NameCensus.

UK surname

Brownhill

A locational surname derived from a place name referring to a brown-colored hill.

In the 1881 census there were 1,050 people recorded with the Brownhill surname, ranking it #3,754 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,159, ranked #5,092, down from #3,754 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Manchester, Sheffield and Dudley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Dudley, Shropshire and Wolverhampton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brownhill is 1,426 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 10.4%.

1881 census count

1,050

Ranked #3,754

Modern count

1,159

2016, ranked #5,092

Peak year

1911

1,426 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brownhill had 1,050 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,754 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,159 in 2016, ranked #5,092.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,426 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Brownhill surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brownhill surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Brownhill 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 672 #3,863
1861 historical 663 #4,039
1881 historical 1,050 #3,754
1891 historical 1,105 #3,834
1901 historical 1,160 #4,206
1911 historical 1,426 #3,388
1997 modern 1,230 #4,619
1998 modern 1,226 #4,792
1999 modern 1,230 #4,816
2000 modern 1,260 #4,709
2001 modern 1,222 #4,733
2002 modern 1,221 #4,831
2003 modern 1,210 #4,773
2004 modern 1,214 #4,768
2005 modern 1,184 #4,820
2006 modern 1,144 #4,957
2007 modern 1,150 #4,985
2008 modern 1,150 #5,022
2009 modern 1,189 #4,971
2010 modern 1,218 #4,978
2011 modern 1,179 #5,062
2012 modern 1,158 #5,057
2013 modern 1,178 #5,075
2014 modern 1,187 #5,073
2015 modern 1,179 #5,053
2016 modern 1,159 #5,092

Geography

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Where Brownhills are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Manchester, Sheffield, Dudley and Ashton-upon-Mersey. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Dudley, Shropshire and Wolverhampton. 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 Manchester Lancashire
2 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Dudley Staffordshire
4 Ashton-upon-Mersey Cheshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Dudley 008 Dudley
2 Dudley 010 Dudley
3 Shropshire 038 Shropshire
4 Dudley 013 Dudley
5 Wolverhampton 007 Wolverhampton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Brownhill

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Brownhill

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Brownhill, 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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Brownhill surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Brownhill household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Brownhill 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

Brownhill is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Brownhill 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 Brownhill is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Brownhill, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Brownhill

The surname Brownhill is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is a locational name derived from the Old English words "brun" meaning "brown" and "hyll" meaning "hill," likely referring to a person who lived near or on a brown-colored hill.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the late 12th century, where it appears as "de Brunhull." This early spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time.

Brownhill is also known to have been present in the Domesday Book of 1086, a significant historical record commissioned by William the Conqueror. This suggests that the name may have been in use even earlier, possibly dating back to the Anglo-Saxon period.

In the 14th century, the name was documented in various forms, including "Brownhill" and "Brounehull," indicating its continued presence and spelling variations across different regions of England.

Notable individuals with the surname Brownhill include John Brownhill (1589-1675), an English clergyman and author who served as the Bishop of Exeter. Another prominent figure was William Brownhill (1670-1743), a British naval officer who commanded several ships during the War of the Spanish Succession.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Brownhill family was known to have resided in various parts of England, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Gloucestershire. Some members of the family were landowners and prominent figures in their local communities.

In the 19th century, Thomas Brownhill (1811-1892) was a notable English architect who designed several churches and public buildings in the Midlands region. Another individual, Mary Brownhill (1828-1901), was a pioneering educator and advocate for women's education in Manchester.

Throughout its history, the Brownhill surname has been associated with various occupations and professions, reflecting the diverse backgrounds of those who have borne this name over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Brownhill families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brownhill 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. Yorkshire leads with 290 Brownhills recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.86x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 290 2.86x
Lancashire 276 2.27x
Cheshire 110 4.87x
Worcestershire 84 6.29x
Staffordshire 73 2.11x
Warwickshire 39 1.51x
Middlesex 35 0.34x
Derbyshire 28 1.75x
East Lothian 19 14.02x
Bedfordshire 12 2.26x
Kent 12 0.34x
Clackmannanshire 11 13.02x
Surrey 10 0.20x
Lanarkshire 6 0.18x
Midlothian 5 0.36x
Nottinghamshire 5 0.36x
Fife 4 0.66x
Flintshire 4 1.45x
Northamptonshire 4 0.42x
Shropshire 4 0.45x
Cumberland 3 0.34x
Lincolnshire 3 0.18x
Perthshire 3 0.65x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.32x
Sussex 2 0.12x
Hampshire 1 0.05x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.49x
Monmouthshire 1 0.14x
Somerset 1 0.06x
Stirlingshire 1 0.27x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dudley in Worcestershire leads with 84 Brownhills recorded in 1881 and an index of 51.71x.

Place Total Index
Dudley 84 51.71x
Sheffield 67 20.75x
Manchester 47 8.61x
Sale 44 158.79x
Ecclesall Bierlow 37 17.94x
Nether Hallam 35 25.51x
Walsall Foreign 29 16.25x
Leeds 28 4.89x
Ecclesfield 27 36.31x
Birmingham 26 3.02x
Salford 22 6.16x
Chorlton Cum Hardy 20 248.45x
Bradford 18 31.67x
Newton 18 19.23x
Cumberworth 14 271.32x
Openshaw 14 24.62x
Ashton On Mersey 13 111.30x
Aston 12 1.69x
Stretford 12 17.96x
Alloa 11 26.84x
Hulme 11 4.34x
Ardwick 10 9.13x
Denby 10 182.82x
Derby St Peter 10 19.60x
Gorton 10 8.76x
Liverpool 10 1.36x
Penistone 10 126.42x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 10 38.49x
Sedgley 10 7.79x
Shelley 10 168.63x
Everton 9 2.33x
Chelsea London 8 2.59x
Chorlton On Medlock 8 4.15x
Eaton Socon 8 96.15x
Glossop Dale 8 10.66x
Heeley 8 25.97x
Kensington London 8 1.41x
Pownall Fee 8 79.13x
Sowerby In Halifax 8 24.13x
West Bromwich 8 4.05x
Wolverhampton 8 3.01x
Derby St Werburgh 7 7.57x
Haddington 7 34.98x
Humbie 7 218.75x
Canterbury St Dunstan 6 99.67x
Oldham 6 1.53x
Tettenhall 6 28.41x
Timperley 6 76.43x
Wednesbury 6 6.95x
Bethnal Green London 5 1.12x
Disley Stanley 5 42.99x
Droylsden 5 12.62x
Kingswinford 5 3.99x
Little Bolton 5 3.20x
Northenden 5 121.36x
Ruislip 5 98.23x
Stayley 5 19.36x
Westminster St John 5 4.01x
Yester 5 153.37x
Altrincham 4 10.13x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 4 4.23x
Baguley 4 155.04x
Barton Upon Irwell 4 4.38x
Edinburgh St Marys 4 15.01x
Heaton Norris 4 5.79x
Mold Bistree 4 89.49x
Pendleton In Salford 4 2.77x
Shrewsbury St Julian 4 18.29x
Toxteth Park 4 0.97x
Wellingborough 4 8.27x
West Derby 4 1.13x
Almondbury 3 6.12x
Astley 3 32.02x
Bedford St Peter 3 21.80x
Bermondsey 3 0.98x
Handsworth 3 11.19x
Wardleworth 3 4.32x
Warley 3 10.24x
Worksop 3 7.34x
York St Mary 3 7.14x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 60
William 60
Thomas 37
James 34
George 25
Joseph 24
Henry 19
Charles 14
Edward 14
Samuel 11
Albert 10
Arthur 10
Walter 10
Harry 8
Thos. 6
David 5
Ernest 5
Herbert 5
Richard 5
Tom 5
Wm. 5
Alfred 4
Fred 4
Frederick 4
Daniel 3
Eli 3
Robert 3
Allen 2
Anthony 2
Arnold 2
Benjamin 2
Bernard 2
Cornelius 2
Earnest 2
Edwin 2
Frank 2
Fred. 2
Isaiah 2
Jonathan 2
Oliver 2
Reuben 2
Silas 2
Willie 2
Arthr. 1
Edwd. 1
Elijah 1
Herman 1
Horace 1
Horatio 1
Wm.Leonard 1

FAQ

Brownhill surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brownhill surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,050 people were recorded with the Brownhill surname. That placed it at #3,754 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brownhill surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,159 in 2016. That gives Brownhill a modern rank of #5,092.

What does the Brownhill surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name referring to a brown-colored hill.

What does the Brownhill map show?

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