UK surname
An English habitational surname derived from one of several places named Broc(k).
In the 1881 census there were 90 people recorded with the Brocks surname, ranking it #20,965 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 87, ranked #32,476, down from #20,965 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Devonport Stonehouse, East, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brocks is 270 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 3.3%.
1881 census count
90
Ranked #20,965
Modern count
87
2016, ranked #32,476
Peak year
1861
270 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Brocks surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Brocks surname density by area, 1911 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 | 110 | #16,093 |
| 1861 | historical | 270 | #9,216 |
| 1881 | historical | 90 | #20,965 |
| 1891 | historical | 163 | #17,300 |
| 1901 | historical | 115 | #21,050 |
| 1911 | historical | 179 | #16,023 |
| 1997 | modern | 85 | #28,988 |
| 1998 | modern | 83 | #29,638 |
| 1999 | modern | 82 | #29,933 |
| 2000 | modern | 82 | #29,922 |
| 2001 | modern | 79 | #30,065 |
| 2002 | modern | 90 | #29,314 |
| 2003 | modern | 97 | #28,217 |
| 2004 | modern | 93 | #29,065 |
| 2005 | modern | 88 | #29,831 |
| 2006 | modern | 86 | #30,425 |
| 2007 | modern | 82 | #31,295 |
| 2008 | modern | 84 | #31,370 |
| 2009 | modern | 91 | #30,944 |
| 2010 | modern | 86 | #32,081 |
| 2011 | modern | 87 | #31,905 |
| 2012 | modern | 85 | #32,395 |
| 2013 | modern | 88 | #32,349 |
| 2014 | modern | 87 | #32,585 |
| 2015 | modern | 85 | #32,693 |
| 2016 | modern | 87 | #32,476 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Devonport Stonehouse, East, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Manchester. 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 | Devonport Stonehouse, East | Devon |
| 2 | Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff | Gloucestershire |
| 3 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 4 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 5 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Brocks 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 Brocks, 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 Brocks surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Brocks 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, Brocks 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 Brocks is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Brocks, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Brocks is of English origin and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "broc," which means a small stream or brook. The earliest recorded instances of this surname can be found in various tax rolls and censuses from the County of Essex and surrounding areas.
One of the earliest known bearers of the Brocks surname was William de Broc, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1176. This record suggests that the name was initially used as a locational surname, referring to someone who lived near a small stream or brook.
In the Domesday Book of 1086, there are several references to places with similar names, such as Brockesham, Brochesborne, and Brochelie, indicating the widespread use of the word "broc" in place names during that time.
During the 13th century, the spelling of the surname evolved to include variations such as Brock, Brocke, and Brokke. One notable bearer of this surname was Sir John Brock, a prominent knight who fought in the Wars of the Roses in the 15th century (c. 1420 - 1492).
In the 16th century, the surname Brocks gained further recognition with the birth of Robert Brocks (1545 - 1622), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of St. John's College, Cambridge.
Another significant figure in history with this surname was Sir Isaac Brock (1769 - 1812), a British Army officer and administrator who played a crucial role in the defense of Canada during the War of 1812. He is widely remembered as a hero in Canadian history and has been honored with numerous monuments and place names.
In the 19th century, William Brocks (1811 - 1890) was a notable British architect who designed several churches and public buildings in London and the surrounding areas.
Throughout its history, the surname Brocks has been associated with various professions and has been carried by individuals from different walks of life, including clergymen, soldiers, architects, and academics.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brocks 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. Berkshire leads with 32 Brocks' recorded in 1881 and an index of 49.12x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Berkshire | 32 | 49.12x |
| Essex | 15 | 8.76x |
| Middlesex | 11 | 1.27x |
| Gloucestershire | 8 | 4.70x |
| Lincolnshire | 5 | 3.60x |
| Surrey | 5 | 1.18x |
| Lancashire | 4 | 0.39x |
| Wiltshire | 4 | 5.21x |
| Kent | 2 | 0.68x |
| Buckinghamshire | 1 | 1.91x |
| Caernarfonshire | 1 | 2.85x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.39x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tilehurst in Berkshire leads with 27 Brocks' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2045.45x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Tilehurst | 27 | 2045.45x |
| Westbury On Trym | 8 | 138.65x |
| Wickham Bishops | 8 | 5000.00x |
| Dagenham | 7 | 686.27x |
| St Maryle Wigford | 5 | 462.96x |
| Battersea | 4 | 12.52x |
| Calne | 4 | 253.16x |
| Hackney London | 4 | 8.22x |
| Ruscombe | 3 | 2727.27x |
| Lewisham | 2 | 12.67x |
| Lower Darwen | 2 | 148.15x |
| Bow London | 1 | 9.05x |
| Chelsea London | 1 | 3.82x |
| Christ Church Newgate | 1 | 250.00x |
| Clerkenwell London | 1 | 4.88x |
| Ealing | 1 | 12.89x |
| Gateshead | 1 | 5.17x |
| Horton | 1 | 384.62x |
| Islington London | 1 | 1.19x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 1.32x |
| Reading St Lawrence | 1 | 71.94x |
| Reading St Mary | 1 | 19.16x |
| Spotland | 1 | 8.73x |
| St George Hanover Square | 1 | 6.54x |
| Wardleworth | 1 | 16.98x |
| Ynyscynhaiarn | 1 | 61.35x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Brocks 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 Brocks 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 Brocks households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 32 |
| Ag Labr | 6 |
| None | 5 |
| Housekeeper | 3 |
| Dom Servt Housemaid | 2 |
| Agent To G N R Co (Carrier) | 1 |
| Agl Lab | 1 |
| Blacksmith | 1 |
| Boot Maker | 1 |
| Brass Founders Apprentice | 1 |
| Brickworker | 1 |
| Clerk In Wig Trade | 1 |
| Cook Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Gardener | 1 |
| Gen Labr | 1 |
| General Domestic Servant | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| General Servant Domestic | 1 |
| Housemaid Dom Serv | 1 |
| Iron Moulder | 1 |
| Joiner | 1 |
| Kitchen Maid | 1 |
| Manager In Wig Trade | 1 |
| Market Gardener | 1 |
| Painter | 1 |
| Plumber | 1 |
| Schollar | 1 |
| Stonemason | 1 |
| Wheelwright | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 90 people were recorded with the Brocks surname. That placed it at #20,965 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 87 in 2016. That gives Brocks a modern rank of #32,476.
An English habitational surname derived from one of several places named Broc(k).
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Brocks 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.