NameCensus.

UK surname

Bromiley

An English locational surname derived from a place name and referring to someone from Bromiley.

In the 1881 census there were 391 people recorded with the Bromiley surname, ranking it #8,090 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 260, ranked #16,349, down from #8,090 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Dean, Bolton-le-Moors and Chorley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stockport, Leicester and South Tyneside.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bromiley is 442 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 33.5%.

1881 census count

391

Ranked #8,090

Modern count

260

2016, ranked #16,349

Peak year

1911

442 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bromiley had 391 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,090 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 260 in 2016, ranked #16,349.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 442 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities.

Bromiley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bromiley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bromiley 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 177 #11,441
1861 historical 251 #9,830
1881 historical 391 #8,090
1891 historical 404 #8,802
1901 historical 422 #9,128
1911 historical 442 #8,625
1997 modern 302 #13,459
1998 modern 304 #13,773
1999 modern 311 #13,642
2000 modern 304 #13,791
2001 modern 300 #13,737
2002 modern 304 #13,887
2003 modern 310 #13,522
2004 modern 288 #14,254
2005 modern 271 #14,780
2006 modern 264 #15,170
2007 modern 258 #15,554
2008 modern 257 #15,777
2009 modern 267 #15,661
2010 modern 279 #15,529
2011 modern 254 #16,458
2012 modern 261 #16,041
2013 modern 257 #16,466
2014 modern 261 #16,421
2015 modern 263 #16,224
2016 modern 260 #16,349

Geography

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Where Bromileys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Dean, Bolton-le-Moors, Chorley and Prestwich. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stockport, Leicester, South Tyneside, Bolton and South Gloucestershire. 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 Dean Lancashire
2 Bolton-le-Moors Lancashire
3 Chorley Lancashire
4 Prestwich Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stockport 014 Stockport
2 Leicester 023 Leicester
3 South Tyneside 021 South Tyneside
4 Bolton 013 Bolton
5 South Gloucestershire 027 South Gloucestershire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bromiley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bromiley

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

Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Single-person households are common in these neighbourhoods, and these residents are typically divorced rather than never married. A high proportion of residents were born outside the UK in the EU. There are many young adults, some with young children, but relatively few residents are of normal retirement age or over. Although levels of identification with ethnic minorities are in line with the Supergroup average, individuals identifying with Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is more common than average. High long-term disability rates are observed, and unpaid care is more common than in the rest of the Group. The predominant housing types are terraced houses and flats, which are typically part of the social rented sector. This Group is commonly found in coastal areas and (present-day or former) industrial 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Bromiley 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

Bromiley is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Bromiley

The surname Bromiley originates from England, dating back to the medieval period. It is a locational name, derived from the place name "Bromley" which means "the clearing where broom grew" in Old English. The name is found in various counties across England, including Lancashire, Staffordshire, and Kent.

One of the earliest recorded references to the surname Bromiley can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Bromlei." This document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, was a survey of landholdings across England and provides valuable insight into the early distribution of surnames.

In the 13th century, the name was also documented in the Assize Rolls of Lancashire, where it was spelled as "Bromileye." These rolls were legal records that documented court proceedings and land transactions, providing a glimpse into the lives of individuals bearing the Bromiley surname during that time.

Notable individuals with the surname Bromiley include:

1. Sir Thomas Bromiley (c. 1530-1600), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Lancashire during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

2. John Bromiley (1712-1790), a prominent merchant and landowner from Cheshire, England. He played a significant role in the development of the town of Macclesfield.

3. William Bromiley (1857-1932), an English architect and designer, known for his contributions to the Arts and Crafts movement in architecture.

4. Geoffrey Bromiley (1915-2009), a renowned British theologian and scholar who authored numerous works on Christian theology and doctrine.

5. Robert Bromiley (1918-2012), a British soldier and recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest military decoration awarded for valor in the British armed forces, during World War II.

Throughout history, the surname Bromiley has also been associated with various place names, such as Bromley in Kent, Bromley Cross in Lancashire, and Bromley-by-Bow in London, reflecting the locational origins of the name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bromiley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bromiley 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. Lancashire leads with 350 Bromileys recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.77x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 350 7.77x
Cheshire 26 3.10x
Yorkshire 7 0.19x
Surrey 6 0.32x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Little Bolton in Lancashire leads with 72 Bromileys recorded in 1881 and an index of 124.37x.

Place Total Index
Little Bolton 72 124.37x
Great Bolton 57 95.57x
Chorley 37 146.42x
Harwood 28 1191.49x
Turton 17 230.66x
Halliwell 15 91.52x
Manchester 14 6.91x
Tonge With Haulgh 13 148.40x
Preston 11 9.13x
Oldham 9 6.19x
Atherton 8 48.81x
Bredbury 7 144.33x
Edgeworth 7 289.26x
Farnworth 7 25.95x
Headingley Cum Burley 7 28.91x
Croydon 6 5.85x
Horwich 6 122.20x
Kearsley 6 63.36x
Habergham Eaves 5 12.15x
Wigan 5 7.95x
Breightmet 4 202.02x
Hyde 4 16.18x
Over Darwen 4 11.12x
Salford 4 3.02x
Worsley 4 14.41x
Baguley 3 312.50x
Bradford 3 14.23x
Broughton In Salford 3 7.29x
Cheadle 3 18.75x
Middle Hulton 3 112.36x
Over Hulton 3 234.38x
Liscard 2 13.25x
Stockport 2 4.64x
Werneth 2 76.34x
Adlington 1 23.70x
Blackley 1 12.67x
Brinnington 1 12.79x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 1.40x
Crumpsall 1 9.43x
Dukinfield 1 2.58x
Sale 1 9.73x
Westleigh 1 9.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 40
Alice 19
Sarah 17
Elizabeth 15
Jane 11
Ann 8
Hannah 7
Margaret 7
Eliza 6
Ellen 6
Martha 6
Edith 5
Maria 5
Emma 4
Elizth. 3
Florence 3
Ada 2
Amelia 2
Annie 2
Betsy 2
Blanche 2
Clara 2
Nancy 2
Rachel 2
Rebecca 2
Sophia 2
Dinah 1
Dora 1
Eliz. 1
Elizbeath 1
Elizbeth 1
Emily 1
Ester 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
Harriet 1
Isabel 1
Isabella 1
Jessie 1
Joannah 1
Lavinia 1
Lilian 1
Lillian 1
Lizzie 1
Louisa 1
Matilda 1
Mattie 1
Pamelia 1
Robert 1
Zilpha 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 33
John 31
William 22
Thomas 16
Samuel 9
Arthur 6
Henry 4
Joseph 4
Albert 3
Edwin 3
Hamer 3
Alfred 2
Benjamin 2
Daniel 2
David 2
Jas. 2
Ralph 2
Robert 2
Walter 2
Wm. 2
Abel 1
Abraham 1
Charles 1
Francis 1
Fred. 1
Frederick 1
George 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Jeremiah 1
Jonathan 1
Joseh 1
Joshuar 1
Lawrence 1
Levi 1
Matthew 1
Pearse 1
Peter 1
Richard 1
Robt.H. 1
Seth 1
Stanley 1
Stephen 1
Thos 1

FAQ

Bromiley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bromiley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 391 people were recorded with the Bromiley surname. That placed it at #8,090 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bromiley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 260 in 2016. That gives Bromiley a modern rank of #16,349.

What does the Bromiley surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from a place name and referring to someone from Bromiley.

What does the Bromiley map show?

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