NameCensus.

UK surname

Broome

An English occupational surname referring to one who made or sold brooms.

In the 1881 census there were 1,487 people recorded with the Broome surname, ranking it #2,812 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,563, ranked #1,905, up from #2,812 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Prestbury and Stockport. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shropshire, Dudley and Derbyshire Dales.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Broome is 3,883 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 139.6%.

1881 census count

1,487

Ranked #2,812

Modern count

3,563

2016, ranked #1,905

Peak year

1999

3,883 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Broome had 1,487 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,812 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,563 in 2016, ranked #1,905.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,130 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Broome surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Broome surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Broome 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 532 #4,724
1861 historical 505 #5,180
1881 historical 1,487 #2,812
1891 historical 1,655 #2,712
1901 historical 2,388 #2,281
1911 historical 3,130 #1,664
1997 modern 3,597 #1,797
1998 modern 3,831 #1,764
1999 modern 3,883 #1,755
2000 modern 3,838 #1,761
2001 modern 3,737 #1,766
2002 modern 3,787 #1,790
2003 modern 3,693 #1,793
2004 modern 3,633 #1,823
2005 modern 3,588 #1,819
2006 modern 3,598 #1,815
2007 modern 3,578 #1,843
2008 modern 3,594 #1,846
2009 modern 3,698 #1,835
2010 modern 3,749 #1,856
2011 modern 3,708 #1,854
2012 modern 3,566 #1,884
2013 modern 3,602 #1,902
2014 modern 3,624 #1,896
2015 modern 3,570 #1,911
2016 modern 3,563 #1,905

Geography

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Where Broomes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Prestbury, Stockport, London parishes and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Shropshire, Dudley and Derbyshire Dales. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Prestbury Cheshire
3 Stockport Cheshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Shropshire 039 Shropshire
2 Shropshire 038 Shropshire
3 Dudley 006 Dudley
4 Derbyshire Dales 001 Derbyshire Dales
5 Shropshire 031 Shropshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Broome

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Broome

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

Broome is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Broome falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Broome

The surname Broome is of English origin and is believed to have derived from the Old English word "brom," which means "broom plant" or "shrub." This name likely originated as a topographic name, referring to someone who lived near a place where broom plants grew abundantly.

The earliest known record of the surname Broome dates back to the late 12th century in the county of Worcestershire, England. In the Pipe Rolls of 1190, a person named William de Brome is mentioned, indicating the presence of the name during that time period.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and properties in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname Broome. However, it does mention several place names that may have contributed to the formation of the surname, such as Brome in Suffolk and Bromleye in Norfolk.

During the Middle Ages, the surname Broome appeared in various spellings, including Brome, Brom, and Broome. These variations reflect the inconsistencies in spelling and pronunciation common in that era.

One notable person with the surname Broome was Alexander Broome (c. 1617-1668), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of St. Mary Woolnoth in London. Another was Ralph Broome (1553-1625), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Guildford in 1597.

In the 18th century, John Broome (1738-1794) was a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War and the French Revolutionary Wars. He was instrumental in several naval battles and received recognition for his bravery and leadership.

William Broome (1689-1745) was an English poet and translator who is best known for his contributions to Alexander Pope's translation of Homer's Odyssey. He also published several original works, including poetry and translations of classical texts.

Lastly, John Broome (1824-1896) was an English-born Australian cricketer who played for New South Wales and Victoria in the early days of Australian domestic cricket. He is considered one of the pioneers of cricket in Australia and played a significant role in the development of the sport in the country.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Broome families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Broome 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 296 Broomes recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.72x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 296 1.72x
Cheshire 175 5.46x
Middlesex 149 1.03x
Surrey 115 1.62x
Shropshire 77 6.14x
Yorkshire 76 0.53x
Staffordshire 75 1.53x
Derbyshire 47 2.07x
Leicestershire 44 2.73x
Gloucestershire 31 1.09x
Kent 30 0.61x
Worcestershire 30 1.58x
Essex 28 0.98x
Hampshire 26 0.87x
Suffolk 25 1.41x
Norfolk 24 1.07x
Warwickshire 24 0.66x
Wiltshire 22 1.71x
Northamptonshire 21 1.54x
Devon 20 0.66x
Berkshire 19 1.74x
Herefordshire 18 3.02x
West Lothian 18 8.23x
Nottinghamshire 16 0.82x
Oxfordshire 12 1.34x
Somerset 12 0.51x
Glamorgan 11 0.43x
Caernarfonshire 8 1.36x
Sussex 8 0.33x
Durham 7 0.16x
Rutland 6 5.63x
Lincolnshire 4 0.17x
Cumberland 2 0.16x
Flintshire 2 0.51x
Hertfordshire 2 0.20x
Midlothian 2 0.10x
Renfrewshire 2 0.18x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.11x
Channel Islands 1 0.23x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.22x
Perthshire 1 0.15x
Royal Navy 1 0.58x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Oldham in Lancashire leads with 60 Broomes recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.79x.

Place Total Index
Oldham 60 10.79x
Macclesfield 35 24.56x
Wednesbury 27 22.04x
Islington London 24 1.70x
Battersea 23 4.30x
Manchester 23 2.97x
North Meols 21 12.45x
Leicester St Mary 20 15.37x
St Pancras London 20 1.71x
Bramhall 19 143.07x
Chadderton 19 22.55x
Newington 19 3.54x
Almondbury 18 25.86x
Lambeth 18 1.42x
Ashton Under Lyne 16 4.25x
Altrincham 15 26.78x
Chorlton On Medlock 15 5.48x
Aston 14 1.39x
Wincham 14 236.89x
Hurdsfield 13 65.89x
Newton 13 9.79x
Boness 12 39.79x
Camberwell 12 1.29x
Malmesbury St Paul 12 108.60x
Portsea 12 2.06x
Widnes 12 9.65x
Wirksworth 11 53.22x
Bristol St Paul In 10 13.18x
Broughton In Salford 10 6.35x
Heaton Norris 10 10.19x
Witney 10 66.67x
Ainsworth 9 134.93x
Alveley 9 180.72x
Beard Ollerset Whitle 9 60.16x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 9 3.36x
Cannock 9 10.52x
Grittleton 9 580.65x
Lofthouse 9 41.88x
Norwich St Clement 9 34.76x
Beckenham 8 12.35x
Bethnal Green London 8 1.27x
Castleton 8 4.65x
Colchester St Leonard 8 86.67x
Downton 8 898.88x
Eakring 8 373.83x
Huddersfield 8 3.82x
Kensington London 8 0.99x
Kingston 8 192.31x
Llanbeblig 8 13.42x
Rothwell 8 58.31x
Sandhurst 8 37.88x
St George Hanover Square 8 3.13x
West Ham 8 1.26x
Alsager 7 87.72x
Bollington In 7 24.53x
Chelsea London 7 1.60x
Disley Stanley 7 42.40x
Hampstead London 7 3.09x
Ipswich St Margaret 7 11.66x
Kingswinford 7 3.93x
Llandaff 7 8.32x
Loddington 7 958.90x
Northampton Priory St 7 8.54x
Plumstead 7 4.24x
Poynton 7 64.94x
Skelmersdale 7 24.37x
St Luke London 7 3.00x
Swinton In Rotherham 7 18.39x
Wandsworth 7 5.01x
Winshill 7 48.28x
Bermondsey 6 1.39x
Chapel 6 337.08x
Dawley 6 13.14x
Hampton London 6 25.13x
Hulme 6 1.67x
Monks Coppenhall 6 4.96x
Penge 6 6.47x
Sheriff Hales 6 119.52x
Stoke Upon Trent 6 1.15x
Tenbury 6 57.75x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 94
Elizabeth 59
Sarah 58
Eliza 31
Annie 30
Emma 30
Ann 25
Jane 24
Ellen 22
Alice 18
Emily 16
Hannah 15
Martha 14
Agnes 12
Margaret 12
Ada 10
Caroline 10
Clara 10
Edith 10
Anne 9
Charlotte 9
Florence 9
Harriet 9
Kate 9
Louisa 9
Catherine 7
Harriett 7
Maria 6
Rose 6
Amelia 5
Fanny 5
Frances 5
Henrietta 4
Lucy 4
Susannah 4
Dora 3
Esther 3
Jessie 3
Julia 3
Maud 3
Olive 3
Rhoda 3
Sophia 3
Anna 2
Betsy 2
Christiana 2
Ida 2
Katharine 2
Lousia 2
Lydia 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 96
John 81
James 51
George 44
Joseph 37
Thomas 33
Charles 31
Henry 29
Samuel 27
Frederick 18
Richard 18
Alfred 17
Harry 17
Edward 16
Arthur 13
Herbert 12
Albert 11
Robert 10
Walter 9
Frank 8
Ernest 6
Benjamin 5
Edwin 5
Wm. 5
David 4
Matthew 4
Christopher 3
Francis 3
Fred 3
Fredrick 3
Abraham 2
Alexander 2
Caleb 2
Chas. 2
Edmund 2
Isaac 2
J. 2
Leonard 2
Montague 2
Oswald 2
Richd. 2
Robt. 2
Sidney 2
Stephen 2
Thos. 2
Tom 2
Benj. 1
Elijah 1
Everard 1
Wm.Redcliffe 1

FAQ

Broome surname: questions and answers

How common was the Broome surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,487 people were recorded with the Broome surname. That placed it at #2,812 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Broome surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,563 in 2016. That gives Broome a modern rank of #1,905.

What does the Broome surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to one who made or sold brooms.

What does the Broome map show?

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