various medieval records and documents, including the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which listed individuals such as Robert de Brok and William Brock. The Subsidy Rolls of 1327 also mentioned individuals with the surname Brock, including John Brok and Adam Brok.

One notable individual with the surname Brock was Sir Robert Brock, a wealthy merchant and Lord Mayor of London in 1430. Another prominent figure was Sir John Brock, a military commander who fought in the English Civil War during the 17th century and was knighted for his service to King Charles I.

In the 18th century, Thomas Brock (1670-1743) was a renowned English sculptor and architect, known for his work on numerous churches and public buildings in London. Isaac Brock (1769-1812), a British Army officer and administrator, played a crucial role in defending Canada during the War of 1812 and is widely regarded as a national hero in Canada.

Sir Thomas Brock (1847-1922) was a celebrated English sculptor who created several notable monuments, including the iconic Victoria Memorial in front of Buckingham Palace and the statue of Sir John A. Macdonald in Ottawa, Canada.

Throughout history, the surname Brock has also been associated with various place names, such as Brockhall in Lancashire, Brockworth in Gloucestershire, and Brockhampton in Herefordshire, further highlighting the name's geographical and locational origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Brock families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brock 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. Middlesex leads with 431 Brocks recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.27x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 431 1.27x
Devon 420 5.94x
Norfolk 234 4.48x
Lanarkshire 220 2.00x
Surrey 187 1.13x
Somerset 165 3.02x
Yorkshire 150 0.45x
Cornwall 130 3.38x
Essex 124 1.85x
Hampshire 121 1.74x
Lancashire 95 0.24x
Staffordshire 84 0.73x
Suffolk 78 1.89x
Gloucestershire 76 1.14x
Midlothian 72 1.58x
Renfrewshire 69 2.62x
Durham 65 0.64x
Dunbartonshire 61 6.69x
Cheshire 59 0.79x
Lincolnshire 58 1.07x
Glamorgan 54 0.91x
Oxfordshire 53 2.53x
Kent 49 0.42x
Stirlingshire 43 3.43x
Pembrokeshire 30 2.78x
Wiltshire 30 1.00x
West Lothian 28 5.48x
Caithness 26 5.59x
Nottinghamshire 23 0.50x
Warwickshire 21 0.25x
Hertfordshire 20 0.85x
Worcestershire 20 0.45x
Cambridgeshire 19 0.88x
Monmouthshire 18 0.73x
Channel Islands 16 1.59x
Sussex 14 0.24x
Aberdeenshire 11 0.35x
Herefordshire 10 0.72x
Berkshire 9 0.35x
Northumberland 9 0.18x
Montgomeryshire 7 0.90x
Argyllshire 6 0.63x
Derbyshire 6 0.11x
Orkney 6 1.61x
Brecknockshire 5 0.74x
Buckinghamshire 5 0.24x
Cumberland 5 0.17x
Isle of Man 5 0.79x
Shropshire 5 0.17x
Dorset 4 0.18x
Royal Navy 4 0.99x
Rutland 4 1.60x
Perthshire 3 0.20x
Ayrshire 2 0.08x
Fife 2 0.10x
Angus 1 0.03x
Bedfordshire 1 0.06x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.07x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.15x
Leicestershire 1 0.03x
Roxburghshire 1 0.16x
Shetland 1 0.29x
Sutherland 1 0.38x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 86 Brocks recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.17x.

Place Total Index
Govan 86 3.17x
Hackney London 71 3.73x
Barony 55 1.98x
St Pancras London 52 1.90x
Stoke Upon Trent 52 4.28x
Glasgow 51 2.62x
Bethnal Green London 46 3.12x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 44 2.40x
West Ham 42 2.84x
Islington London 39 1.19x
Dumbarton 38 29.93x
Camberwell 36 1.66x
Lambeth 36 1.22x
Croydon 34 3.70x
Westoe 34 5.94x
Llangwm 27 265.75x
Bedminster 24 4.67x
Longstock 24 473.37x
Plymouth St Andrew 24 4.41x
Epworth 23 90.87x
Lower Heyford 23 377.05x
Bideford 22 29.07x
Bristol St James St Paul 21 9.46x
Cadoxton 21 593.22x
Tipton 21 5.99x
Falkirk 20 6.82x
Linlithgow 20 30.51x
Poughill 20 428.27x
Dundry 19 289.19x
St George Hanover Square 19 3.18x
Tottenham 19 3.51x
Drewsteignton 18 192.51x
Alburgh 17 236.11x
Garboldisham 17 227.88x
Hammersmith London 17 2.03x
Heigham 17 6.07x
Kessingland 17 119.05x
Mile End Old Town London 16 2.21x
Monxton 16 511.18x
St Marylebone London 16 0.88x
Tormoham 16 5.35x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 15 2.39x
Ditchingham 15 120.10x
Doncaster 15 6.10x
Hatherleigh 15 85.32x
North Lopham 15 184.50x
Shoreditch London 15 1.02x
Wick 15 9.99x
North Leith 14 6.65x
Paisley High Church 14 6.68x
Abbey 13 3.24x
East Greenock 13 5.23x
Fairsted 13 386.90x
Newington 13 1.04x
North Pickenham 13 451.39x
Aston 12 0.51x
Bermondsey 12 1.19x
Clerkenwell London 12 1.50x
Dawdon 12 9.66x
Exeter St Sidwell 12 7.42x
Southill 12 204.08x
Tavistock 12 14.91x
Aberdeen Old Machar 11 1.68x
Calstock 11 14.59x
Compton Martin 11 228.22x
Exeter St Thomas The 11 15.27x
Hunslet 11 2.10x
Long Ashton 11 40.59x
Shebbear 11 103.68x
St Peter Port 11 5.91x
Stratton 11 52.76x
Felstead 10 43.55x
Ilsington 10 80.97x
Kensington London 10 0.53x
Nottingham St Mary 10 0.85x
Paisley Low Church 10 12.01x
Roath 10 3.72x
Stoke Damerel 10 2.02x
Week St Mary 10 165.56x
Wells St Cuthbert 10 26.82x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 194
Elizabeth 129
Sarah 77
Ann 55
Ellen 48
Emma 46
Jane 46
Eliza 43
Emily 35
Alice 33
Annie 32
Martha 30
Florence 23
Harriet 21
Catherine 20
Charlotte 20
Louisa 20
Maria 20
Caroline 19
Margaret 18
Hannah 17
Ada 16
Edith 16
Clara 14
Sophia 14
Jessie 12
Kate 12
Laura 12
Susan 12
Amelia 11
Julia 11
Lucy 11
Agnes 10
Rose 10
Susannah 10
Fanny 9
Matilda 9
Bessie 7
Gertrude 7
Lilian 7
Anna 6
Anne 6
Elizth. 6
Frances 6
Isabella 6
Lydia 6
Minnie 6
Betsy 5
Grace 5
Henrietta 5

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 202
John 161
George 104
James 101
Thomas 70
Charles 66
Henry 62
Robert 37
Arthur 35
Frederick 35
Richard 35
Samuel 33
Walter 30
Joseph 27
Ernest 24
Albert 23
Alfred 20
Edward 20
Frank 17
Herbert 17
Harry 15
Wm. 11
Benjamin 10
Daniel 10
David 9
Edwin 9
Fred 8
Francis 5
Peter 5
Edgar 4
Geo. 4
Hugh 4
Jno. 4
Jonathan 4
Leonard 4
Moses 4
Stephen 4
Sydney 4
Thos. 4
Tom 4
Willie 4
Alexander 3
Earnest 3
Emmanuel 3
Fredk. 3
Isaac 3
Jeremiah 3
Lewis 3
Percy 3
Sidney 3

FAQ

Brock surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brock surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,462 people were recorded with the Brock surname. That placed it at #1,315 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brock surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,650 in 2016. That gives Brock a modern rank of #1,462.

What does the Brock surname mean?

A topographic surname derived from place names meaning "badger" in Old English or "brook" in Old Norse.

What does the Brock map show?

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