NameCensus.

UK surname

Brough

A locational surname derived from various places in England meaning "fortified place" or "ravine."

In the 1881 census there were 3,665 people recorded with the Brough surname, ranking it #1,240 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,025, ranked #1,348, down from #1,240 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Prestbury, Trentham and Wolstanton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Allerdale, South Staffordshire and Staffordshire Moorlands.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brough is 5,387 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 37.1%.

1881 census count

3,665

Ranked #1,240

Modern count

5,025

2016, ranked #1,348

Peak year

2002

5,387 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brough had 3,665 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,240 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,025 in 2016, ranked #1,348.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,613 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Brough surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brough surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Brough 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 2,452 #1,216
1861 historical 2,630 #1,117
1881 historical 3,665 #1,240
1891 historical 4,020 #1,189
1901 historical 4,613 #1,230
1911 historical 4,262 #1,218
1997 modern 4,731 #1,383
1998 modern 5,340 #1,275
1999 modern 5,350 #1,282
2000 modern 5,358 #1,273
2001 modern 5,218 #1,275
2002 modern 5,387 #1,257
2003 modern 5,178 #1,279
2004 modern 5,177 #1,277
2005 modern 5,094 #1,282
2006 modern 5,064 #1,291
2007 modern 5,119 #1,291
2008 modern 5,110 #1,302
2009 modern 5,263 #1,294
2010 modern 5,260 #1,322
2011 modern 5,164 #1,327
2012 modern 5,073 #1,324
2013 modern 5,185 #1,321
2014 modern 5,192 #1,325
2015 modern 5,120 #1,330
2016 modern 5,025 #1,348

Geography

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Where Broughs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Prestbury, Trentham, Wolstanton, Leek and Burslem. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Allerdale, South Staffordshire and Staffordshire Moorlands. 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 Prestbury Cheshire
2 Trentham Staffordshire
3 Wolstanton Staffordshire
4 Leek Staffordshire
5 Burslem Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Allerdale 001 Allerdale
2 Allerdale 003 Allerdale
3 Allerdale 002 Allerdale
4 South Staffordshire 004 South Staffordshire
5 Staffordshire Moorlands 005 Staffordshire Moorlands

Forenames

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First names often paired with Brough

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Brough

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

Brough is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Brough

The surname Brough is of English origin, and it is believed to have originated in the medieval period, specifically around the 13th century. The name is derived from the Old English word "burg" or "burh," which means a fortified dwelling or a village. It is closely related to the modern English word "borough."

The name Brough is primarily associated with the northern counties of England, particularly Yorkshire and Northumberland. It is thought to have originated as a topographic name, referring to someone who lived near a fortified town or settlement. Alternatively, it could also be a habitational name, indicating a person who hailed from a place called Brough.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Brough can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it appears as "de Burgh." This reference suggests that the name was already in use during the 13th century. Additionally, the Domesday Book of 1086 mentions several places with names similar to Brough, such as Burg, Burghe, and Burgo.

The name Brough has been associated with various places in England, including Brough in Westmorland (now part of Cumbria), Brough in Yorkshire, and Brough in Nottinghamshire. These place names are derived from the same Old English root, indicating the presence of fortified settlements or villages in those areas.

Among the notable individuals bearing the surname Brough are:

1. Robert Brough (1828-1860), an English playwright and songwriter. 2. William Brough (1826-1870), an English playwright and novelist, brother of Robert Brough. 3. Lionel Brough (1836-1909), an English actor and playwright. 4. Mary Brough (1786-1849), an English writer and translator. 5. John Crichton-Stuart, 3rd Marquess of Bute (1847-1900), a wealthy Scottish nobleman and antiquarian.

The surname Brough has a rich history deeply rooted in the northern regions of England, reflecting the presence of fortified settlements and villages during the medieval period. Its origins can be traced back to the Old English language, and it has been associated with various places and individuals throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Brough families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brough 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 826 Broughs recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.85x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 826 6.85x
Lancashire 414 0.98x
Yorkshire 353 1.00x
Perthshire 287 17.91x
Derbyshire 247 4.42x
Cumberland 235 7.64x
Cheshire 154 1.95x
Durham 126 1.19x
Middlesex 114 0.32x
Angus 98 2.96x
Lincolnshire 97 1.70x
Lanarkshire 94 0.81x
Northumberland 90 1.69x
Warwickshire 79 0.88x
Surrey 58 0.33x
Orkney 33 8.40x
Renfrewshire 31 1.12x
Dumfriesshire 28 3.55x
Westmorland 26 3.31x
Nottinghamshire 25 0.52x
Fife 22 1.04x
Shropshire 21 0.68x
Midlothian 20 0.42x
Kent 17 0.14x
Dunbartonshire 15 1.56x
Gloucestershire 14 0.20x
Hampshire 13 0.18x
Glamorgan 11 0.18x
Ayrshire 10 0.37x
Norfolk 10 0.18x
Essex 9 0.13x
Northamptonshire 9 0.27x
Worcestershire 9 0.19x
Aberdeenshire 7 0.21x
Kinross-shire 6 6.65x
Roxburghshire 6 0.93x
Selkirkshire 6 1.86x
Stirlingshire 6 0.46x
Devon 5 0.07x
Somerset 5 0.09x
Cornwall 4 0.10x
Oxfordshire 4 0.18x
Argyllshire 2 0.20x
Dorset 2 0.09x
Royal Navy 2 0.47x
Suffolk 2 0.05x
Berkshire 1 0.04x
Berwickshire 1 0.23x
Brecknockshire 1 0.14x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.04x
Herefordshire 1 0.07x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.14x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 0.19x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.09x
Sussex 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 113 Broughs recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.84x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Upon Trent 113 8.84x
Burslem 76 22.01x
Biddulph 65 95.56x
Heanor 50 59.79x
Liverpool 48 1.87x
Trentham 48 46.82x
Wolstanton 48 13.11x
Macclesfield 45 12.84x
Birmingham 39 1.30x
Glasgow 38 1.85x
Barony 37 1.27x
Dundee 35 2.83x
Leek Lowe 35 21.82x
West Derby 33 2.66x
Cheslyn Hay 30 136.36x
Liff Benvie 30 5.97x
Stone 30 19.46x
Aston 29 1.17x
Canonbie 28 83.53x
Sutton In Macclesfield 28 34.23x
Everton 27 2.00x
Low Holme 27 155.62x
Walsall Foreign 27 4.34x
Leeds 26 1.30x
Perth West Church 25 32.87x
Staveley 25 25.19x
Chapel En Le Frith 24 47.01x
Congleton 24 17.62x
Blairgowrie 23 36.28x
Islington London 23 0.66x
Stranton 23 6.43x
Checkley 22 70.27x
Wirksworth 22 43.28x
Salford 20 1.60x
Ashton Under Lyne 19 2.05x
Claverley 19 91.21x
Claylane 19 24.45x
Stafford St Mary 19 11.13x
Holy Trinity 18 2.11x
Kirkdale 18 2.53x
Leek Frith 18 179.28x
Scarborough 18 5.60x
Abernethy 17 81.18x
Bishopwearmouth 17 1.86x
Crieff 17 28.52x
Wolverhampton 17 1.83x
Barrow In Furness 16 2.78x
Berwick Upon Tweed 16 14.21x
Bury 16 3.31x
Castle Church 16 22.08x
Caverswall 16 25.53x
Crosscanonby 16 15.74x
Elswick 16 3.77x
Manchester 16 0.84x
Nottingham St Mary 16 1.29x
Bromfield 15 323.97x
Gnosall 15 51.56x
Methven 15 63.83x
Pickering 15 33.66x
Aspatria 14 47.36x
Auchtergaven 14 52.10x
Kirkwall St Ola 14 23.79x
Paddington London 14 1.07x
Perth East Church 14 9.26x
Warrington 14 2.79x
Boston 13 7.50x
Cheltenham 13 2.41x
Perth Middle Church 13 21.57x
Sutton 13 9.15x
Uttoxeter 13 21.07x
Audley 12 10.06x
Brightside Bierlow 12 1.73x
Elton 12 8.20x
Goathland 12 191.08x
Halliwell 12 7.78x
Hammersmith London 12 1.36x
Kilspindie 12 141.51x
Pentrich 12 38.13x
Derby St Alkmund 11 6.56x
Handsworth 11 3.70x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 236
Elizabeth 119
Sarah 92
Jane 82
Ann 73
Hannah 63
Margaret 47
Annie 41
Eliza 40
Ellen 39
Alice 38
Martha 36
Emma 28
Harriet 27
Fanny 22
Louisa 19
Anne 18
Emily 18
Agnes 17
Florence 14
Frances 14
Maria 14
Charlotte 13
Clara 13
Harriett 13
Edith 12
Rachel 12
Isabella 11
Lucy 10
Rebecca 10
Ada 9
Kate 9
Minnie 9
Ruth 9
Caroline 8
Catherine 8
Elizth. 7
Jessie 7
Lilly 7
Anna 6
Betsy 6
Lizzie 6
Amy 5
Beatrice 5
Dinah 5
Esther 5
Gertrude 5
Henrietta 5
Julia 5
Selina 5

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 224
William 188
Thomas 125
George 89
James 82
Joseph 72
Charles 42
Henry 36
Samuel 35
Robert 33
Richard 28
Arthur 26
Edward 26
Frederick 21
Walter 18
Albert 15
Alfred 14
Benjamin 14
Francis 11
Ernest 10
Harry 10
Edwin 9
Frank 9
Peter 9
Ralph 9
Herbert 8
David 7
Wm. 7
Fred 6
Matthew 6
Thos. 6
Daniel 5
Enoch 5
Jonathan 5
Tom 5
Willm. 5
Fredk. 4
Job 4
Jonathon 4
Robinson 4
Timothy 4
Amos 3
Chas. 3
Edmund 3
Elijah 3
Geo. 3
Isaac 3
Joshua 3
Lionel 3
Nathaniel 3

FAQ

Brough surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brough surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,665 people were recorded with the Brough surname. That placed it at #1,240 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brough surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,025 in 2016. That gives Brough a modern rank of #1,348.

What does the Brough surname mean?

A locational surname derived from various places in England meaning "fortified place" or "ravine."

What does the Brough map show?

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