NameCensus.

UK surname

Brooking

A locational surname derived from a place where there was a small stream or brook.

In the 1881 census there were 725 people recorded with the Brooking surname, ranking it #5,030 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 726, ranked #7,493, down from #5,030 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Dartmorth St Petrox, Dartmouth St Saviour, Townstall, Ashprington, Halwell, Blackawton, Stoke Flemin, Tormoham with Torquay and Stokenham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Hams and Torbay.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brooking is 858 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 0.1%.

1881 census count

725

Ranked #5,030

Modern count

726

2016, ranked #7,493

Peak year

1911

858 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brooking had 725 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,030 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 726 in 2016, ranked #7,493.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 858 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Brooking surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brooking surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Brooking 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 555 #4,565
1861 historical 501 #5,220
1881 historical 725 #5,030
1891 historical 757 #5,265
1901 historical 790 #5,701
1911 historical 858 #5,172
1997 modern 764 #6,783
1998 modern 789 #6,828
1999 modern 775 #6,959
2000 modern 749 #7,107
2001 modern 740 #7,055
2002 modern 739 #7,190
2003 modern 734 #7,121
2004 modern 707 #7,337
2005 modern 689 #7,441
2006 modern 708 #7,287
2007 modern 707 #7,362
2008 modern 709 #7,407
2009 modern 740 #7,328
2010 modern 741 #7,439
2011 modern 744 #7,358
2012 modern 740 #7,303
2013 modern 751 #7,338
2014 modern 745 #7,420
2015 modern 722 #7,543
2016 modern 726 #7,493

Geography

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Where Brookings are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Dartmorth St Petrox, Dartmouth St Saviour, Townstall, Ashprington, Halwell, Blackawton, Stoke Flemin, Tormoham with Torquay, Stokenham, Diptford and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Hams and Torbay. 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 Dartmorth St Petrox, Dartmouth St Saviour, Townstall, Ashprington, Halwell, Blackawton, Stoke Flemin Devon
2 Tormoham with Torquay Devon
3 Stokenham Devon
4 Diptford Devon
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Hams 011 South Hams
2 South Hams 010 South Hams
3 South Hams 006 South Hams
4 Torbay 013 Torbay
5 Torbay 003 Torbay

Forenames

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First names often paired with Brooking

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Brooking

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Inner London Working Professionals

Within London, Brooking is most associated with areas classed as Inner London Working Professionals, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 primarily Inner London neighbourhoods are more densely populated than the Supergroup average. Residents have a younger over-all age profile than the Supergroup as a whole, and are less likely to be owner occupiers. Full time employment is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup and multiple car ownership is uncommon. Chinese and non-EU-born European migrants are less in evidence than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Brooking 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

Brooking falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Brooking

The surname Brooking originated in England, with its roots traced back to the Anglo-Saxon period, specifically around the 7th to 11th centuries. The name is derived from the Old English words "broc" or "brok," meaning a small stream or brook, and the suffix "-ing," indicating a person's association with a particular place or feature.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Brooking surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and property holdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appeared in various spellings, such as "Brokkinges" and "Brokkings," reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling during that era.

The Brooking surname is closely tied to several place names in England, particularly those with the prefix "Brook-" or "Brock-." For example, the village of Brooking in Kent and the hamlet of Brooking in Somerset may have been the original locations from which the surname emerged. Additionally, similar place names like Brockington and Brockenhurst in Hampshire could also have contributed to the development of the Brooking surname.

Among the notable individuals who bore the Brooking surname throughout history are:

1. John Brooking (c. 1460-1538), an English merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers in London. 2. William Brooking (c. 1580-1649), a Puritan minister and one of the founders of the town of Salem, Massachusetts, in the early days of the American colonies. 3. Sarah Brooking (1691-1765), an English writer and poet, known for her collection of religious poems titled "Divine Breathings." 4. Thomas Brooking (1720-1796), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and was awarded the prestigious Naval Gold Medal for his distinguished service. 5. Edward Brooking (1821-1891), a British architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Connaught Rooms and the Royal College of Music.

While the Brooking surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and intermarriage, contributing to the rich tapestry of family histories and cultural diversity.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Brooking families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brooking 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. Devon leads with 355 Brookings recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.79x.

County Total Index
Devon 355 23.79x
Middlesex 109 1.52x
Cornwall 78 9.61x
Surrey 40 1.15x
Lancashire 35 0.41x
Gloucestershire 23 1.64x
Buckinghamshire 12 2.77x
Pembrokeshire 9 3.95x
Royal Navy 9 10.53x
Glamorgan 8 0.64x
Hampshire 8 0.54x
Essex 6 0.42x
Hertfordshire 6 1.21x
Kent 5 0.20x
Sussex 5 0.41x
Wiltshire 5 0.79x
Yorkshire 5 0.07x
Norfolk 4 0.36x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.31x
Monmouthshire 2 0.39x
Oxfordshire 2 0.45x
Berkshire 1 0.19x
Cumberland 1 0.16x
Leicestershire 1 0.13x
Somerset 1 0.09x
Staffordshire 1 0.04x
Warwickshire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tormoham in Devon leads with 39 Brookings recorded in 1881 and an index of 61.76x.

Place Total Index
Tormoham 39 61.76x
St Stephens By Saltash 35 1000.00x
Stokenham 29 690.48x
Diptford 26 1595.09x
Malborough 18 303.54x
Plymouth Charles The 18 27.38x
St Pancras London 16 2.77x
Saltash 15 238.10x
North Huish 12 1348.31x
Paddington London 12 4.55x
Plymouth St Andrew 12 10.44x
Westminster St John 12 13.74x
Dartmouth Townstall 11 180.92x
Shaugh Prior 11 639.53x
Stoke Damerel 11 10.53x
Newington 9 3.40x
Northlew 9 481.28x
Royal Navy 9 12.32x
Tenby St Mary In 9 77.59x
Toxteth Park 9 3.12x
Whalley 9 72.58x
Aberdare 8 9.33x
Battersea 8 3.03x
Brixham 8 46.27x
Ermington 8 147.33x
Kingsbridge 8 213.33x
St Ives 8 50.38x
Tottenham 8 7.01x
Ugborough 8 221.61x
Ardwick 7 9.12x
Chelsea London 7 3.24x
Chiswick 7 17.87x
Gloucester St Michael 7 217.39x
Kensington London 7 1.76x
St Budeaux 7 150.54x
St Marylebone London 7 1.83x
Stoke 7 42.48x
West Derby 7 2.81x
Bovingdon 6 231.66x
Exeter Allhallows Onthe 6 882.35x
Loddiswell 6 304.57x
Plymstock 6 76.82x
Stoke Climsland 6 115.83x
Westminster St Margaret 6 17.35x
Woking 6 28.50x
Ashburton 5 70.13x
Finchley 5 18.19x
Islington London 5 0.72x
Portsea 5 1.74x
Rattery 5 515.46x
Tavistock 5 29.41x
Antony 4 51.02x
Aveton Gifford 4 185.19x
Aylesbury 4 20.82x
Churston Ferrers 4 254.78x
Clifton 4 5.63x
Cornworthy 4 388.35x
East Dereham 4 28.72x
Exeter St Sidwell 4 11.70x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 4 15.55x
Leeds 4 1.00x
Madron Penzance 4 13.55x
Mile End 4 154.44x
Paignton 4 35.21x
Shoreditch London 4 1.29x
Swindon 4 8.13x
Widdecombeinthe Moor 4 200.00x
Wotton St Mary 4 54.87x
Brading 3 15.36x
Devonport 3 17.49x
Exeter Heavitree 3 26.95x
Exeter St Kerrian 3 285.71x
Kingston 3 258.62x
Kingswear 3 250.00x
Margate St John Baptist 3 6.70x
South Pool 3 309.28x
Stoke 3 49.67x
Stoke Poges 3 56.71x
West Alvington 3 142.86x
Wolborough 3 15.90x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 57
John 44
James 20
George 19
Thomas 16
Richard 14
Henry 11
Samuel 11
Albert 10
Alfred 9
Edward 9
Arthur 8
Charles 7
Francis 7
Robert 6
Harry 5
Walter 5
Edwin 3
Ernest 3
Fred 3
Fredk. 3
Herbert 3
Isaac 3
Joseph 3
Wm. 3
Alexander 2
Anthony 2
Erisey 2
Frederick 2
Harold 2
Lewis 2
Nicholas 2
Sampson 2
Alphaus 1
Austin 1
C. 1
Charley 1
Claude 1
Emma 1
Frank 1
Frederic 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Hubert 1
Hy.James 1
J.W. 1
Jessie 1
Jno.T. 1
Johnny 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Brooking surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brooking surname in 1881?

In 1881, 725 people were recorded with the Brooking surname. That placed it at #5,030 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brooking surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 726 in 2016. That gives Brooking a modern rank of #7,493.

What does the Brooking surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place where there was a small stream or brook.

What does the Brooking map show?

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