NameCensus.

UK surname

Brodie

A Scottish surname derived from a place name meaning "muddy place" or "ditch," possibly referring to a riverbank.

In the 1881 census there were 4,058 people recorded with the Brodie surname, ranking it #1,115 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,943, ranked #1,369, down from #1,115 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Campbeltown, Doncaster and Mearnskirk and South Kirkhill.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brodie is 5,176 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 21.8%.

1881 census count

4,058

Ranked #1,115

Modern count

4,943

2016, ranked #1,369

Peak year

1999

5,176 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brodie had 4,058 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,115 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,943 in 2016, ranked #1,369.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5,008 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Brodie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brodie surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Brodie 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 3,058 #949
1861 historical 3,169 #912
1881 historical 4,058 #1,115
1891 historical 4,354 #1,089
1901 historical 5,008 #1,124
1911 historical 2,081 #2,401
1997 modern 4,981 #1,319
1998 modern 5,145 #1,318
1999 modern 5,176 #1,322
2000 modern 5,110 #1,329
2001 modern 4,949 #1,342
2002 modern 5,098 #1,328
2003 modern 4,952 #1,334
2004 modern 4,939 #1,333
2005 modern 4,955 #1,317
2006 modern 4,896 #1,336
2007 modern 4,913 #1,342
2008 modern 4,974 #1,336
2009 modern 5,075 #1,345
2010 modern 5,169 #1,346
2011 modern 5,014 #1,365
2012 modern 4,917 #1,362
2013 modern 4,959 #1,379
2014 modern 4,977 #1,383
2015 modern 4,940 #1,377
2016 modern 4,943 #1,369

Geography

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Where Brodies are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Greenock and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Campbeltown, Doncaster, Mearnskirk and South Kirkhill, Daventry and Denholm and Hermitage. 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 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
4 Greenock Renfrew
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Campbeltown Argyll and Bute
2 Doncaster 002 Doncaster
3 Mearnskirk and South Kirkhill East Renfrewshire
4 Daventry 009 Daventry
5 Denholm and Hermitage Scottish Borders

Forenames

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First names often paired with Brodie

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Brodie

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

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Brodie surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Brodie household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Brodie is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Brodie is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Brodie 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 Brodie 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 Brodie, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Brodie

The surname Brodie originated in Scotland, with its earliest known records dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Gaelic words "broth" meaning "ditch" or "mire" and "aite" meaning "place," suggesting a connection to a particular location or geographic feature. The name is thought to have originated in the village of Brodie, located near Forres in Morayshire, Scotland.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Brodie can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which documented the names of Scottish landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The name appears as "Brod" in these rolls, suggesting an earlier spelling variation.

In the 14th century, the Brodies emerged as a prominent family in the Scottish Highlands, with their ancestral lands centered around the village of Brodie. Notable individuals from this time period include Alexander Brodie, who was granted a charter for the lands of Brodie in 1311, and Thomas Brodie, who served as Constable of Nairn Castle in the late 14th century.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Brodie family played an important role in the religious and political affairs of Scotland. Alexander Brodie (1617-1680) was a prominent Presbyterian minister and author, known for his support of the National Covenant and his opposition to the policies of King Charles I. His son, James Brodie (1637-1708), was a respected lawyer and author who served as Lord Lyon King of Arms for Scotland.

Other notable individuals with the surname Brodie include Sir Benjamin Collins Brodie (1783-1862), an English physiologist and surgeon who made significant contributions to the field of orthopedics, and John Brodie (1913-1999), a Canadian actor and playwright known for his work in both English and French theater.

The name Brodie has also been associated with several place names throughout Scotland, such as the villages of Brodie and Brodiesord, as well as the Brodick Castle on the Isle of Arran. 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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Brodie families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brodie 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. Lanarkshire leads with 532 Brodies recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.19x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 532 4.19x
Midlothian 376 7.16x
Middlesex 306 0.78x
Renfrewshire 281 9.25x
Northumberland 191 3.27x
Angus 172 4.73x
Aberdeenshire 167 4.60x
Lancashire 160 0.34x
Ayrshire 147 5.01x
Durham 140 1.20x
Fife 104 4.48x
Yorkshire 90 0.23x
Surrey 81 0.42x
West Lothian 79 13.38x
Dunbartonshire 77 7.31x
Perthshire 70 3.98x
Argyllshire 62 5.68x
Selkirkshire 60 16.91x
Stirlingshire 58 4.01x
Berwickshire 51 10.74x
East Lothian 51 9.82x
Roxburghshire 51 7.18x
Peeblesshire 45 24.40x
Inverness-shire 39 3.33x
Kent 39 0.29x
Orkney 39 9.04x
Banffshire 37 4.55x
Staffordshire 37 0.28x
Kincardineshire 33 6.91x
Cumberland 32 0.95x
Dumfriesshire 32 3.69x
Morayshire 32 5.25x
Hampshire 31 0.39x
Cheshire 30 0.35x
Essex 27 0.35x
Devon 22 0.27x
Warwickshire 21 0.21x
Kirkcudbrightshire 20 3.52x
Ross-shire 20 1.86x
Sussex 15 0.23x
Channel Islands 14 1.20x
Gloucestershire 14 0.18x
Merionethshire 14 1.95x
Caithness 13 2.42x
Derbyshire 9 0.15x
Somerset 9 0.14x
Nairnshire 8 6.68x
Suffolk 8 0.17x
Wigtownshire 8 1.54x
Bedfordshire 7 0.34x
Leicestershire 7 0.16x
Nottinghamshire 7 0.13x
Carmarthenshire 5 0.30x
Shetland 5 1.25x
Clackmannanshire 4 1.24x
Berkshire 3 0.10x
Buteshire 3 1.26x
Cardiganshire 3 0.31x
Hertfordshire 3 0.11x
Royal Navy 3 0.64x
Herefordshire 2 0.12x
Lincolnshire 2 0.03x
Norfolk 2 0.03x
Wiltshire 2 0.06x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.04x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.04x
Glamorgan 1 0.01x
Kinross-shire 1 1.01x
Monmouthshire 1 0.04x
Oxfordshire 1 0.04x
Radnorshire 1 0.32x
Worcestershire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edinburgh St Cuthberts in Midlothian leads with 168 Brodies recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.95x.

Place Total Index
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 168 7.95x
Govan 149 4.75x
Barony 141 4.39x
Glasgow 126 5.60x
Dundee 76 5.60x
North Leith 55 22.62x
West Greenock 48 8.80x
Islington London 45 1.18x
Liff Benvie 43 7.80x
Abbey 39 8.41x
Kilbarchan 39 42.25x
Paddington London 39 2.70x
South Leith 39 6.60x
Bathgate 38 29.64x
Inverness 35 11.88x
Dysart 31 19.83x
Lambeth 31 0.91x
Selkirk 31 31.02x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 30 4.41x
Stronsay Eday 28 99.22x
Kilmorich 27 600.00x
Lochwinnoch 27 59.62x
Tynemouth 27 8.64x
Paisley Middle Church 26 14.70x
St Ninians 25 17.44x
New Monkland 24 6.40x
Dunbar 23 31.58x
Aberdeen Old Machar 21 2.77x
Kilwinning 21 22.16x
West Ham 21 1.23x
Westminster St John 20 4.19x
Wolverhampton 20 1.97x
Gateshead 19 2.18x
Liverpool 19 0.67x
Old Kilpatrick 19 15.26x
St Pancras London 19 0.60x
Blairgowrie 18 25.86x
Kirkdale 18 2.30x
Sculcoates 18 2.92x
Hackney London 17 0.77x
Kilbirnie 17 24.12x
Manchester 17 0.81x
St George Bloomsbury 17 7.56x
Bonhill 16 9.46x
Dalry 16 11.59x
Fetteresso 16 21.38x
Hamilton 16 4.52x
Hornsey 16 3.23x
Melrose 16 17.92x
Paisley Low Church 16 16.63x
St George Hanover Square 16 2.32x
Ardrossan 15 14.77x
Auchtergaven 15 50.85x
Bishopwearmouth 15 1.50x
Conside Knitsley 15 16.53x
Coupar Angus 15 43.63x
Dundonald 15 13.86x
Glenbucket 15 220.91x
Huntly 15 25.39x
Peebles 15 27.52x
Shoreditch London 15 0.88x
St Marylebone London 15 0.72x
Anstruther Wester 14 155.04x
Linlithgow 14 18.49x
Otterburn 14 313.20x
Paisley High Church 14 5.79x
Willesden 14 3.79x
Wilton 14 17.96x
Benfieldside 13 16.94x
Birmingham 13 0.39x
Camberwell 13 0.52x
Fintray 13 93.73x
Gamrie 13 14.32x
Hetton Le Hole 13 8.79x
Shotts 13 8.57x
Urr 13 17.61x
Edinburgh Lady Yesters 12 32.98x
Edinburgh St Georges 12 11.01x
Galashiels 12 9.15x
Lesmahagow 12 8.95x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 82
William 76
George 44
James 44
Thomas 34
Robert 31
Charles 19
Joseph 18
Walter 17
Henry 15
Alexander 12
Francis 12
Frederick 11
Arthur 10
David 10
Edward 10
Harry 10
Peter 10
Michael 8
Adam 7
Benjamin 7
Richard 7
Andrew 6
Alfred 5
Christopher 4
Edwin 4
Frank 4
Ralph 4
Wm. 4
Albert 3
Ernest 3
Fredk. 3
Matthew 3
Samuel 3
Archibald 2
Douglas 2
Frederic 2
Fredrich 2
Gordon 2
Herbert 2
Hugh 2
Jno. 2
Kenneth 2
Norman 2
Percy 2
Robt. 2
Sidney 2
Benjn.V.S. 1
Desborough 1
Dougald 1

FAQ

Brodie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brodie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4,058 people were recorded with the Brodie surname. That placed it at #1,115 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brodie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,943 in 2016. That gives Brodie a modern rank of #1,369.

What does the Brodie surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from a place name meaning "muddy place" or "ditch," possibly referring to a riverbank.

What does the Brodie map show?

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