NameCensus.

UK surname

Brownlie

Derived from a regional name referring to someone from a place with brown soil or meadows.

In the 1881 census there were 1,315 people recorded with the Brownlie surname, ranking it #3,119 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,888, ranked #3,371, down from #3,119 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hamilton, Bothwell and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Carstairs, Carstairs Junction and Carnwath, Larkhall Central, Raploch, Millheugh and Burnhead and Strathaven South.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brownlie is 1,927 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 43.6%.

1881 census count

1,315

Ranked #3,119

Modern count

1,888

2016, ranked #3,371

Peak year

1901

1,927 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brownlie had 1,315 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,119 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,888 in 2016, ranked #3,371.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,927 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Brownlie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brownlie surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Brownlie 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 878 #3,112
1861 historical 1,051 #2,667
1881 historical 1,315 #3,119
1891 historical 1,580 #2,808
1901 historical 1,927 #2,742
1911 historical 157 #17,348
1997 modern 1,695 #3,522
1998 modern 1,784 #3,478
1999 modern 1,769 #3,531
2000 modern 1,744 #3,562
2001 modern 1,692 #3,591
2002 modern 1,761 #3,536
2003 modern 1,760 #3,465
2004 modern 1,749 #3,484
2005 modern 1,775 #3,410
2006 modern 1,828 #3,328
2007 modern 1,834 #3,341
2008 modern 1,842 #3,364
2009 modern 1,868 #3,401
2010 modern 1,892 #3,436
2011 modern 1,872 #3,420
2012 modern 1,825 #3,438
2013 modern 1,870 #3,420
2014 modern 1,900 #3,395
2015 modern 1,896 #3,370
2016 modern 1,888 #3,371

Geography

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Where Brownlies are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hamilton, Bothwell, Govan Combination, 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 Carstairs, Carstairs Junction and Carnwath, Larkhall Central, Raploch, Millheugh and Burnhead, Strathaven South, Earlston and Hurlford Rural and Hareleeshill. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Hamilton Lanark
2 Bothwell Lanark
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Cambusnethan Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Carstairs, Carstairs Junction and Carnwath South Lanarkshire
2 Larkhall Central, Raploch, Millheugh and Burnhead South Lanarkshire
3 Strathaven South South Lanarkshire
4 Earlston and Hurlford Rural East Ayrshire
5 Hareleeshill South Lanarkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Brownlie

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Brownlie

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Brownlie surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Brownlie household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Brownlie 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

Brownlie is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Brownlie falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Brownlie is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Brownlie

The surname Brownlie originated in Scotland during the Middle Ages. It is a locational name, derived from the lands of Brownlie, which were located near the town of Carluke in the parish of Cambusnethan, Lanarkshire. The name Brownlie is thought to have derived from the Old English words "brun" meaning brown or dark, and "leah" meaning a meadow or clearing.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Brownlie can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which recorded the names of Scottish landowners who swore fealty to King Edward I of England. The entry mentions a "William de Brounleye" from Lanarkshire.

In the 15th century, records show a John Brownlie was a witness to a charter granted by King James II of Scotland in 1451. Another early reference is found in the Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, which mentions a "Robert Brownlie of that Ilk" in 1472.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Brownlies were a prominent family in Lanarkshire. Notable individuals from this time period include William Brownlie (1560-1634), a minister and theologian, and John Brownlie (1642-1708), a merchant and landowner who served as a baillie (municipal officer) in the town of Lanark.

In the 18th century, a branch of the Brownlie family settled in the parish of Carmichael, Lanarkshire. One of their descendants, Thomas Brownlie (1766-1835), was a successful merchant and shipowner based in Glasgow.

The 19th century saw several notable Brownlies, including Alexander Brownlie (1808-1872), a journalist and author who wrote extensively on Scottish history and culture, and John Brownlie (1857-1925), a prominent architect who designed many buildings in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

As the Brownlie name spread beyond Scotland, it also became established in other parts of the British Isles and eventually in other English-speaking countries through immigration. While the name has various spellings, such as Brownley, Brownly, and Brounley, the Brownlie spelling remains the most common.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Brownlie families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brownlie 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 999 Brownlies recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.15x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 999 24.15x
Renfrewshire 68 6.86x
Midlothian 35 2.04x
Ayrshire 32 3.34x
Stirlingshire 27 5.72x
Fife 22 2.91x
Surrey 21 0.34x
Lancashire 15 0.10x
Middlesex 12 0.09x
West Lothian 12 6.23x
Clackmannanshire 11 10.41x
Dunbartonshire 10 2.91x
Durham 7 0.18x
Essex 7 0.28x
Inverness-shire 5 1.31x
Perthshire 5 0.87x
Buteshire 3 3.87x
Kent 3 0.07x
Angus 2 0.17x
Cheshire 2 0.07x
Derbyshire 2 0.10x
Dumfriesshire 2 0.71x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.08x
Argyllshire 1 0.28x
Devon 1 0.04x
Hampshire 1 0.04x
Roxburghshire 1 0.43x
Royal Navy 1 0.66x
Wigtownshire 1 0.59x
Yorkshire 1 0.01x

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 125 Brownlies recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.94x.

Place Total Index
Barony 125 11.94x
Govan 124 12.12x
Avondale 106 438.38x
Cambusnethan 103 112.13x
Hamilton 99 85.83x
Old Monkland 92 56.05x
Glasgow 84 11.44x
Lesmahagow 34 77.73x
Bothwell 31 27.64x
Carluke 30 79.87x
Shotts 27 54.56x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 23 3.34x
Cambuslang 17 40.77x
Glassford 16 251.18x
Mauchline 16 145.45x
Maryhill 15 18.53x
Blantyre 14 32.51x
Stonehouse 12 85.53x
West Greenock 12 6.75x
Whitburn 12 43.13x
Beath 11 45.99x
Carnwath 11 43.02x
Camberwell 10 1.22x
East Kilbride 10 56.47x
Eastwood 10 16.38x
Neilston 10 20.10x
Barrow In Furness 9 4.36x
Cathcart 9 16.78x
Covington 9 463.92x
Dalziel 9 20.23x
Tillicoultry 9 38.31x
Campsie 8 30.91x
Lambeth 8 0.72x
Rutherglen 8 13.18x
Inverkip 7 29.97x
Kilsyth 7 23.28x
West Ham 7 1.26x
Abbey 6 3.97x
New Monkland 6 4.91x
Poplar London 6 2.49x
Stranton 6 4.68x
West Calder 6 17.77x
Beith 5 17.51x
Dalry 5 11.10x
Gorbals 5 20.37x
Inverness 5 5.21x
Monzievaird Strowan 5 162.87x
Paisley High Church 5 6.34x
Carmichael 4 116.96x
Kettle 4 44.00x
Kippen 4 62.99x
Pittenweem 4 42.87x
Bonhill 3 5.44x
Cheetham 3 2.65x
Chelsea London 3 0.78x
Drymen 3 47.39x
Falkirk 3 2.72x
Kilmarnock 3 2.63x
Newington 3 0.64x
Paisley Low Church 3 9.56x
Rothesay 3 8.00x
Strathmiglo 3 33.15x
Symington 3 148.51x
Alloa 2 3.90x
Cardross 2 4.85x
Deptford St Paul 2 0.59x
Derby St Werburgh 2 1.73x
Edinburgh Tolbooth 2 20.06x
Kirkintilloch 2 4.28x
Lanark 2 6.01x
Middle Greenock 2 7.40x
Newton In Ashton Under 2 7.18x
St Vigeans 2 3.13x
Stewarton 2 10.56x
Alverstoke 1 1.05x
Bootle Cum Linacre 1 0.83x
Cumbernauld 1 5.31x
Erskine 1 13.89x
Kilmaronock 1 24.57x
Paisley Middle Church 1 1.73x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 3
Agnes 2
Caroline 2
Eliza 2
Jane 2
Margaret 2
Margret 2
Margt. 2
Adela 1
Alice 1
Ann 1
Annie 1
Deborah 1
Edith 1
Eliz. 1
Elizaberth 1
Elizabeth 1
Ethel 1
Florence 1
Jessie 1
Marion 1
Maude 1
Ruth 1
Sarah 1
Susanah 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Brownlie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brownlie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,315 people were recorded with the Brownlie surname. That placed it at #3,119 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brownlie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,888 in 2016. That gives Brownlie a modern rank of #3,371.

What does the Brownlie surname mean?

Derived from a regional name referring to someone from a place with brown soil or meadows.

What does the Brownlie map show?

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