UK surname
A variant spelling of the English surname referring to someone living near a stream or brook.
In the 1881 census there were 130 people recorded with the Browing surname, ranking it #16,911 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 12, ranked #37,385, down from #16,911 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Paddington, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Browing is 371 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 90.8%.
1881 census count
130
Ranked #16,911
Modern count
12
2016, ranked #37,385
Peak year
1891
371 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Browing surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Browing surname density by area, 1881 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 | 251 | #8,761 |
| 1861 | historical | 355 | #7,198 |
| 1881 | historical | 130 | #16,911 |
| 1891 | historical | 371 | #9,405 |
| 1901 | historical | 246 | #13,269 |
| 1911 | historical | 162 | #17,003 |
| 1997 | modern | 45 | #33,168 |
| 1998 | modern | 38 | #34,066 |
| 1999 | modern | 30 | #34,939 |
| 2000 | modern | 31 | #34,798 |
| 2001 | modern | 11 | #36,727 |
| 2002 | modern | 10 | #36,902 |
| 2003 | modern | 12 | #36,715 |
| 2004 | modern | 13 | #36,742 |
| 2005 | modern | 12 | #36,936 |
| 2006 | modern | 13 | #36,902 |
| 2007 | modern | 10 | #37,335 |
| 2008 | modern | 10 | #37,371 |
| 2009 | modern | 18 | #36,682 |
| 2010 | modern | 21 | #36,530 |
| 2011 | modern | 16 | #36,932 |
| 2012 | modern | 10 | #37,509 |
| 2013 | modern | 11 | #37,435 |
| 2014 | modern | 12 | #37,355 |
| 2015 | modern | 12 | #37,371 |
| 2016 | modern | 12 | #37,385 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Paddington, London parishes, St Pancras, St Dunstan Stepney and Portsmouth, Portsea. 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 | Paddington | London (West Districts) |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | St Dunstan Stepney | London (East Districts) |
| 5 | Portsmouth, Portsea | Hampshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Browing 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 Browing, 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 Browing surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Browing 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, Browing 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 Browing is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Browing, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname "BROWING" is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, specifically in the county of Yorkshire. It is derived from the Old English word "browing," which means "a person who brewed ale." This occupation-based surname was likely given to individuals who were involved in the brewing industry or worked as brewers.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the 13th century, in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379, where a certain "John Browing" is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already in use and established in the region during that time.
Another early reference to the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which lists a "William Browing" as a taxpayer. This indicates that the name had spread to other parts of England by the 14th century.
In the 16th century, the surname "BROWING" was sometimes spelled as "Browning," which is a more common variation. One notable individual with this spelling was Robert Browning (1812-1889), the renowned English poet and playwright, known for works such as "The Ring and the Book" and "Men and Women."
During the 17th century, the name "BROWING" appeared in various historical records across England. For instance, the Parish Registers of St. Dunstan's in Cranbrook, Kent, mention a "John Browing" in 1643.
Another individual of note was Sir John Browning (1792-1879), a British inventor and gunsmith who is credited with developing the Browning rifle, which played a significant role in military history.
In the 18th century, the surname "BROWING" was found in the records of the Archdeaconry of Essex, where a "Thomas Browing" was documented in 1712.
While the surname "BROWING" may have originated in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, likely due to migration and the influence of the British Empire. It is now found in various countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Browing 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. Middlesex leads with 30 Browings recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.37x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 30 | 2.37x |
| Gloucestershire | 14 | 5.63x |
| Somerset | 13 | 6.37x |
| Staffordshire | 12 | 2.80x |
| Kent | 9 | 2.08x |
| Surrey | 8 | 1.29x |
| Essex | 6 | 2.40x |
| Nottinghamshire | 4 | 2.34x |
| Sussex | 4 | 1.87x |
| Durham | 3 | 0.80x |
| Hampshire | 3 | 1.15x |
| Perthshire | 3 | 5.27x |
| Warwickshire | 3 | 0.94x |
| Cornwall | 2 | 1.39x |
| Devon | 2 | 0.76x |
| Monmouthshire | 2 | 2.18x |
| Wiltshire | 2 | 1.78x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.16x |
| Berkshire | 1 | 1.05x |
| Carmarthenshire | 1 | 1.87x |
| Channel Islands | 1 | 2.66x |
| Dorset | 1 | 1.20x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.07x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 0.49x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 0.59x |
| Norfolk | 1 | 0.51x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barwick in Somerset leads with 8 Browings recorded in 1881 and an index of 3809.52x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Browing surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Elizabeth | 9 |
| Ellen | 6 |
| Jane | 5 |
| Mary | 5 |
| Sarah | 4 |
| Alice | 3 |
| Annie | 3 |
| Charlotte | 3 |
| Ann | 2 |
| Caroline | 2 |
| Eliz. | 2 |
| Emma | 2 |
| Loisa | 2 |
| Margret | 2 |
| Rebecca | 2 |
| Amelia | 1 |
| Betsy | 1 |
| Emily | 1 |
| Ethel | 1 |
| Francis | 1 |
| Hannah | 1 |
| Harriet | 1 |
| Isabella | 1 |
| Kate | 1 |
| Katherine | 1 |
| Maria | 1 |
| Mildred | 1 |
| Phobe | 1 |
| Rosa | 1 |
| Selina | 1 |
| Sophia | 1 |
| Susannah | 1 |
| Tabitha | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Browing surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| James | 7 |
| Thomas | 5 |
| Charles | 4 |
| Alfred | 2 |
| Ernest | 2 |
| George | 2 |
| Henry | 2 |
| John | 2 |
| Richard | 2 |
| Stephen | 2 |
| William | 2 |
| Wm. | 2 |
| Albert | 1 |
| Anthony | 1 |
| Betsy | 1 |
| Charley | 1 |
| Daniel | 1 |
| Earnest | 1 |
| Frank | 1 |
| Fredck. | 1 |
| Frederic | 1 |
| Frederick | 1 |
| Geo. | 1 |
| Harold | 1 |
| Isaac | 1 |
| Joseph | 1 |
| Josiah | 1 |
| Mark | 1 |
| Nicholas | 1 |
| Robert | 1 |
| Saml. | 1 |
| Sidney | 1 |
| Thos. | 1 |
| Walter | 1 |
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 Browing households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 21 |
| Dressmaker | 4 |
| Annuitant | 3 |
| Machinist | 2 |
| Servant | 2 |
| Bargeman | 1 |
| Bootmaker | 1 |
| Bricklayer Laborer | 1 |
| Carman | 1 |
| Clerk In Post Office | 1 |
| Clothiers Assistant | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Coal Porter | 1 |
| Commercial Clerk Account | 1 |
| Commercial Traveller | 1 |
| Commissioner To Take Affdts In Office In The High Court Of Justice (Lawyer) | 1 |
| Dairyman | 1 |
| Dom Serv | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Draper | 1 |
| Dress Maker | 1 |
| Drover (Cattle) | 1 |
| Drugists Porter | 1 |
| Erector In Factory (Eng Fitter) | 1 |
| Fisherman (Late) | 1 |
| Fitter At Works | 1 |
| Forewoman | 1 |
| Forge Fitter | 1 |
| Gen Serv | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Grocers Assistant | 1 |
| House Carpenter | 1 |
| House Proprietor | 1 |
| Housekeeper Dom Serv | 1 |
| Joiner | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Labourer (Genl) | 1 |
| Lace Finisher | 1 |
| Lace Maker | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Mason | 1 |
| Master | 1 |
| None | 1 |
| Nurse | 1 |
| Nurse (Rms) | 1 |
| Nurse (S) | 1 |
| Painter | 1 |
| Painter Wife | 1 |
| Parlour Maid | 1 |
| Woollen Cloth Weaver | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 130 people were recorded with the Browing surname. That placed it at #16,911 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 12 in 2016. That gives Browing a modern rank of #37,385.
A variant spelling of the English surname referring to someone living near a stream or brook.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Browing 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.