NameCensus.

UK surname

Brookes

One who lived near a brook or stream, or worked as a broker or used brook as a topographic boundary.

In the 1881 census there were 7,049 people recorded with the Brookes surname, ranking it #604 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 16,190, ranked #386, up from #604 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Eccles and Sheffield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Staffordshire, Sandwell and Tewkesbury.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brookes is 16,750 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 129.7%.

1881 census count

7,049

Ranked #604

Modern count

16,190

2016, ranked #386

Peak year

1999

16,750 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brookes had 7,049 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #604 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 16,190 in 2016, ranked #386.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 13,175 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Brookes surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brookes surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Brookes 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 3,786 #753
1861 historical 3,654 #768
1881 historical 7,049 #604
1891 historical 8,017 #549
1901 historical 9,878 #530
1911 historical 13,175 #371
1997 modern 15,597 #388
1998 modern 16,690 #377
1999 modern 16,750 #379
2000 modern 16,546 #382
2001 modern 16,195 #380
2002 modern 16,426 #383
2003 modern 15,959 #384
2004 modern 15,858 #385
2005 modern 15,609 #389
2006 modern 15,587 #389
2007 modern 15,764 #384
2008 modern 15,830 #387
2009 modern 16,157 #390
2010 modern 16,542 #386
2011 modern 16,388 #383
2012 modern 16,159 #381
2013 modern 16,394 #383
2014 modern 16,515 #382
2015 modern 16,307 #385
2016 modern 16,190 #386

Geography

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Where Brookes' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Eccles, Sheffield and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Staffordshire, Sandwell, Tewkesbury, Worcester and Doncaster. 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 Eccles Lancashire
3 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
4 London parishes London 2
5 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Staffordshire 001 East Staffordshire
2 Sandwell 014 Sandwell
3 Tewkesbury 002 Tewkesbury
4 Worcester 005 Worcester
5 Doncaster 034 Doncaster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Brookes

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Brookes

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Brookes 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

Brookes is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Brookes

The surname BROOKES originated in England and has its roots dating back to the Anglo-Saxon period. The name is derived from the Old English word "broc," which means a small stream or brook. It likely referred to someone who lived near a brook or stream.

The earliest recorded instances of the BROOKES surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appeared in various spellings, such as "Brok," "Brock," and "Broke."

During the Middle Ages, many people with the surname BROOKES settled in various parts of England, particularly in counties like Derbyshire, Staffordshire, and Warwickshire. The name was often associated with specific locations, such as Broke near Stafford and Brook in Derbyshire.

One notable figure with the BROOKES surname was Sir Robert Brooke (c. 1490-1558), who served as the Chief Baron of the Exchequer during the reign of Queen Mary I. Another prominent individual was Henry Brooke, 8th Baron Cobham (1564-1619), who was an English nobleman and politician.

In the 17th century, the BROOKES surname gained prominence with the writer and philosopher Ralph Brooke (1553-1625), who was known for his works on natural philosophy and religion. The name also appeared in literary circles with the poet and playwright Henry Brooke (1703-1783), best known for his novel "The Fool of Quality."

During the 18th century, the BROOKES surname was associated with several notable figures, including James Brooke (1742-1821), an English clergyman and author, and Sir James Brooke (1803-1868), who became the first White Rajah of Sarawak in Borneo.

As the BROOKES surname spread throughout England and beyond, it became associated with various professions and achievements. From scholars and writers to politicians and military leaders, the name has left an indelible mark on history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Brookes families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brookes 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. Staffordshire leads with 1,299 Brookes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.61x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 1,299 5.61x
Lancashire 931 1.14x
Warwickshire 747 4.32x
Yorkshire 609 0.90x
Worcestershire 518 5.78x
Middlesex 384 0.56x
Cheshire 364 2.40x
Gloucestershire 226 1.68x
Derbyshire 222 2.07x
Shropshire 204 3.44x
Leicestershire 196 2.58x
Herefordshire 194 6.90x
Surrey 173 0.52x
Nottinghamshire 118 1.28x
Kent 101 0.43x
Norfolk 85 0.81x
Northamptonshire 64 0.99x
Flintshire 51 2.77x
Hampshire 50 0.36x
Caernarfonshire 49 1.77x
Durham 43 0.21x
Sussex 40 0.35x
Lincolnshire 37 0.34x
Glamorgan 33 0.28x
Oxfordshire 31 0.73x
Somerset 29 0.26x
Buckinghamshire 25 0.60x
Essex 24 0.18x
Devon 19 0.13x
Hertfordshire 19 0.40x
Wiltshire 19 0.31x
Bedfordshire 18 0.51x
Cumberland 13 0.22x
Huntingdonshire 10 0.73x
Lanarkshire 10 0.05x
Suffolk 10 0.12x
Northumberland 9 0.09x
Denbighshire 8 0.31x
Brecknockshire 7 0.51x
Cambridgeshire 6 0.14x
Carmarthenshire 5 0.17x
Monmouthshire 5 0.10x
Aberdeenshire 4 0.06x
Banffshire 4 0.28x
Berkshire 4 0.08x
Cornwall 4 0.05x
Midlothian 3 0.03x
Merionethshire 2 0.16x
Renfrewshire 2 0.04x
Angus 1 0.02x
Dorset 1 0.02x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.05x
Radnorshire 1 0.18x
Royal Navy 1 0.12x
Westmorland 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 336 Brookes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.83x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 336 5.83x
Aston 173 3.63x
West Bromwich 141 10.63x
Rowley Regis 100 15.49x
Wolverhampton 95 5.33x
Harborne 94 12.66x
Stoke Upon Trent 93 3.79x
Sheffield 90 4.16x
Dudley 89 8.17x
Walsall Foreign 82 6.85x
Ecclesall Bierlow 81 5.86x
Salford 74 3.09x
Worsley 70 13.95x
Leicester St Margaret 58 3.13x
Wolstanton 54 7.68x
Moss Side 51 11.90x
Burslem 48 7.23x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 46 7.26x
Kidderminster Borough 46 8.77x
Oldbury 46 10.43x
Brightside Bierlow 45 3.37x
Barton Upon Irwell 44 7.18x
Manchester 44 1.20x
Pendleton In Salford 44 4.54x
Kingswinford 42 4.99x
Tipton 41 5.78x
Lambeth 40 0.67x
Stockport 40 5.13x
Wednesbury 38 6.57x
Everton 36 1.39x
Handsworth 36 6.31x
Audley 35 15.27x
Cheltenham 35 3.37x
St Pancras London 34 0.62x
Warrington 33 3.42x
Hulme 32 1.88x
Rotherham 32 8.35x
Farnworth 30 6.15x
Macclesfield 30 4.46x
Nether Hallam 30 3.26x
Llandudno 29 29.32x
Loughborough 29 8.40x
Bilston 28 6.24x
Kensington London 28 0.73x
Marston Upon Dove 28 81.09x
Dawley 27 12.52x
Nottingham St Mary 27 1.13x
Sutton Coldfield 27 14.84x
Camberwell 26 0.59x
Hackney London 26 0.68x
Tettenhall 25 17.65x
Burton Upon Trent 24 4.43x
Derby St Peter 24 7.01x
St George Hanover Square 24 1.99x
Chorlton On Medlock 23 1.78x
Forncett St Mary 23 356.04x
Shrewsbury St Mary 23 9.83x
Ardwick 22 3.00x
Cannock 22 5.44x
Chesterfield 22 5.46x
St Marylebone London 22 0.60x
Willenhall 22 5.07x
Bradford 21 5.51x
Kings Norton 21 2.61x
Melbourne 21 28.60x
Ecclesfield 20 4.01x
Monks Coppenhall 20 3.50x
Shoreditch London 20 0.67x
Welford 20 91.58x
Broughton In Salford 19 2.55x
Congleton 19 7.26x
Pemberton 19 5.85x
Rushall 19 13.94x
Standish With Langtree 19 18.95x
Barlaston 18 93.22x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 18 7.31x
Stretford 18 4.02x
Wellington 18 5.40x
Edgbaston 17 3.17x
Shifnal 17 10.56x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 470
Sarah 303
Elizabeth 263
Emma 146
Ann 135
Alice 114
Hannah 111
Ellen 105
Eliza 99
Jane 99
Annie 95
Emily 81
Martha 58
Harriet 57
Ada 52
Florence 52
Fanny 49
Louisa 47
Maria 46
Margaret 44
Edith 43
Charlotte 39
Caroline 38
Kate 37
Clara 35
Lucy 35
Agnes 30
Catherine 29
Anne 28
Frances 28
Harriett 25
Esther 21
Amy 19
Gertrude 17
Selina 17
Ethel 16
Isabella 16
Susan 16
Amelia 15
Rebecca 14
Rose 14
Minnie 13
Susannah 13
Bertha 12
Julia 12
Matilda 12
Phoebe 12
Sophia 12
Eleanor 11
Elizth. 11

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 434
John 386
George 249
Thomas 247
James 228
Joseph 197
Charles 138
Henry 137
Edward 90
Alfred 88
Arthur 87
Samuel 87
Walter 60
Albert 59
Harry 49
Robert 44
Frederick 39
Richard 38
Benjamin 31
David 30
Herbert 30
Edwin 28
Frank 27
Francis 24
Wm. 21
Thos. 19
Isaac 18
Ernest 16
Peter 16
Fred 13
Amos 10
Enoch 10
Philip 10
Fredk. 9
Moses 9
Daniel 8
Edmund 8
Jonathan 8
Joshua 8
Josiah 8
Andrew 7
Geo. 7
Horace 7
Sidney 7
Tom 7
Chas. 6
Jabez 6
Jesse 6
Leonard 6
Percy 6

FAQ

Brookes surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brookes surname in 1881?

In 1881, 7,049 people were recorded with the Brookes surname. That placed it at #604 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brookes surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 16,190 in 2016. That gives Brookes a modern rank of #386.

What does the Brookes surname mean?

One who lived near a brook or stream, or worked as a broker or used brook as a topographic boundary.

What does the Brookes map show?

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