NameCensus.

UK surname

Brogden

Originally a surname derived from a place name referring to a region with brookes or streams.

In the 1881 census there were 989 people recorded with the Brogden surname, ranking it #3,945 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 963, ranked #5,971, down from #3,945 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Bradford and Brough. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Eden, Hartlepool and Bradford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brogden is 1,291 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 2.6%.

1881 census count

989

Ranked #3,945

Modern count

963

2016, ranked #5,971

Peak year

1911

1,291 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brogden had 989 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,945 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 963 in 2016, ranked #5,971.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,291 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Small Town Suburbia.

Brogden surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brogden surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Brogden 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 578 #4,409
1861 historical 477 #5,465
1881 historical 989 #3,945
1891 historical 1,081 #3,901
1901 historical 1,255 #3,947
1911 historical 1,291 #3,691
1997 modern 1,068 #5,201
1998 modern 1,115 #5,200
1999 modern 1,116 #5,235
2000 modern 1,080 #5,340
2001 modern 1,057 #5,337
2002 modern 1,057 #5,443
2003 modern 1,035 #5,444
2004 modern 1,037 #5,443
2005 modern 1,021 #5,456
2006 modern 1,020 #5,469
2007 modern 1,031 #5,472
2008 modern 1,041 #5,464
2009 modern 1,046 #5,570
2010 modern 1,061 #5,599
2011 modern 1,042 #5,628
2012 modern 967 #5,891
2013 modern 967 #5,988
2014 modern 993 #5,894
2015 modern 960 #6,015
2016 modern 963 #5,971

Geography

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Where Brogdens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Bradford, Brough, Blackburn and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Eden, Hartlepool, Bradford, Allerdale and High Peak. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Brough Westmorland
4 Blackburn Lancashire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Eden 007 Eden
2 Hartlepool 002 Hartlepool
3 Bradford 036 Bradford
4 Allerdale 008 Allerdale
5 High Peak 008 High Peak

Forenames

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First names often paired with Brogden

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Brogden

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Small Town Suburbia

Nationally, the Brogden surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Small Town Suburbia, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Brogden household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is predominantly comprised of married couples with no resident dependent children, living in areas characterised neither by under-occupancy nor overcrowding throughout the UK in or adjacent to small towns. White ethnic groups and affiliation with Christianity predominates. Housing tends to be predominantly semi-detached or detached and workers are employed principally in managerial and professional occupations, with semi-skilled occupations also in evidence. These areas of the Supergroup are of higher population density.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Brogden 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

Brogden is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Brogden 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 Brogden is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Brogden, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Brogden

The surname Brogden is of English origin, originating in the northeastern counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire. The name is derived from the Old English words "brog" and "denu," meaning "brook" and "valley" respectively. This suggests that the name was initially a topographic surname given to someone who lived near a brook or stream in a valley.

The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the late 12th century in Yorkshire. One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Robert de Brogdene, who was mentioned in the Yorkshire Feet of Fines in 1199. The Feet of Fines were legal documents that recorded land transfers and were an important source of genealogical information.

The Brogden surname has various spelling variations throughout history, including Brogden, Brogdene, Broughdene, and Broughden. These variations reflect the changes in pronunciation and spelling conventions over time.

In the 14th century, the Brogden family was well-established in the village of Brogden, near Wakefield in Yorkshire. This village likely took its name from the Brogden family, indicating their long-standing presence in the area.

One notable bearer of the Brogden name was Sir John Brogden (1588-1655), an English lawyer and Member of Parliament for Yorkshire during the reign of Charles I. He was a prominent figure in the English Civil War and a supporter of the Parliamentarian cause.

James Brogden (1784-1869) was a significant figure in the industrial revolution. He was a successful entrepreneur and engineer who pioneered the use of steam power in textile mills and established the Brogden Brothers engineering firm.

Alexander Brogden (1825-1892) was a renowned civil engineer and contractor who was responsible for constructing some of the most important railway lines in Britain and Canada. He played a crucial role in the development of the Canadian Pacific Railway.

Sir Holbert Brogden (1897-1981) was a British businessman and politician. He served as a Member of Parliament for the Conservative Party and was a successful industrialist, leading the family's engineering firm, Brogden & Sons.

James Rowland Brogden (1933-2013) was a prominent Australian architect and academic. He was the founding dean of the University of Newcastle's Faculty of Architecture and played a significant role in shaping the architectural landscape of Australia.

The Brogden surname has a rich history that spans centuries, with its roots firmly planted in the valleys of northern England. While the name may have evolved in spelling over time, its connection to the geographical features of the region has remained a constant thread throughout its evolution.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Brogden families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brogden 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. Yorkshire leads with 370 Brogdens recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.87x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 370 3.87x
Lancashire 355 3.10x
Middlesex 52 0.54x
Berkshire 38 5.25x
Westmorland 30 14.15x
Oxfordshire 28 4.70x
Cheshire 20 0.94x
Warwickshire 14 0.58x
Lincolnshire 13 0.84x
Kent 11 0.33x
Surrey 11 0.23x
Durham 8 0.28x
Glamorgan 8 0.48x
Sussex 8 0.49x
Hampshire 7 0.35x
Norfolk 5 0.34x
Somerset 3 0.19x
Northamptonshire 2 0.22x
Northumberland 2 0.14x
Derbyshire 1 0.07x
Devon 1 0.05x
Gloucestershire 1 0.05x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Blackburn in Lancashire leads with 69 Brogdens recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.65x.

Place Total Index
Blackburn 69 22.65x
Leeds 41 7.59x
Bradford 39 16.85x
Cumnor 33 988.02x
Horton In Bradford 23 15.41x
Stainmore 23 1411.04x
Great Harwood 22 106.33x
Ilkley 21 134.44x
Preston 19 6.20x
Wardleworth 16 24.46x
Habergham Eaves 14 13.38x
Islington London 14 1.50x
Middleton In Oldham 14 40.78x
Chorlton On Medlock 13 7.15x
Armley 12 28.46x
Wilsden 12 122.20x
Bardsey Cum Rigton 11 1037.74x
Read 10 326.80x
Accrington 9 8.65x
Aston Cote 9 382.98x
Atherton 9 21.60x
Blackrod 9 63.25x
Little Ribston 9 1500.00x
Newton 9 10.20x
Pendleton In Clitheroe 9 207.85x
Scarborough 9 10.36x
St Gilesin Fields London 9 110.29x
St Luke London 9 5.82x
Wetherby 9 144.46x
Burnley 8 8.30x
Hulme 8 3.35x
Manchester 8 1.55x
Rivington 8 733.95x
Sandal Magna 8 56.58x
Sutton 8 73.46x
Tockwith 8 421.05x
Tonge 8 33.31x
Wortley In Bramley 8 10.57x
Altofts 7 66.35x
Barwick In Elmet 7 95.63x
Castleton 7 6.12x
Deptford St Paul 7 2.76x
Ripon 7 31.56x
Ryde 7 16.48x
Salford 7 2.08x
Thornaby 7 19.60x
Brough 6 289.86x
Cartworth 6 75.85x
Croydon 6 2.30x
Hammersmith London 6 2.52x
Horwich 6 48.04x
Newton 6 181.82x
Oldham 6 1.62x
Rigton 6 476.19x
Sutton Stoneferry 6 21.94x
Walton Le Dale 6 19.51x
Witney 6 60.24x
Barnsley 5 5.07x
Barugh 5 61.96x
Bramley In Bramley 5 13.66x
Castleford 5 14.36x
Eccleshill 5 21.49x
Foleshill 5 19.53x
Great Yarmouth 5 4.07x
Heyhouses 5 2000.00x
Hindley 5 10.24x
Horsham 5 15.82x
Seacroft 5 110.38x
Streatham 5 6.99x
Tottington Lower End 5 9.19x
Whalley 5 29.98x
York St Mary 5 12.63x
Beeston 4 41.37x
Birkenhead 4 2.36x
Darlington 4 3.61x
Nuneaton 4 14.19x
Pudsey 4 7.83x
Skipton 4 13.30x
Southcoates 4 7.54x
Southleigh 4 336.13x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 99
Elizabeth 46
Sarah 38
Jane 26
Ann 23
Alice 20
Hannah 17
Annie 16
Emma 16
Martha 15
Eliza 12
Ellen 11
Margaret 11
Emily 7
Ada 6
Clara 6
Fanny 6
Susannah 6
Florence 5
Harriet 5
Edith 4
Esther 4
Rachel 4
Agnes 3
Amelia 3
Catherine 3
Isabella 3
Kate 3
Louisa 3
Maria 3
Matilda 3
Rebecca 3
Susan 3
Betsy 2
Flora 2
Gertrude 2
Harriett 2
Jessie 2
Julia 2
Lily 2
Lucy 2
Margret 2
Rose 2
Selina 2
Caroline 1
Carrie 1
Eliz.Jane 1
Elizth. 1
Ella 1
Ursula 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 74
William 52
James 41
Thomas 41
George 25
Charles 22
Henry 20
Joseph 18
Samuel 14
Edward 11
Robert 11
Alfred 9
Arthur 8
Harry 8
Richard 6
Christopher 5
Frank 5
Frederick 5
Isaac 5
Stephen 5
Walter 5
Daniel 4
Wm. 4
Albert 3
Benjamin 3
Francis 3
Joshua 3
Matthew 3
Tom 3
Abraham 2
David 2
Fred 2
Geo. 2
Henery 2
Mark 2
Richd. 2
Sam 2
Wm.D. 2
Arther 1
Chas.Hubert 1
Ezra 1
Fredrick 1
G. 1
G.F. 1
Geoe. 1
Jeoffrey 1
Joah 1
Jonathan 1
Josh. 1
Wm.Harper 1

FAQ

Brogden surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brogden surname in 1881?

In 1881, 989 people were recorded with the Brogden surname. That placed it at #3,945 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brogden surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 963 in 2016. That gives Brogden a modern rank of #5,971.

What does the Brogden surname mean?

Originally a surname derived from a place name referring to a region with brookes or streams.

What does the Brogden map show?

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