NameCensus.

UK surname

Brokenshire

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "broken/fragmented church".

In the 1881 census there were 278 people recorded with the Brokenshire surname, ranking it #10,259 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 310, ranked #14,406, down from #10,259 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Illogan, St Agnes and St Austell. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brokenshire is 397 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 11.5%.

1881 census count

278

Ranked #10,259

Modern count

310

2016, ranked #14,406

Peak year

1911

397 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brokenshire had 278 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,259 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 310 in 2016, ranked #14,406.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 397 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Brokenshire surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brokenshire surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Brokenshire 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 198 #10,483
1861 historical 207 #11,687
1881 historical 278 #10,259
1891 historical 281 #11,630
1901 historical 337 #10,735
1911 historical 397 #9,336
1997 modern 337 #12,522
1998 modern 335 #12,915
1999 modern 335 #12,993
2000 modern 341 #12,801
2001 modern 336 #12,721
2002 modern 335 #13,020
2003 modern 325 #13,104
2004 modern 324 #13,197
2005 modern 316 #13,351
2006 modern 303 #13,834
2007 modern 300 #14,048
2008 modern 303 #14,038
2009 modern 311 #14,069
2010 modern 332 #13,745
2011 modern 328 #13,730
2012 modern 305 #14,357
2013 modern 313 #14,299
2014 modern 317 #14,269
2015 modern 316 #14,214
2016 modern 310 #14,406

Geography

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Where Brokenshires are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Illogan, St Agnes, St Austell, St Enoder and Camborne. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall. 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 Illogan Cornwall
2 St Agnes Cornwall
3 St Austell Cornwall
4 St Enoder Cornwall
5 Camborne Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 027 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 038 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 024 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 039 Cornwall
5 Cornwall 060 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Brokenshire

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Brokenshire

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Brokenshire, 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 Brokenshire surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Brokenshire 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Brokenshire 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

Brokenshire is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Brokenshire falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Brokenshire

The surname BROKENSHIRE is of English origin, emerging in the late medieval period. It is a locational surname, derived from a place name that refers to a geographical feature or settlement. The name likely originates from a broken or decayed shire, referring to a ruined or abandoned administrative district or county.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1297, where a John de Brokenschire is mentioned. This early spelling variation highlights the locational roots of the name and its association with a specific area or shire.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various records, including the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1349, which lists a William de Brokenshyre. This further reinforces the surname's connection to a particular region or locality.

A notable early bearer of the surname was Thomas Brokenshire, who lived in the 15th century and is recorded in the Paston Letters, a collection of personal correspondence from a wealthy Norfolk family. These letters provide valuable insights into the lives and affairs of the English gentry during that period.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname underwent various spelling variations, such as Brokenshyre, Brokenshere, and Brockenshyre, reflecting the inconsistencies in spelling and record-keeping at the time. One notable figure from this era was William Brokenshire (c. 1565-1638), a prominent lawyer and Member of Parliament for Whitchurch in Hampshire.

In the 18th century, the surname continued to appear in various records, including parish registers and census records. One notable individual was John Brokenshire (1721-1801), a renowned clockmaker from Lincolnshire, whose works are highly prized by collectors today.

The 19th century saw the surname firmly established in various parts of England, with notable bearers including Sir John Brokenshire (1815-1892), a British colonial administrator who served as Governor of St. Christopher and Nevis, and Charles Brokenshire (1834-1912), a successful businessman and philanthropist from Yorkshire.

As the name spread across England, it also found its way to other parts of the British Isles and eventually to the colonies and dominions of the British Empire. Some notable bearers of the surname in more recent history include Sir James Brokenshire (1930-2022), a British politician and Member of Parliament, and James Brokenshire (born 1968), a British Conservative politician who served as Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Brokenshire families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brokenshire 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. Cornwall leads with 202 Brokenshires recorded in 1881 and an index of 65.56x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 202 65.56x
Devon 50 8.83x
Middlesex 8 0.29x
Lancashire 6 0.19x
Kent 5 0.54x
Surrey 4 0.30x
Dorset 2 1.12x
Huntingdonshire 1 1.85x
Isle of Man 1 1.98x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Illogan in Cornwall leads with 29 Brokenshires recorded in 1881 and an index of 355.39x.

Place Total Index
Illogan 29 355.39x
Cubert 27 7714.29x
Plymouth St Andrew 16 36.66x
Brixham 15 228.66x
St Clement 15 465.84x
Kenwyn 10 124.07x
Ruan Lanihorne 10 3333.33x
St Enoder 10 952.38x
Liskeard 9 174.42x
St Columb Major 9 351.56x
St Stephen In Brannel 9 320.28x
Barnstaple 8 89.99x
Camborne 8 62.99x
Roche 7 445.86x
Broughton In Salford 6 20.32x
Falmouth 6 55.00x
St Agnes 6 138.89x
St Dennis 6 521.74x
Stoke Damerel 6 15.13x
Bromley London 5 8.35x
Deptford St Paul 5 6.98x
St Austell 5 47.48x
St Endellion 5 467.29x
Helston 4 125.00x
Lanivet 4 416.67x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 7.30x
St Blazey 4 147.60x
St Winnow 4 380.95x
Crantock 2 625.00x
Exeter St Sidwell 2 15.42x
Melcombe Regis 2 27.03x
Padstow 2 97.56x
Saltash 2 83.68x
Shoreditch London 2 1.70x
Tormoham 2 8.34x
Boconnoc 1 400.00x
Bodmin 1 19.61x
Calstock 1 16.56x
Devonport 1 15.36x
Gulval 1 50.51x
Huntingdon St Mary 1 74.07x
Lezayre 1 44.05x
Madron Penzance 1 8.93x
Newlyn 1 75.76x
Redruth 1 11.47x
St Andrew Holborn London 1 8.49x
St Columb Minor 1 38.61x
Truro St Mary 1 38.61x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 19
Jane 11
Catherine 7
Elizabeth 7
Agnes 3
Alice 3
Ann 3
Eliza 3
Grace 3
Susan 3
Amy 2
Annie 2
Bessie 2
Clara 2
Elizh. 2
Elizh.A. 2
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Eva 2
Fanny 2
Hannah 2
Kate 2
Margaret 2
Maria 2
Sarah 2
Sophia 2
Amelia 1
Anna 1
Anne 1
Beatrice 1
C.J. 1
Catharine 1
Christian 1
Christiana 1
E. 1
E.May 1
E.S. 1
Edith 1
Elizth. 1
Esther 1
Florence 1
Gertrude 1
Kitty 1
Lavinia 1
Lelia 1
Lellian 1
Maud 1
Minnie 1
Thirza 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Brokenshire 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
James 11
Samuel 7
Joseph 6
Thomas 5
Saml. 4
Alfred 3
Arthur 3
Benjamin 3
Edward 3
Ernest 3
Frederick 3
Tom 3
Willm. 3
Charles 2
Edwd. 2
George 2
Math. 2
Richard 2
A.H. 1
A.R. 1
Albert 1
Bertram 1
David 1
E. 1
Edwin 1
Elias 1
F.A. 1
F.R. 1
Geo. 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Hy.B. 1
Jas.E.L. 1
Js. 1
Mark 1
Mathew 1
Moss 1
Nicholas 1
Orlando 1
Richd. 1
Robert 1
Sanders 1
Sidney 1
Stephen 1
Thos. 1
Tim 1
Tom. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Brokenshire surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brokenshire surname in 1881?

In 1881, 278 people were recorded with the Brokenshire surname. That placed it at #10,259 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brokenshire surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 310 in 2016. That gives Brokenshire a modern rank of #14,406.

What does the Brokenshire surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "broken/fragmented church".

What does the Brokenshire map show?

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