NameCensus.

UK surname

Bromley

From the Old English words for "broom" and "clearing," referring to a person who lived near a clearing with broom shrubs.

In the 1881 census there were 4,605 people recorded with the Bromley surname, ranking it #971 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,598, ranked #1,195, down from #971 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Manchester and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shropshire, Stafford and Babergh.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bromley is 6,527 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 21.6%.

1881 census count

4,605

Ranked #971

Modern count

5,598

2016, ranked #1,195

Peak year

1911

6,527 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bromley had 4,605 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #971 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,598 in 2016, ranked #1,195.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 6,527 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bromley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bromley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bromley 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 3,226 #896
1861 historical 3,213 #896
1881 historical 4,605 #971
1891 historical 5,258 #890
1901 historical 5,975 #928
1911 historical 6,527 #793
1997 modern 5,463 #1,193
1998 modern 5,975 #1,137
1999 modern 6,016 #1,135
2000 modern 5,934 #1,142
2001 modern 5,770 #1,149
2002 modern 5,902 #1,148
2003 modern 5,798 #1,144
2004 modern 5,711 #1,153
2005 modern 5,565 #1,161
2006 modern 5,526 #1,171
2007 modern 5,504 #1,186
2008 modern 5,515 #1,192
2009 modern 5,684 #1,185
2010 modern 5,785 #1,189
2011 modern 5,710 #1,187
2012 modern 5,631 #1,179
2013 modern 5,725 #1,182
2014 modern 5,733 #1,189
2015 modern 5,685 #1,190
2016 modern 5,598 #1,195

Geography

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Where Bromleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Manchester, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars and Bolton-le-Moors. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Shropshire, Stafford and Babergh. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire
4 London parishes London 2
5 Bolton-le-Moors Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Shropshire 038 Shropshire
2 Stafford 013 Stafford
3 Babergh 011 Babergh
4 Stafford 010 Stafford
5 Shropshire 034 Shropshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bromley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bromley

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Bromley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Bromley 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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, Bromley 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

Bromley is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Bromley

The surname Bromley originates from England and dates back to the 11th century. It is a locational name derived from the town of Bromley, located in the county of Kent. The name is believed to come from the Old English word "brom" meaning "broom" and "leah" meaning "woodland clearing," referring to a clearing where broom grew abundantly.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bromley appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry refers to the manor of Bromley, which was held by a person named Ralph.

In the 13th century, a notable figure bearing the surname Bromley was Richard de Bromleye, who was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Kent in 1285. The Pipe Rolls were financial records maintained by the English government, indicating that Richard de Bromleye held a position of importance or wealth.

During the 14th century, the name Bromley appeared in various records, including the Subsidy Rolls of 1327, which listed several individuals with the surname from Kent and Essex. One prominent individual was John de Bromley, who was mentioned in the Patent Rolls of 1343 as holding lands in Staffordshire.

In the 15th century, the Bromley family gained significant prominence, with Sir John Bromley (c. 1390-1468) serving as Lord Chancellor of England from 1466 to 1467 under King Edward IV. Another notable figure was Walter Bromley (c. 1440-1508), who was the Chief Justice of the King's Bench from 1504 to 1508.

The 16th century saw the rise of William Bromley (c. 1504-1568), who was a Member of Parliament for Warwickshire and known for his involvement in the dissolution of the monasteries under King Henry VIII. Additionally, Sir Thomas Bromley (1530-1587) served as Lord Chancellor of England from 1579 to 1587 during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Throughout history, the Bromley surname has been associated with various notable individuals, including the English novelist William Stanley Bromley Davenport (1799-1873), the British Army officer Sir Walter Bromley-Davenport (1856-1924), and the English cricketer and politician Edward Bromley (1828-1916).

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bromley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bromley 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 1,140 Bromleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.14x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 1,140 2.14x
Staffordshire 492 3.24x
Middlesex 394 0.88x
Kent 388 2.53x
Yorkshire 312 0.70x
Shropshire 301 7.75x
Leicestershire 179 3.59x
Surrey 174 0.79x
Warwickshire 172 1.52x
Cheshire 126 1.27x
Derbyshire 94 1.33x
Hampshire 71 0.77x
Nottinghamshire 69 1.14x
Worcestershire 53 0.90x
Essex 52 0.59x
Cumberland 50 1.29x
Suffolk 49 0.89x
Wiltshire 44 1.11x
Devon 43 0.46x
Lincolnshire 43 0.60x
Durham 35 0.26x
Sussex 35 0.46x
Gloucestershire 33 0.37x
Northamptonshire 30 0.71x
Berkshire 28 0.83x
Caernarfonshire 22 1.21x
Glamorgan 21 0.27x
Buckinghamshire 17 0.63x
Northumberland 17 0.25x
Somerset 14 0.19x
Montgomeryshire 13 1.26x
Cornwall 12 0.24x
Midlothian 11 0.18x
Bedfordshire 10 0.43x
Herefordshire 8 0.43x
Royal Navy 8 1.49x
Anglesey 6 0.75x
Denbighshire 6 0.35x
Oxfordshire 6 0.22x
Monmouthshire 5 0.15x
Radnorshire 5 1.38x
Carmarthenshire 4 0.21x
Fife 3 0.11x
Hertfordshire 3 0.10x
Isle of Man 3 0.36x
Channel Islands 2 0.15x
Dorset 2 0.07x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.04x
Cardiganshire 1 0.09x
Flintshire 1 0.08x
Lanarkshire 1 0.01x
Norfolk 1 0.01x
Renfrewshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Denton in Lancashire leads with 119 Bromleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 100.61x.

Place Total Index
Denton 119 100.61x
Stoke Upon Trent 80 4.97x
Islington London 71 1.63x
Great Bolton 70 9.90x
Ashton Under Lyne 64 5.49x
Manchester 57 2.37x
Little Bolton 55 8.01x
Birmingham 46 1.22x
Brenchley 46 83.76x
Oldham 46 2.67x
Leicester St Margaret 45 3.70x
St Pancras London 45 1.24x
Stafford St Mary 45 20.94x
Aston 43 1.38x
Camberwell 34 1.18x
Everton 34 2.00x
Chorlton On Medlock 33 3.89x
Haughton 33 42.38x
Batley 31 7.32x
Wolstanton Oldcott 29 52.73x
Trentham 28 21.68x
Chelsea London 27 1.99x
Bradford 26 2.41x
Dukinfield 26 5.67x
Ecclesall Bierlow 26 2.87x
Kibworth Beauchamp 26 150.38x
St Marylebone London 26 1.08x
Stone 25 12.87x
Hackney London 24 0.95x
Portsea 24 1.33x
Rowley Regis 24 5.67x
West Bromwich 24 2.76x
Heaton Norris 23 7.57x
Shrewsbury St Chad 23 16.86x
Habergham Eaves 22 4.51x
Mile End Old Town London 22 2.30x
Preston 22 1.54x
Southampton St Mary 22 3.79x
Bethnal Green London 21 1.07x
Castle Church 21 23.01x
Chatham 21 4.97x
Greenwich 21 2.93x
Maidstone 21 4.59x
Oadby 21 78.62x
Salford 21 1.34x
Stoke Damerel 21 3.20x
Corsham 20 34.45x
Liverpool 20 0.62x
Pendleton In Salford 20 3.15x
Saddleworth 20 5.82x
Toxteth Park 20 1.11x
Chadderton 19 7.28x
East Farleigh 19 73.82x
Lambeth 19 0.48x
Nottingham St Mary 19 1.21x
Bilston 18 6.12x
Blackburn 18 1.27x
Pontesbury 18 38.08x
Condover 17 62.13x
Gorton 17 3.39x
Ipswich St Helen 17 26.18x
Kings Norton 17 3.23x
Coventry St Michael 16 4.39x
Great Grimsby 16 3.51x
Hinckley 16 13.53x
Lewisham 16 1.96x
Newcastle Under Lyme 16 5.96x
Newington 16 0.96x
Smethcott 16 366.97x
Croydon 15 1.23x
Farnham 15 8.80x
Holbeck 15 5.08x
Hulme 15 1.35x
Shoreditch London 15 0.77x
Shrewsbury St Julian 15 15.60x
Tonbridge 15 2.71x
Berrington 14 91.92x
Church Stretton 14 53.70x
Goudhurst 14 32.96x
Sedgley 14 2.48x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 320
Elizabeth 184
Sarah 183
Ann 111
Jane 83
Emma 80
Alice 79
Eliza 68
Hannah 57
Emily 52
Ellen 50
Annie 48
Martha 47
Margaret 44
Charlotte 38
Lucy 31
Ada 29
Harriet 29
Louisa 29
Fanny 28
Maria 28
Catherine 26
Edith 22
Florence 21
Clara 17
Kate 17
Agnes 15
Anne 15
Caroline 15
Esther 15
Rebecca 15
Amy 14
Frances 14
Nancy 14
Beatrice 12
Harriett 12
Rose 12
Sophia 12
Susannah 12
Amelia 11
Ethel 11
Isabella 11
Bertha 9
Eleanor 9
Jemima 9
Matilda 9
Betsy 8
Elizth. 8
Helen 8
Laura 8

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 288
William 264
Thomas 165
George 134
James 132
Charles 92
Henry 76
Joseph 68
Samuel 61
Alfred 59
Richard 59
Edward 53
Robert 52
Frederick 50
Albert 45
Arthur 40
Harry 29
Walter 29
Benjamin 26
Edwin 20
Ernest 19
Francis 19
Herbert 19
Wm. 18
David 17
Frank 14
Thos. 13
Fred 12
Peter 11
Tom 11
Isaac 9
Horace 7
Percy 7
Chas. 6
Clement 6
Andrew 5
Daniel 5
Fredk. 5
Jas. 5
Leonard 5
Richd. 5
Sidney 5
Stephen 5
Amos 4
Edmund 4
Emanuel 4
Fredrick 4
Howard 4
Jeremiah 4
Robt. 4

FAQ

Bromley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bromley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4,605 people were recorded with the Bromley surname. That placed it at #971 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bromley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,598 in 2016. That gives Bromley a modern rank of #1,195.

What does the Bromley surname mean?

From the Old English words for "broom" and "clearing," referring to a person who lived near a clearing with broom shrubs.

What does the Bromley map show?

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