NameCensus.

UK surname

Brome

A surname originating from an English place name referring to someone from the town of Brome.

In the 1881 census there were 51 people recorded with the Brome surname, ranking it #26,428 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 111, ranked #29,049, down from #26,428 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Prestbury, Hadleigh and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Preston, South Ribble and Bedford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brome is 121 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 117.6%.

1881 census count

51

Ranked #26,428

Modern count

111

2016, ranked #29,049

Peak year

1999

121 bearers

Map years

4

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brome had 51 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #26,428 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 111 in 2016, ranked #29,049.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 111 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Brome surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brome surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Brome 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 42 #25,706
1861 historical 95 #21,768
1881 historical 51 #26,428
1891 historical 111 #22,421
1901 historical 77 #25,627
1911 historical 89 #23,922
1997 modern 115 #24,834
1998 modern 116 #25,332
1999 modern 121 #24,855
2000 modern 120 #24,950
2001 modern 112 #25,644
2002 modern 111 #26,291
2003 modern 111 #26,091
2004 modern 115 #25,740
2005 modern 111 #26,260
2006 modern 105 #27,479
2007 modern 104 #28,020
2008 modern 103 #28,519
2009 modern 105 #28,815
2010 modern 117 #27,557
2011 modern 112 #28,117
2012 modern 111 #28,332
2013 modern 111 #28,856
2014 modern 112 #28,934
2015 modern 113 #28,645
2016 modern 111 #29,049

Geography

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Where Bromes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Prestbury, Hadleigh, 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 Preston, South Ribble, Bedford, Central Bedfordshire and Newham. 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 Prestbury Cheshire
2 Hadleigh Suffolk
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Preston 010 Preston
2 South Ribble 005 South Ribble
3 Bedford 007 Bedford
4 Central Bedfordshire 007 Central Bedfordshire
5 Newham 036 Newham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Brome

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Brome

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Brome, 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 Brome surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Brome 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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Brome is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Brome 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

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

Meaning and origin of Brome

The surname Brome has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "brom," which translates to "broom" or "bramble bush." The name likely originated as a descriptive term for someone who lived near a broom or bramble bush.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a record of landholdings in England, there are several entries for individuals with the name Brome or variations of it, such as Broma and Brom. This suggests that the name was already established in various parts of the country by the late 11th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Brome can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1191, which mentions a person named William Brome. The name also appears in various medieval records, including the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1279, where a Richard de Brome is listed.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the surname Brome became particularly prevalent in the county of Warwickshire, where several locations bore similar names, such as Brome Hall and Brome Manor. It is possible that these place names influenced the surname or vice versa.

Among notable individuals with the surname Brome, one can mention:

1. Alexander Brome (1620-1666), an English poet and royalist during the English Civil War. 2. Richard Brome (1590-1652), an English dramatist and playwright known for his comedies and tragedies. 3. James Brome (1776-1837), an English scholar and writer who authored several works on literary criticism. 4. Ralph Brome (1585-1643), an English landowner and Member of Parliament for Lyme Regis during the reign of Charles I. 5. William Brome (fl. 1653), an English writer and translator who produced works on various subjects, including history and politics.

The surname Brome has also been found in various spellings throughout history, such as Brom, Brum, and Bromme, reflecting the regional variations and phonetic adaptations that often occurred with surnames over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Brome families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brome 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 16 Bromes recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.60x.

County Total Index
Surrey 16 6.60x
Renfrewshire 8 20.76x
Essex 7 7.13x
Lancashire 6 1.02x
Devon 3 2.90x
Durham 3 2.03x
Montgomeryshire 2 17.56x
Yorkshire 2 0.41x
Middlesex 1 0.20x
Somerset 1 1.25x
Sussex 1 1.19x
Worcestershire 1 1.54x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Greenock in Renfrewshire leads with 8 Bromes recorded in 1881 and an index of 115.61x.

Place Total Index
West Greenock 8 115.61x
Salford 6 34.58x
Battersea 5 27.32x
Chertsey 5 318.47x
Halstead 5 438.60x
Newington 5 27.22x
Cemmes 2 1250.00x
Exeter Heavitree 2 259.74x
Stranton 2 40.16x
Wakes Colne 2 2222.22x
Cheddar 1 250.00x
Eston 1 93.46x
Horsted Keynes 1 500.00x
Islington London 1 2.08x
Reigate Foreign 1 38.17x
Rowley 1 909.09x
Sunderland 1 38.31x
Tormoham 1 22.83x
Worcester St Martin 1 113.64x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Eliza 3
Susan 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Clara 1
Eliz. 1
Elizabeth 1
Emma 1
Emmily 1
Lillia 1
Lucy 1
Mariah 1
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 5
William 4
George 3
Joseph 3
Henry 2
Benjamin 1
Charles 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
James 1
Jeremiah 1
Nathanal 1
Samuel 1

Top occupations

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 Brome households.

FAQ

Brome surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brome surname in 1881?

In 1881, 51 people were recorded with the Brome surname. That placed it at #26,428 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brome surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 111 in 2016. That gives Brome a modern rank of #29,049.

What does the Brome surname mean?

A surname originating from an English place name referring to someone from the town of Brome.

What does the Brome map show?

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