NameCensus.

UK surname

Brockwell

A surname deriving from a place name referring to a brook or stream.

In the 1881 census there were 574 people recorded with the Brockwell surname, ranking it #6,073 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 844, ranked #6,621, down from #6,073 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Cavendish, London parishes and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Northamptonshire, Maldon and Medway.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brockwell is 893 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 47.0%.

1881 census count

574

Ranked #6,073

Modern count

844

2016, ranked #6,621

Peak year

1999

893 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brockwell had 574 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,073 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 844 in 2016, ranked #6,621.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 808 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Brockwell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brockwell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Brockwell 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 371 #6,410
1861 historical 273 #9,134
1881 historical 574 #6,073
1891 historical 626 #6,177
1901 historical 777 #5,782
1911 historical 808 #5,438
1997 modern 858 #6,191
1998 modern 881 #6,276
1999 modern 893 #6,239
2000 modern 889 #6,231
2001 modern 859 #6,289
2002 modern 884 #6,264
2003 modern 846 #6,369
2004 modern 877 #6,215
2005 modern 832 #6,406
2006 modern 810 #6,557
2007 modern 832 #6,485
2008 modern 819 #6,608
2009 modern 827 #6,705
2010 modern 835 #6,787
2011 modern 852 #6,602
2012 modern 845 #6,558
2013 modern 871 #6,511
2014 modern 871 #6,531
2015 modern 849 #6,608
2016 modern 844 #6,621

Geography

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Where Brockwells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Cavendish, London parishes, Lambeth and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Northamptonshire, Maldon, Medway, King's Lynn and West Norfolk and South Holland. 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 Cavendish Suffolk
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Northamptonshire 002 South Northamptonshire
2 Maldon 007 Maldon
3 Medway 001 Medway
4 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 007 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
5 South Holland 008 South Holland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Brockwell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Brockwell

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Brockwell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Brockwell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Brockwell is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Brockwell 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

Brockwell falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Brockwell

The surname Brockwell is believed to have originated in England, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English words "broc" meaning a brook or stream, and "well" meaning a spring or source of water. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a well or stream.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Brockwell can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275, where a William de Brokwelle is listed. In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Brokwelle, Brokwell, and Brokewelle, reflecting the variations in spelling common during that time.

The Brockwell name has also been connected to several place names in England, including Brockwell in Somerset and Brockwell Green in Lambeth, London. These locations may have been named after early bearers of the surname or vice versa.

Notable individuals with the surname Brockwell include:

1. John Brockwell (c. 1490-1558), an English clergyman and theologian who served as the Bishop of Gloucester. 2. William Brockwell (1555-1624), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Plympton Erle in 1584. 3. Thomas Brockwell (1671-1743), an English churchman and academic who was the Master of Pembroke College, Oxford. 4. John Brockwell (1701-1768), an English architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Academy of Arts. 5. Richard Brockwell (1755-1820), an English writer and poet known for his contributions to various literary journals of the time.

While the Brockwell surname has roots in England dating back centuries, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and immigration. However, its origins remain deeply rooted in the linguistic and geographic history of medieval England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Brockwell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brockwell 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. Surrey leads with 226 Brockwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.28x.

County Total Index
Surrey 226 8.28x
Middlesex 131 2.34x
Kent 50 2.62x
Suffolk 36 5.28x
Essex 23 2.08x
Sussex 21 2.22x
Lancashire 18 0.27x
Yorkshire 16 0.29x
Hertfordshire 14 3.63x
Northamptonshire 12 2.28x
Staffordshire 9 0.48x
Nottinghamshire 6 0.80x
Huntingdonshire 3 2.70x
Devon 2 0.17x
Hampshire 2 0.17x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.30x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.28x
Cheshire 1 0.08x
Durham 1 0.06x
Norfolk 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bermondsey in Surrey leads with 45 Brockwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.00x.

Place Total Index
Bermondsey 45 27.00x
Islington London 35 6.45x
Lambeth 33 6.76x
Kingston On Thames 32 48.83x
St Pancras London 19 4.22x
Cavendish 18 818.18x
Chatham 17 32.34x
Camberwell 15 4.19x
Newington 14 6.77x
West Ham 14 5.74x
Bethnal Green London 13 5.34x
Lewisham 13 12.76x
Chelsea London 12 7.11x
Long Melford 12 189.27x
Croydon 11 7.26x
Mitcham 11 63.81x
Ratcliffe London 10 32.34x
Irthlingborough 9 174.42x
Wandsworth 9 16.70x
Wigan 9 9.69x
Enfield 8 21.77x
Hastings All Sts 8 89.99x
Bushey 7 76.17x
Crumpsall 7 44.70x
Hackney London 7 2.23x
Ham 7 573.77x
Newington 7 45.81x
Wimbledon 7 22.85x
Ballingdon Cum Brundon 6 428.57x
Battersea 6 2.91x
Burton Upon Trent 6 13.57x
Eastbourne 6 13.81x
Lenton 6 33.75x
Merton 6 125.79x
Owston 6 1090.91x
Putney 6 23.51x
Rotherhithe 6 8.67x
Ash Next Sandwich 5 118.20x
Shoreditch London 5 2.06x
St George Hanover Square 5 5.07x
Tring 5 48.54x
Lee 4 14.42x
Mile End Old Town London 4 3.36x
Ore 4 56.90x
Sutton 4 20.26x
Tottenham 4 4.49x
Barnack 3 267.86x
Ewell 3 52.08x
Greenwich 3 3.37x
Ipswich St Mathew 3 15.70x
Rowley Regis 3 5.70x
Spaldwick 3 434.78x
Tooting Graveney 3 39.53x
Berkhampstead 2 23.04x
Deptford St Paul 2 1.36x
Gillingham 2 5.08x
Snydale 2 173.91x
Southwark St Saviour 2 6.95x
Westminster St James 2 3.47x
Bishopwearmouth 1 0.70x
Bocking 1 15.04x
Carshalton 1 9.58x
Charlton 1 7.88x
Clerkenwell London 1 0.76x
Crondall 1 16.23x
Cuddington 1 95.24x
Epsom 1 7.52x
Falsgrave 1 12.22x
Ham Kingston On Thames 1 83.33x
Hurstpierpoint 1 19.05x
Kensington London 1 0.32x
Maidstone 1 1.76x
Mile End New Town London 1 9.04x
Mortlake 1 8.22x
Portsea 1 0.44x
Ramsgate 1 3.21x
South Brent 1 40.00x
St George Martyr London 1 8.82x
Sudbury All Sts 1 48.08x
Sudbury St Peter 1 26.74x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 26
Elizabeth 20
Sarah 16
Eliza 15
Alice 14
Ellen 14
Emma 14
Jane 10
Annie 9
Hannah 8
Caroline 7
Harriett 7
Susan 7
Louisa 6
Martha 6
Ada 4
Ann 4
Harriet 4
Catherine 3
Elizth. 3
Emily 3
Fanny 3
Florence 3
Frances 3
Margaret 3
Maria 3
Rose 3
Amelia 2
Anna 2
Beatrice 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Jessie 2
Julia 2
Kate 2
M.J. 2
Matilda 2
Maude 2
Minnie 2
Ribea. 2
Camilla 1
Elizey 1
Elizth.Louisa 1
Ella 1
Elsie 1
Emelie 1
Helen 1
Helena 1
Henrietta 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 52
George 25
Charles 21
John 20
James 18
Henry 17
Thomas 14
Frederick 11
Arthur 8
Edward 8
Alfred 7
Walter 7
Albert 6
Joseph 5
Wm. 5
Robert 3
Francis 2
Fredk. 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Percy 2
Stephen 2
Bertie 1
Christ. 1
Christopher 1
Clifton 1
Dick 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Fredk.John 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Hy. 1
Isaac 1
Jas. 1
Lambert 1
Montagu 1
Neville 1
Percival 1
Reginald 1
Reuben 1
Richard 1
Richd. 1
Robt. 1
Rolleet 1
Sam. 1
Samuel 1
Septimus 1
Sidney 1

FAQ

Brockwell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brockwell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 574 people were recorded with the Brockwell surname. That placed it at #6,073 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brockwell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 844 in 2016. That gives Brockwell a modern rank of #6,621.

What does the Brockwell surname mean?

A surname deriving from a place name referring to a brook or stream.

What does the Brockwell map show?

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