NameCensus.

UK surname

Brownlee

A locational surname derived from a place in Scotland, likely referring to a person from a brown meadow or field.

In the 1881 census there were 1,054 people recorded with the Brownlee surname, ranking it #3,738 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,545, ranked #4,006, down from #3,738 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Gateshead and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Langlee, Selkirk and West Berkshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brownlee is 1,596 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 46.6%.

1881 census count

1,054

Ranked #3,738

Modern count

1,545

2016, ranked #4,006

Peak year

1999

1,596 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brownlee had 1,054 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,738 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,545 in 2016, ranked #4,006.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,244 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Brownlee surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brownlee surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Brownlee 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 630 #4,122
1861 historical 728 #3,738
1881 historical 1,054 #3,738
1891 historical 1,139 #3,735
1901 historical 1,244 #3,983
1911 historical 589 #6,935
1997 modern 1,530 #3,843
1998 modern 1,559 #3,918
1999 modern 1,596 #3,887
2000 modern 1,580 #3,894
2001 modern 1,527 #3,928
2002 modern 1,575 #3,912
2003 modern 1,515 #3,968
2004 modern 1,507 #3,979
2005 modern 1,519 #3,913
2006 modern 1,494 #3,980
2007 modern 1,498 #4,003
2008 modern 1,507 #4,015
2009 modern 1,550 #3,994
2010 modern 1,581 #4,000
2011 modern 1,560 #4,007
2012 modern 1,519 #4,039
2013 modern 1,528 #4,088
2014 modern 1,560 #4,025
2015 modern 1,556 #3,997
2016 modern 1,545 #4,006

Geography

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Where Brownlees are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Gateshead, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Cambusnethan. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Langlee, Selkirk, West Berkshire, Galashiels West and Blaeberry Hill and East Whitburn. 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 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Cambusnethan Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Langlee Scottish Borders
2 Selkirk Scottish Borders
3 West Berkshire 003 West Berkshire
4 Galashiels West Scottish Borders
5 Blaeberry Hill and East Whitburn West Lothian

Forenames

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First names often paired with Brownlee

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Brownlee

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Brownlee surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Brownlee household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Brownlee 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

Brownlee is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Brownlee falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Brownlee

The surname Brownlee originates from the Scottish Lowlands, deriving from the Gaelic words 'brun' meaning 'brown' and 'leth' meaning 'half' or 'side'. It is believed to have first appeared in the 14th century as a descriptive name for someone who lived near a brown hillside or brown meadow.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Brownlee can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from 1456, where a John Brownlee is mentioned as a landowner in Lanarkshire. The name also appears in various charters and legal documents from the 15th and 16th centuries, often in the spelling variations of Brounlie, Brouneley, or Brouneley.

In the 17th century, the Brownlees were prominent landowners and farmers in the Scottish Borders region, particularly in the areas around Selkirk and Roxburghshire. One notable figure from this era was Robert Brownlee (1610-1677), a minister and prominent figure in the Presbyterian Church of Scotland during the Covenanter Rebellion against Charles I.

The Brownlees also played a role in the Jacobite Risings of the 18th century, with some members supporting the Jacobite cause and others remaining loyal to the Hanoverian monarchy. One such figure was James Brownlee (1712-1785), a soldier who fought for the British Crown during the Battle of Culloden in 1746.

As the Brownlees spread beyond Scotland, the name also gained a foothold in England and Ireland. One notable English Brownlee was Thomas Brownlee (1817-1899), a renowned architect who designed several prominent buildings in London, including the London Pavilion and the Royal College of Music.

In the 19th century, many Brownlees emigrated to the United States and Canada, where the name continues to be prevalent today. One notable American Brownlee was William Craig Brownlee (1783-1860), a politician and lawyer who served as a United States Representative from Pennsylvania.

Other notable individuals with the surname Brownlee include:

- Walter Brownlee (1869-1946), a Scottish professional golfer and winner of the 1905 Open Championship. - Joanna Brownlee (1896-1983), an American artist and painter known for her portraits and landscape paintings. - John Brownlee (1900-1969), an Australian-born operatic baritone who performed extensively in Europe and the United States. - Thomas Brownlee (1933-2021), a Canadian politician and former Premier of Prince Edward Island.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Brownlee families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brownlee 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. Lanarkshire leads with 327 Brownlees recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.01x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 327 10.01x
Midlothian 96 7.10x
Northumberland 77 5.13x
Selkirkshire 69 75.54x
West Lothian 59 38.81x
Durham 55 1.83x
Lancashire 50 0.42x
Renfrewshire 38 4.86x
Ayrshire 37 4.90x
Dunbartonshire 23 8.48x
Stirlingshire 23 6.18x
Angus 17 1.82x
Peeblesshire 17 35.80x
Cumberland 15 1.73x
Roxburghshire 14 7.66x
Berwickshire 12 9.82x
Derbyshire 12 0.76x
Yorkshire 10 0.10x
Surrey 9 0.18x
Aberdeenshire 8 0.86x
Argyllshire 8 2.85x
Fife 7 1.17x
Hampshire 7 0.34x
Middlesex 6 0.06x
Perthshire 6 1.32x
Wigtownshire 6 4.48x
Essex 5 0.25x
Westmorland 5 2.25x
Devon 3 0.14x
Glamorgan 2 0.11x
Kent 2 0.06x
Northamptonshire 2 0.21x
Warwickshire 2 0.08x
Worcestershire 2 0.15x
Buteshire 1 1.63x
East Lothian 1 0.75x
Royal Navy 1 0.83x
Somerset 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 86 Brownlees recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.41x.

Place Total Index
Barony 86 10.41x
Cambusnethan 52 71.70x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 47 8.64x
Galashiels 47 139.18x
Govan 36 4.46x
Old Monkland 29 22.38x
Byker 24 32.32x
Tynemouth 21 26.10x
Bothwell 19 21.46x
Glasgow 17 2.93x
Denny 16 80.77x
Melrose 15 65.25x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 13 14.49x
Carstairs 11 162.72x
Dalziel 11 31.31x
Hamilton 11 12.08x
Kirkby Ireleth 11 183.95x
Lesmahagow 11 31.86x
Livingstone 11 211.95x
Parwich 11 679.01x
Whitburn 11 50.07x
Mid Calder 10 170.65x
Renfrew 10 38.70x
Shotts 10 25.60x
Willington 10 57.60x
Boness 9 42.94x
Cathcart 9 21.26x
Colinton 9 59.68x
Dundee 9 2.58x
Aberdeen Old Machar 8 4.10x
East West Greenock 8 634.92x
Great Clifton 8 237.39x
Innerleithen 8 63.49x
Kirkintilloch 8 21.70x
South Leith 8 5.26x
St Quivox 8 31.31x
Barrow In Furness 7 4.30x
Bathgate 7 21.21x
Dalmeny 7 120.48x
Dunfermline 7 7.62x
Dunoon Kilmun 7 31.93x
Ecclesmachan 7 729.17x
Edinburgh St Andrews 7 62.67x
Newlands 7 246.48x
Selkirk 7 27.21x
Cardross 6 18.42x
Crook Billy Row 6 15.60x
Dalton In Furness 6 12.98x
Everton 6 1.57x
Falkirk 6 6.88x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 6 4.61x
Jedburgh 6 33.48x
Kilmarnock 6 6.67x
Mauchline 6 69.12x
Portpatrick 6 133.63x
Riding 6 810.81x
Row 6 17.09x
Windle 6 8.90x
Ardwick 5 4.63x
Camberwell 5 0.78x
Carnwath 5 24.76x
Edinburgh Canongate 5 14.53x
Gateshead 5 2.22x
Holdenhurst 5 9.21x
Holy Trinity 5 2.08x
Langdale 5 197.63x
Maryhill 5 7.82x
Muthill 5 84.60x
Rutherglen 5 10.44x
Stevenston 5 25.38x
Stranton 5 4.94x
West Greenock 5 3.56x
Bromley London 4 1.80x
Caldewgate 4 8.40x
Dalry 4 11.25x
Evenwood Barony 4 39.18x
Glassford 4 79.52x
Liff Benvie 4 2.82x
Linlithgow 4 20.51x
Melrose 4 25.30x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 22
Jane 17
Elizabeth 12
Hannah 7
Margaret 6
Ann 5
Annie 4
Sarah 4
Margt. 3
Eleanor 2
Eliza 2
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Isabella 2
Jennet 2
Martha 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Amelia 1
Anna 1
Beatrice 1
Birtha 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Christina 1
Dorothy 1
Eliz 1
Elizh. 1
Emma 1
Gladys 1
Harriet 1
Helen 1
Heneritta 1
Henrietta 1
Isbell 1
Jeanney 1
Lavina 1
Louisa 1
Maria 1
Rachel 1
Rose 1
Susannah 1
Violette 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 20
John 19
George 14
Robert 14
William 12
Thomas 9
Joseph 6
Alexander 4
Albert 3
Matthew 3
Richard 3
Samuel 3
Alexr. 2
Alfred 2
David 2
Edward 2
Robt. 2
Abraham 1
Alex.Chas. 1
Alexdr.W. 1
Arthur 1
Ed.H. 1
Edmond 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
Geo. 1
Geo.Jas. 1
Jacob 1
Jas. 1
Jno. 1
Job 1
Lambert 1
Maurice 1
Paul 1
Ralph 1
Thos 1
Thos. 1
Valentine 1
Victor 1

FAQ

Brownlee surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brownlee surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,054 people were recorded with the Brownlee surname. That placed it at #3,738 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brownlee surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,545 in 2016. That gives Brownlee a modern rank of #4,006.

What does the Brownlee surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place in Scotland, likely referring to a person from a brown meadow or field.

What does the Brownlee map show?

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