UK surname
A Scottish surname derived from the Anglo-Norman word "brun" meaning brown or dark-haired.
In the 1881 census there were 41 people recorded with the Broun surname, ranking it #27,870 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 63, ranked #34,163, down from #27,870 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Hucknall Torkard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Broun is 332 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 53.7%.
1881 census count
41
Ranked #27,870
Modern count
63
2016, ranked #34,163
Peak year
1891
332 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Broun surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Broun surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 164 | #12,116 |
| 1861 | historical | 286 | #8,793 |
| 1881 | historical | 41 | #27,870 |
| 1891 | historical | 332 | #10,251 |
| 1901 | historical | 132 | #19,469 |
| 1911 | historical | 175 | #16,246 |
| 1997 | modern | 50 | #32,658 |
| 1998 | modern | 55 | #32,399 |
| 1999 | modern | 63 | #31,798 |
| 2000 | modern | 70 | #31,180 |
| 2001 | modern | 63 | #31,693 |
| 2002 | modern | 69 | #31,527 |
| 2003 | modern | 63 | #32,152 |
| 2004 | modern | 61 | #32,581 |
| 2005 | modern | 65 | #32,387 |
| 2006 | modern | 61 | #33,142 |
| 2007 | modern | 56 | #33,875 |
| 2008 | modern | 65 | #33,303 |
| 2009 | modern | 73 | #32,923 |
| 2010 | modern | 71 | #33,401 |
| 2011 | modern | 68 | #33,613 |
| 2012 | modern | 67 | #33,840 |
| 2013 | modern | 64 | #34,127 |
| 2014 | modern | 70 | #33,782 |
| 2015 | modern | 66 | #33,976 |
| 2016 | modern | 63 | #34,163 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Hucknall Torkard, Liverpool and Maidstone, Linton, Loddington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 2 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 3 | Hucknall Torkard | Nottinghamshire |
| 4 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| 5 | Maidstone, Linton, Loddington | Kent |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Broun surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Broun, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Broun surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Broun household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Broun is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Broun is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Broun, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname BROUN is believed to have originated from the Old English word "brun," meaning brown or dark complexioned. This name was likely initially used as a descriptive nickname for someone with a darker skin tone or hair color. The earliest recorded instances of this surname date back to the late 11th century in England.
BROUN is a variant spelling of the more common English surname Brown, which has Norman French origins and was first documented in the Domesday Book of 1086. This historical record listed individuals with the surname Brun, which was later anglicized to Brown or Broun.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname BROUN was Sir John Broun, a Scottish knight who lived during the late 13th century. He was a prominent figure in the Wars of Scottish Independence and fought alongside William Wallace and Robert the Bruce.
Another notable bearer of this surname was Sir Thomas Broun, a 15th-century Scottish landowner and politician who served as the Lord High Treasurer of Scotland from 1468 to 1470.
In the 16th century, Lancelot Broun (born c. 1550) was a renowned English scholar and linguist who served as the Headmaster of the prestigious Merchant Taylors' School in London.
During the 17th century, Samuel Broun (1598-1668) was an influential English Puritan clergyman and author who played a significant role in the English Civil War and served as a member of the Westminster Assembly.
In the 18th century, John Broun (1715-1789) was a Scottish philosopher and theologian who made significant contributions to the Scottish Enlightenment and served as the minister of the Burgher Associate Congregation in Edinburgh.
Throughout history, the surname BROUN has been associated with various places, including the village of Brownsover in Warwickshire, England, and the town of Braunstone in Leicestershire, England, both of which were likely named after early bearers of this surname.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Broun surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Yorkshire leads with 11 Brouns recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.71x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 11 | 2.71x |
| Midlothian | 9 | 16.40x |
| Durham | 6 | 4.92x |
| Middlesex | 6 | 1.46x |
| Staffordshire | 4 | 2.89x |
| Devon | 1 | 1.17x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 1.19x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.72x |
| Pembrokeshire | 1 | 7.68x |
| Radnorshire | 1 | 30.30x |
| Shropshire | 1 | 2.83x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edinburgh St Cuthberts in Midlothian leads with 9 Brouns recorded in 1881 and an index of 40.78x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 9 | 40.78x |
| Bradford | 7 | 71.21x |
| Stanhope | 5 | 396.83x |
| Kensington London | 4 | 17.57x |
| Kingswinford | 4 | 79.68x |
| Middlesbrough | 4 | 75.61x |
| St Anne Soho London | 2 | 85.47x |
| Abbey Cwm Hir | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Brixham | 1 | 101.01x |
| Fareham | 1 | 99.01x |
| Margate St John Baptist | 1 | 39.06x |
| Milford Haven | 1 | 909.09x |
| Sunderland | 1 | 46.51x |
| Whitchurch | 1 | 144.93x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Broun surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Broun surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Broun households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 4 |
| Spinner Worsted Mill | 3 |
| Dressmaker | 2 |
| Wife | 2 |
| Boader Scholar | 1 |
| Cook (Dom) | 1 |
| Genl Servt | 1 |
| House Joiner | 1 |
| Laundry Man | 1 |
| Laundry Man Wife | 1 |
| Lead Miner | 1 |
| Littmatros (Seaman) | 1 |
| Master | 1 |
| Nurse | 1 |
| Painter | 1 |
| Quarryman (Stone) | 1 |
| Roll Turner | 1 |
| Weaver Worsted Mill | 1 |
| Wheelwright | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 41 people were recorded with the Broun surname. That placed it at #27,870 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 63 in 2016. That gives Broun a modern rank of #34,163.
A Scottish surname derived from the Anglo-Norman word "brun" meaning brown or dark-haired.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Broun bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.