NameCensus.

UK surname

Brookbank

From a dwelling or location near a brook or stream.

In the 1881 census there were 215 people recorded with the Brookbank surname, ranking it #12,249 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 110, ranked #29,225, down from #12,249 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to King's Lynn St Margaret, London parishes and Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wokingham, East Devon and Warwick.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brookbank is 321 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 48.8%.

1881 census count

215

Ranked #12,249

Modern count

110

2016, ranked #29,225

Peak year

1891

321 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brookbank had 215 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,249 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 110 in 2016, ranked #29,225.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 321 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Brookbank surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brookbank surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Brookbank 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 219 #9,712
1861 historical 239 #10,273
1881 historical 215 #12,249
1891 historical 321 #10,520
1901 historical 194 #15,425
1911 historical 219 #14,136
1997 modern 110 #25,529
1998 modern 116 #25,332
1999 modern 116 #25,487
2000 modern 122 #24,698
2001 modern 118 #24,832
2002 modern 119 #25,231
2003 modern 118 #25,146
2004 modern 127 #24,224
2005 modern 121 #24,947
2006 modern 111 #26,565
2007 modern 110 #27,087
2008 modern 106 #28,016
2009 modern 107 #28,483
2010 modern 113 #28,162
2011 modern 107 #28,979
2012 modern 107 #29,017
2013 modern 111 #28,856
2014 modern 107 #29,827
2015 modern 106 #29,895
2016 modern 110 #29,225

Geography

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Where Brookbanks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around King's Lynn St Margaret, London parishes, Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon), Manchester and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wokingham, East Devon, Warwick, Mendip and Wealden. 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 King's Lynn St Margaret Norfolk
2 London parishes London 3
3 Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) Northumberland
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wokingham 014 Wokingham
2 East Devon 015 East Devon
3 Warwick 003 Warwick
4 Mendip 002 Mendip
5 Wealden 010 Wealden

Forenames

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First names often paired with Brookbank

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Brookbank

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Brookbank is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Brookbank is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Brookbank falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Brookbank

The surname Brookbank is of English origin, and it is believed to have originated in the northern counties of England, particularly in Yorkshire and Lancashire, during the medieval period.

The name is a locational surname, derived from a geographical feature or a place name. In this case, it is likely that the name originated from a place called "Brookbank," which refers to a bank or slope near a brook or stream.

Some of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Brookbank can be found in various historical records from the 16th and 17th centuries. For instance, the Lancashire Parish Registers from 1590 include entries for individuals with the surname Brookbank.

One notable early reference to the name Brookbank is in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1572, which lists a John Brookbank as a taxpayer in the West Riding of Yorkshire.

The name Brookbank has also been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One such person was William Brookbank (1846-1919), an English cricketer who played for Yorkshire County Cricket Club in the late 19th century.

Another individual with this surname was John Brookbank (1792-1853), a prominent English civil engineer who was involved in the construction of several notable bridges and viaducts in the early 19th century.

In the literary world, there was Elizabeth Brookbank (1858-1937), an English novelist and short story writer who published several works in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The Brookbank surname has also been found in various historical records and documents from different parts of England, including parish registers, tax rolls, and census records, indicating its widespread distribution across the country.

It is worth noting that the surname Brookbank has undergone several spelling variations over the centuries, such as Brookebanke, Brockbanke, and Bruckbanke, reflecting the fluid nature of surname spellings in earlier times.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Brookbank families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brookbank 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 53 Brookbanks recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.14x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 53 2.14x
Yorkshire 43 2.08x
Surrey 31 3.05x
Middlesex 16 0.77x
Norfolk 11 3.43x
Durham 9 1.45x
Kent 9 1.26x
Cumberland 8 4.45x
Hampshire 7 1.64x
Northumberland 7 2.25x
Cardiganshire 6 11.78x
Staffordshire 5 0.71x
Cheshire 2 0.43x
Lincolnshire 2 0.60x
Angus 1 0.52x
Northamptonshire 1 0.51x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.36x
Sussex 1 0.28x
Westmorland 1 2.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 19 Brookbanks recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.44x.

Place Total Index
Lambeth 19 10.44x
Tong 11 275.00x
Wortley In Bramley 9 54.95x
Gorton 8 34.36x
Parton 8 754.72x
Ulverston 8 110.96x
Whalley 8 221.61x
Coundon Grange 7 514.71x
Portsea 7 8.35x
Bingley 6 45.56x
Bradford 6 11.98x
Chirton 6 85.35x
Aberystwyth 5 617.28x
Ardwick 5 22.38x
Hackney London 5 4.27x
South Lynn 5 138.12x
Tonbridge 5 19.46x
Wilsden 5 235.85x
Wimbledon 5 43.78x
Wolverhampton 5 9.23x
Birkdale 4 63.80x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 4 41.49x
Liverpool 4 2.66x
Manchester 4 3.59x
Salford 4 5.49x
Clapham 3 11.50x
Battersea 2 2.60x
Beckenham 2 21.48x
Chelsea London 2 3.18x
Ealing 2 10.72x
East Dereham 2 49.38x
Gainsborough 2 25.41x
Hunslet 2 6.20x
Poole 2 1818.18x
St Pancras London 2 1.19x
West Malling 2 125.00x
Aberystwith 1 22.83x
Barrow In Furness 1 2.97x
Blackburn 1 1.52x
Bow London 1 3.76x
Craig 1 53.48x
Droylsden 1 12.38x
Hammersmith London 1 1.94x
Hartlepool 1 11.33x
Horsham 1 14.62x
Hylton 1 91.74x
Islington London 1 0.49x
Keighley 1 4.54x
Kendal 1 11.90x
Kirkburton 1 40.98x
Newington 1 1.30x
Newton 1 5.24x
North Meols 1 4.12x
Northampton All Sts 1 15.02x
Nottingham St Mary 1 1.37x
Pendleton In Salford 1 3.39x
Preston 1 1.51x
Rotherham 1 8.58x
Shoreditch London 1 1.11x
Southwark Christchurch 1 10.22x
St Luke London 1 2.99x
Templenewsam Thorpe 1 232.56x
Toxteth Park 1 1.19x
Westgate 1 5.20x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 18
Elizabeth 9
Alice 8
Sarah 7
Eliza 5
Emma 5
Caroline 4
Jane 4
Agnes 3
Annie 3
Charlotte 3
Esther 3
Maria 3
Martha 3
Polly 3
Anne 2
Clara 2
Edith 2
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Hannah 2
Margaret 2
Margt. 2
Asenath 1
Bridget 1
Carrie 1
Catherine 1
Dorothy 1
Elizh. 1
Elizth. 1
Florence 1
Gertrude 1
Harriet 1
Isabella 1
Jennie 1
Johanna 1
Lardine 1
Laura 1
Lavena 1
Lavinia 1
Lilly 1
Lizze 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Marian 1
Matilda 1
Maud 1
Nellie 1
Rebecca 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 16
William 13
Henry 6
Thomas 6
George 5
James 4
Joseph 4
Robert 4
Isaac 3
Wm. 3
Hiram 2
Abraham 1
Albert 1
Alexander 1
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Daniel 1
Edward 1
Emanuel 1
Ethelbert 1
Greenwood 1
Herman 1
Ingham 1
Jno 1
Jos. 1
Richard 1
Tom 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Brookbank surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brookbank surname in 1881?

In 1881, 215 people were recorded with the Brookbank surname. That placed it at #12,249 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brookbank surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 110 in 2016. That gives Brookbank a modern rank of #29,225.

What does the Brookbank surname mean?

From a dwelling or location near a brook or stream.

What does the Brookbank map show?

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