UK surname
An occupational surname for a maker of wooden tubs or troughs.
In the 1881 census there were 39 people recorded with the Brocker surname, ranking it #28,137 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 20, ranked #36,679, down from #28,137 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Yardley, Hanney, West and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brocker is 238 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 48.7%.
1881 census count
39
Ranked #28,137
Modern count
20
2016, ranked #36,679
Peak year
1861
238 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Brocker surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Brocker surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 72 | #20,720 |
| 1861 | historical | 238 | #10,321 |
| 1881 | historical | 39 | #28,137 |
| 1891 | historical | 71 | #27,934 |
| 1901 | historical | 36 | #30,099 |
| 1911 | historical | 53 | #27,508 |
| 1997 | modern | 20 | #35,809 |
| 1998 | modern | 15 | #36,457 |
| 1999 | modern | 10 | #37,072 |
| 2000 | modern | 11 | #36,879 |
| 2001 | modern | 11 | #36,727 |
| 2002 | modern | 13 | #36,570 |
| 2003 | modern | 12 | #36,715 |
| 2004 | modern | 14 | #36,648 |
| 2005 | modern | 14 | #36,730 |
| 2006 | modern | 14 | #36,801 |
| 2007 | modern | 18 | #36,537 |
| 2008 | modern | 22 | #36,281 |
| 2009 | modern | 22 | #36,394 |
| 2010 | modern | 21 | #36,530 |
| 2011 | modern | 22 | #36,430 |
| 2012 | modern | 23 | #36,366 |
| 2013 | modern | 23 | #36,414 |
| 2014 | modern | 22 | #36,496 |
| 2015 | modern | 21 | #36,574 |
| 2016 | modern | 20 | #36,679 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Yardley, Hanney, West, London parishes, St Dunstan Stepney and Sutton with Duckmanton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yardley | Warwickshire |
| 2 | Hanney, West | Berkshire |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | St Dunstan Stepney | London (East Districts) |
| 5 | Sutton with Duckmanton | Derbyshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Brocker surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Brocker, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Brocker surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Brocker household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Brocker is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Brocker is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Brocker, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Brocker originated in Germany, with the earliest known records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old High German word "bruoch," which means "marsh" or "swamp." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near or worked in a marshy area.
One of the earliest documented references to the surname Brocker can be found in the Westphalian Records of 1298, where a person named Henricus Brocker is mentioned. This provides evidence that the name was already in use by the late 13th century in the region of Westphalia, Germany.
During the 15th century, variations of the name, such as Brockers and Brocker, appeared in various historical records across different regions of Germany. For instance, in 1472, a man named Hans Brockers was recorded as a resident of Cologne.
In the 16th century, the surname Brocker gained prominence with the birth of Johannes Brocker (1546-1619), a German mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics. He was born in Dalen, Westphalia, and is considered one of the earliest individuals with this surname to achieve notable recognition.
Another prominent figure with the surname Brocker was Christian Brocker (1653-1727), a German composer and organist who lived during the Baroque period. He was born in Halberstadt and is known for his compositions for organ and other instruments.
In the 18th century, a notable bearer of the name was Johann Heinrich Brocker (1716-1797), a German theologian and philosopher. He was born in Quedlinburg and authored several influential works on religion and philosophy during the Enlightenment era.
Moving into the 19th century, one of the most famous individuals with the surname Brocker was Karl Brocker (1821-1892), a German landscape painter and etcher. He was born in Bunzlau, Silesia (now Bolesławiec, Poland), and is renowned for his etchings depicting landscapes and architecture.
Throughout its history, the surname Brocker has also been associated with various place names, such as Brockerhusen, a village in Lower Saxony, Germany, which was first mentioned in records from the 13th century. This further reinforces the connection between the name and its potential origins in marshy or swampy areas.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brocker surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 14 Brockers recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.68x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 14 | 3.68x |
| Surrey | 10 | 5.40x |
| Oxfordshire | 5 | 21.29x |
| Hampshire | 4 | 5.13x |
| Berkshire | 2 | 7.01x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 1.51x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.77x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 1.95x |
| Sussex | 1 | 1.56x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Mile End Old Town London in Middlesex leads with 9 Brockers recorded in 1881 and an index of 111.11x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Mile End Old Town London | 9 | 111.11x |
| Northmoor | 5 | 12500.00x |
| St Marylebone London | 5 | 24.62x |
| Aldershot | 4 | 153.26x |
| Lambeth | 4 | 12.06x |
| Rotherhithe | 3 | 63.83x |
| Thames Ditton | 2 | 512.82x |
| Beech Hill | 1 | 2500.00x |
| Hove | 1 | 35.59x |
| Lewisham | 1 | 14.45x |
| New Windsor | 1 | 104.17x |
| Newington | 1 | 7.12x |
| Nottingham St Mary | 1 | 7.54x |
| Swansea St Thomas | 1 | 149.25x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Brocker surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Brocker surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Brocker households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 6 |
| Ag Lab | 3 |
| Agricultural Laborer | 1 |
| Brewer | 1 |
| Cook Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Fireman Copper Works | 1 |
| Gardener Dom Serv | 1 |
| General Laborer | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| Housemaid (Dom) | 1 |
| Housewife | 1 |
| Infant | 1 |
| Ironer | 1 |
| Lace Hand | 1 |
| Manager (Wine Office) | 1 |
| Plate Layer On Railway | 1 |
| Smith | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 39 people were recorded with the Brocker surname. That placed it at #28,137 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 20 in 2016. That gives Brocker a modern rank of #36,679.
An occupational surname for a maker of wooden tubs or troughs.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Brocker bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.