NameCensus.

UK surname

Brockman

A toponymic surname derived from places named Brockman, likely referring to someone living near a brook or stream.

In the 1881 census there were 399 people recorded with the Brockman surname, ranking it #7,984 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 527, ranked #9,622, down from #7,984 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Dover St James, Dover St Mary and Margate. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, West Lindsey and Tunbridge Wells.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brockman is 601 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 32.1%.

1881 census count

399

Ranked #7,984

Modern count

527

2016, ranked #9,622

Peak year

1901

601 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brockman had 399 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,984 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 527 in 2016, ranked #9,622.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 601 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Brockman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brockman surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Brockman 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 205 #10,223
1861 historical 156 #14,813
1881 historical 399 #7,984
1891 historical 441 #8,197
1901 historical 601 #7,068
1911 historical 581 #7,005
1997 modern 572 #8,424
1998 modern 583 #8,548
1999 modern 555 #8,919
2000 modern 569 #8,709
2001 modern 541 #8,909
2002 modern 555 #8,919
2003 modern 549 #8,854
2004 modern 570 #8,643
2005 modern 538 #8,933
2006 modern 539 #8,954
2007 modern 529 #9,160
2008 modern 523 #9,316
2009 modern 540 #9,294
2010 modern 542 #9,461
2011 modern 526 #9,598
2012 modern 523 #9,555
2013 modern 528 #9,633
2014 modern 533 #9,627
2015 modern 526 #9,654
2016 modern 527 #9,622

Geography

Back to top

Where Brockmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Dover St James, Dover St Mary, Margate, Birchington and St Lawrence in Thanet. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, West Lindsey, Tunbridge Wells, Canterbury and Wealden. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Dover St James, Dover St Mary Kent
3 Margate Kent
4 Birchington Kent
5 St Lawrence in Thanet Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 070 Cornwall
2 West Lindsey 003 West Lindsey
3 Tunbridge Wells 001 Tunbridge Wells
4 Canterbury 017 Canterbury
5 Wealden 005 Wealden

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Brockman

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Brockman

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Brockman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Brockman household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Brockman is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Brockman is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Brockman falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Brockman

The surname Brockman has its origins in England, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "broc" and "mann," which together mean "brook man" or "man living near a brook." This suggests that the name originally referred to someone who lived in close proximity to a small stream or brook.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Brockman can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Brocmann." This historical record indicates that people with this name were present in various parts of England, particularly in counties such as Oxfordshire, Berkshire, and Gloucestershire.

During the 13th century, variations of the name began to emerge, including "Brocman," "Brockeman," and "Brokeman." These spelling variations were likely influenced by regional dialects and the preferences of individual record-keepers.

One notable figure bearing the name Brockman was Sir John Brockman, who lived in the 14th century and served as Lord Mayor of London in 1354. Another prominent individual was Sir William Brockman, a member of the English gentry who lived in Kent during the 16th century.

In the 17th century, the Brockman family established themselves as landowners in Kent, with their ancestral home being Beachborough Manor. This manor was located near the village of Newington, which was formerly known as "Newington next Sittingbourne." The Brockmans were also associated with the nearby village of Borden, formerly spelled as "Brokeman's Borden."

Other notable individuals with the surname Brockman include John Brockman, a British soldier and explorer who was born in 1788 and served in the East India Company. He is known for his explorations of the Himalayas and his writings on the region.

Another figure of note is Ralph Brockman, an American composer and music educator who lived from 1913 to 1996. He is renowned for his contributions to the field of music education and his compositions for band and orchestra.

Throughout history, the surname Brockman has maintained its connection to its English roots, with many families continuing to reside in various regions of the country. While the name may have evolved in its spelling over time, its origins as a descriptive surname related to geographic features have remained consistent.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Brockman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brockman 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. Kent leads with 221 Brockmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.52x.

County Total Index
Kent 221 16.52x
Middlesex 65 1.66x
Surrey 36 1.88x
Devon 18 2.21x
Suffolk 14 2.93x
Hampshire 9 1.12x
Somerset 5 0.79x
Yorkshire 5 0.13x
Hertfordshire 4 1.48x
Monmouthshire 4 1.41x
Norfolk 4 0.66x
Stirlingshire 4 2.77x
Berkshire 3 1.02x
Cornwall 2 0.45x
Durham 2 0.17x
Lancashire 2 0.04x
Bedfordshire 1 0.49x
Channel Islands 1 0.86x
Royal Navy 1 2.14x
Sussex 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ramsgate in Kent leads with 42 Brockmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 192.31x.

Place Total Index
Ramsgate 42 192.31x
Margate St John Baptist 41 167.35x
St Nicholas At Wade 20 2564.10x
Hackney London 18 8.19x
Foxhall 14 4117.65x
Dover St Mary Virgin 13 100.39x
St Lawrence 13 141.30x
Birchington 11 588.24x
Folkestone 11 42.39x
Charlton 10 112.49x
Newington 9 6.21x
Rotherhithe 9 18.58x
Guston 8 1509.43x
Bow London 7 14.02x
Boughton Under Blean 6 267.86x
Clerkenwell London 6 6.48x
Spitalfields London 6 20.35x
St George In East London 6 16.27x
West Langdon 6 4285.71x
Aldershot 5 18.57x
Chivelstone 5 877.19x
Islington London 5 1.32x
Shoreditch London 5 2.94x
St Peters 5 80.78x
Alkham 4 519.48x
Ash Next Sandwich 4 135.14x
Battersea 4 2.77x
Bedwellty 4 7.99x
Blean 4 434.78x
Buckland In Dover 4 90.29x
East Stonehouse 4 24.88x
Falkirk 4 11.81x
Great Yarmouth 4 8.01x
Kensington London 4 1.83x
Penge 4 15.97x
St Pancras London 4 1.27x
Bedminster 3 5.06x
Camberwell 3 1.20x
Devonport 3 31.98x
Minster In Thanet 3 107.53x
Portsea 3 1.90x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 3.80x
Speen 3 62.24x
Topsham 3 77.92x
Watford 3 14.31x
Acol 2 500.00x
Canterbury St Mary 2 22.27x
Dartmouth Townstall 2 60.24x
Hougham 2 25.13x
Leeds 2 0.91x
Paul 2 24.78x
St James Taunton 2 666.67x
Woolwich 2 4.05x
Barnstaple 1 7.81x
Bedford St Paul 1 7.18x
Chatham 1 2.72x
Cheshunt 1 10.58x
Cliffe 1 33.11x
Deptford St Paul 1 0.97x
Featherstone 1 22.94x
Godalming 1 8.31x
Hampstead London 1 1.64x
Heston 1 7.68x
Holy Rood 1 61.35x
Holy Trinity 1 1.07x
Kingstonupon Hull 1 32.05x
Lambeth 1 0.29x
Lee 1 5.15x
Liverpool 1 0.35x
Merton 1 29.94x
Mile End Old Town London 1 1.20x
Milton In Milton 1 17.57x
Newhaven 1 18.62x
Reculver 1 250.00x
Rolvenden 1 57.80x
Royal Navy 1 2.50x
Shadwell London 1 9.12x
St Helier 1 2.64x
West Derby 1 0.73x
Windlesham 1 27.86x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 19
Sarah 13
Ellen 11
Emily 9
Alice 6
Eliza 6
Elizabeth 6
Emma 6
Jane 6
Ann 5
Catherine 5
Edith 5
Florence 5
Hannah 5
Margaret 5
Annie 4
Kate 4
Caroline 3
Clara 3
Frances 3
Harriet 3
Minnie 3
Amelia 2
Anne 2
Harriett 2
Jessie 2
Lilian 2
Louisa 2
Susanna 2
Susannah 2
Amy 1
Anna 1
Augusta 1
Avis 1
Bertha 1
Charlitta 1
Ellice 1
Ester 1
Francis 1
Gertrude 1
Gusta 1
Henrietta 1
Jennette 1
Katherine 1
L. 1
Lavinia 1
Lily 1
Lizzy 1
Lucy 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 27
John 23
Henry 13
Charles 8
Frederick 8
Thomas 8
George 7
Alfred 6
Edward 6
James 6
Albert 5
Arthur 5
Herbert 5
Horace 4
Ernest 3
Harry 3
Richard 3
Robert 3
Samuel 3
Walter 3
Daniel 2
David 2
Edwin 2
Fred 2
Joseph 2
Percy 2
Ralph 2
Sydney 2
Augustus 1
Bobby 1
C. 1
Caleb 1
Colin 1
Elliott 1
Francis 1
Fred. 1
Fredrick 1
Frisdr 1
Geo. 1
Geo.Allan 1
Georg 1
J.W.F. 1
Jacob 1
Jeremiah 1
Julius 1
L. 1
Leonard 1
Lewis 1
Louis 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Brockman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brockman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 399 people were recorded with the Brockman surname. That placed it at #7,984 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brockman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 527 in 2016. That gives Brockman a modern rank of #9,622.

What does the Brockman surname mean?

A toponymic surname derived from places named Brockman, likely referring to someone living near a brook or stream.

What does the Brockman map show?

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