NameCensus.

UK surname

Brocklesby

A locational surname referring to someone from Brocklesby, a village in Lincolnshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 483 people recorded with the Brocklesby surname, ranking it #6,948 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 845, ranked #6,616, up from #6,948 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Scawby with Sturton, Hull Holy Trinity and Clee. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Boston, West Lindsey and North Lincolnshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brocklesby is 947 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 74.9%.

1881 census count

483

Ranked #6,948

Modern count

845

2016, ranked #6,616

Peak year

1999

947 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brocklesby had 483 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,948 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 845 in 2016, ranked #6,616.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 706 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Brocklesby surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brocklesby surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Brocklesby 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 301 #7,626
1861 historical 244 #10,087
1881 historical 483 #6,948
1891 historical 551 #6,868
1901 historical 686 #6,384
1911 historical 706 #6,039
1997 modern 896 #5,983
1998 modern 935 #5,978
1999 modern 947 #5,962
2000 modern 928 #6,039
2001 modern 927 #5,944
2002 modern 927 #6,059
2003 modern 909 #6,037
2004 modern 882 #6,197
2005 modern 868 #6,197
2006 modern 851 #6,310
2007 modern 849 #6,379
2008 modern 861 #6,357
2009 modern 880 #6,381
2010 modern 900 #6,382
2011 modern 854 #6,587
2012 modern 842 #6,573
2013 modern 850 #6,632
2014 modern 850 #6,655
2015 modern 843 #6,662
2016 modern 845 #6,616

Geography

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Where Brocklesbys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Scawby with Sturton, Hull Holy Trinity, Clee, Boston (incl. Boston allotments) and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Boston, West Lindsey, North Lincolnshire and Doncaster. 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 Scawby with Sturton Lincolnshire
2 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
3 Clee Lincolnshire
4 Boston (incl. Boston allotments) Lincolnshire
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Boston 002 Boston
2 West Lindsey 007 West Lindsey
3 North Lincolnshire 003 North Lincolnshire
4 West Lindsey 001 West Lindsey
5 Doncaster 003 Doncaster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Brocklesby

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Brocklesby

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Brocklesby, 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 Brocklesby surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Brocklesby 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Brocklesby is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Brocklesby 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

Brocklesby falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Brocklesby

The surname Brocklesby has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval era. It is derived from the Old English words "broc," meaning a small stream or brook, and "leah," meaning a meadow or woodland clearing. The name likely originated as a place name, referring to a settlement located near a small stream in a woodland area.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Brocklesby can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which documented a settlement named "Broclesbi" in the county of Lincolnshire. This entry suggests that the name had already been established as a place name by the late 11th century.

The earliest known individuals with the surname Brocklesby include William de Broclesbi, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1191. Another early record is that of John de Broclesbi, who was listed in the Feet of Fines for Lincolnshire in 1268.

Over time, the name underwent various spelling variations, such as Brokelesby, Brokylsby, and Brokyllesby, before settling on the modern spelling of Brocklesby. These variations likely reflect regional dialects and the evolving nature of English spelling conventions.

One notable individual with the Brocklesby surname was Sir John Brocklesby (1524-1572), who served as a Member of Parliament for Lincolnshire during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another prominent figure was Richard Brocklesby (1722-1797), a renowned English physician and fellow of the Royal Society.

Other historical figures include: - Thomas Brocklesby (1679-1747), an English clergyman and author. - Reverend Richard Brocklesby (1725-1799), an English Anglican priest and mathematician. - John Brocklesby (1756-1846), an English lawyer and land agent.

The Brocklesby surname is also associated with several place names in England, such as Brocklesby Park and the village of Brocklesby, both located in Lincolnshire. These place names further reinforce the connection between the surname and its geographic origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Brocklesby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brocklesby 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. Lincolnshire leads with 303 Brocklesbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 40.39x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 303 40.39x
Yorkshire 106 2.28x
Middlesex 23 0.49x
Cornwall 9 1.69x
Surrey 9 0.39x
Derbyshire 8 1.09x
Kent 5 0.31x
Lancashire 5 0.09x
Durham 3 0.21x
Hertfordshire 2 0.62x
Oxfordshire 2 0.69x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.34x
Cheshire 1 0.10x
Essex 1 0.11x
Leicestershire 1 0.19x
Norfolk 1 0.14x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Clee With Weelsby in Lincolnshire leads with 36 Brocklesbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 219.24x.

Place Total Index
Clee With Weelsby 36 219.24x
Great Grimsby 35 73.50x
Boston 29 127.42x
Scawby 21 846.77x
Holy Trinity 19 16.99x
Bracebridge 15 439.88x
Islington London 15 3.30x
Sculcoates 10 13.56x
Thorpe On The Hill 10 2173.91x
Wrangle 10 534.76x
Cottingham 9 89.82x
High Melton 9 3750.00x
Paul 9 93.26x
St Botolph Lincoln 9 166.98x
Heanor 8 72.79x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 7 16.16x
Barnetby Le Wold 7 514.71x
Epworth 7 200.00x
Gainsborough 7 39.57x
Hunslet 7 9.66x
Limber Magna 7 886.08x
North Kelsey 7 518.52x
Paddington London 7 4.06x
Sheffield 7 4.73x
Welton 7 636.36x
Caistor 6 200.67x
Crigglestone 6 133.93x
East Halton 6 576.92x
Hatfield In Thorne 6 206.90x
Barnsley 5 10.43x
Barton St Peter 5 145.35x
Frodingham 5 187.27x
Hulme 5 4.30x
Market Rasen 5 119.33x
Mexborough 5 54.17x
Wootton 5 537.63x
Wrawby 5 246.31x
Barnoldby Le Beck 4 1176.47x
Bexley 4 28.27x
Broughton 4 190.48x
Holton Le Moor 4 1379.31x
Sandal Magna 4 58.14x
Beelsby 3 1111.11x
Bradfield 3 16.74x
Lambeth 3 0.73x
Nether Hallam 3 4.77x
North South Killingholme 3 241.94x
Skirbeck Quarter 3 218.98x
Stranton 3 6.38x
Belchford 2 256.41x
Eston 2 19.74x
Habrough 2 322.58x
Hibaldstow 2 156.25x
Kirkby Cum Osgodby 2 333.33x
Kirton In Lindsey 2 67.34x
Laceby 2 122.70x
Newington 2 1.15x
Oxford St Ebbe 2 23.45x
Scotter 2 116.28x
St Michael Lincoln 2 98.52x
Utterby 2 454.55x
Waddingham 2 173.91x
Walkern 2 147.06x
Barton St Mary 1 26.60x
Bishop Norton 1 175.44x
East Barkwith 1 185.19x
Friskney 1 42.02x
Glentworth 1 169.49x
Greenwich 1 1.34x
Harmston 1 181.82x
Horncastle 1 12.92x
Horton In Bradford 1 1.38x
North Leverton 1 208.33x
Rotherham 1 3.82x
Ryhill 1 78.13x
Shalford 1 39.53x
St Peterin Eastgate 1 43.10x
Swineshead 1 40.49x
Westminster St Margaret 1 4.42x
Wimbledon 1 3.90x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 38
Sarah 21
Elizabeth 19
Emma 12
Eliza 10
Jane 9
Annie 7
Ada 6
Alice 5
Hannah 5
Charlotte 4
Edith 4
Emily 4
Maria 4
Ann 3
Betsy 3
Ellen 3
Fanny 3
Gertrude 3
Harriet 3
Jemima 3
Kate 3
Martha 3
Matilda 3
Rose 3
Agnes 2
Caroline 2
Clara 2
Harriett 2
Lizzie 2
Louisa 2
Minnie 2
Rebecca 2
Selina 2
Sophia 2
Bertha 1
Cysie 1
Deborah 1
Elizebath 1
Ethel 1
Florance 1
Florence 1
Isabella 1
Julia 1
Katherine 1
Keziah 1
Laura 1
Lavinia 1
Levenia 1
Susie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 34
William 33
George 27
Charles 22
Richard 8
James 7
Joseph 7
Frank 6
David 5
Henry 5
Robert 5
Thomas 5
Arthur 4
Albert 3
Benjamin 3
Edward 3
Harry 3
Herbert 3
Leonard 3
Walter 3
Chas. 2
Ernest 2
Fred 2
Phillip 2
Thos. 2
Tom 2
Algernon 1
B. 1
Charlie 1
Edwin 1
Frederick 1
Geo. 1
Geo.H. 1
Gerge 1
Harold 1
Harvey 1
Haywood 1
Horace 1
Jarvis 1
Jno. 1
Joe 1
Johnson 1
Joshua 1
Langley 1
Mark 1
Moses 1
Robt. 1
S. 1
Samuel 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Brocklesby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brocklesby surname in 1881?

In 1881, 483 people were recorded with the Brocklesby surname. That placed it at #6,948 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brocklesby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 845 in 2016. That gives Brocklesby a modern rank of #6,616.

What does the Brocklesby surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from Brocklesby, a village in Lincolnshire, England.

What does the Brocklesby map show?

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