NameCensus.

UK surname

Brownlow

From the Old English elements brun, meaning "brown," and hlaw, meaning "hill," likely referring to someone living near a brown hill.

In the 1881 census there were 902 people recorded with the Brownlow surname, ranking it #4,226 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 940, ranked #6,094, down from #4,226 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Basford, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bolton and Fenland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brownlow is 1,060 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 4.2%.

1881 census count

902

Ranked #4,226

Modern count

940

2016, ranked #6,094

Peak year

1911

1,060 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brownlow had 902 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,226 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 940 in 2016, ranked #6,094.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,060 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Brownlow surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brownlow surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Brownlow 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 528 #4,753
1861 historical 519 #5,044
1881 historical 902 #4,226
1891 historical 895 #4,601
1901 historical 998 #4,771
1911 historical 1,060 #4,359
1997 modern 974 #5,617
1998 modern 1,049 #5,446
1999 modern 1,044 #5,514
2000 modern 1,006 #5,663
2001 modern 1,002 #5,574
2002 modern 1,025 #5,588
2003 modern 992 #5,629
2004 modern 965 #5,767
2005 modern 917 #5,938
2006 modern 917 #5,952
2007 modern 904 #6,067
2008 modern 923 #6,018
2009 modern 947 #6,013
2010 modern 972 #6,006
2011 modern 968 #5,971
2012 modern 951 #5,975
2013 modern 978 #5,920
2014 modern 969 #6,021
2015 modern 947 #6,084
2016 modern 940 #6,094

Geography

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Where Brownlows are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Basford, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes, Manchester and Nottingham St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bolton and Fenland. 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 Basford Nottinghamshire
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bolton 004 Bolton
2 Bolton 007 Bolton
3 Fenland 005 Fenland
4 Fenland 007 Fenland
5 Fenland 004 Fenland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Brownlow

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Brownlow

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Brownlow surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Brownlow household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Brownlow 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

Brownlow is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Brownlow falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Brownlow

The surname Brownlow is of English origin, with records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have originated from a place name, specifically a manor in the county of Essex called "Brownlow" or "Brunlau." This place name itself is derived from the Old English words "brun" meaning brown and "hlaw" meaning hill or mound, indicating a brown hill or mound.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Brownlow can be found in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1201, where a person named Roger de Brunlau is mentioned. The name also appears in various medieval records, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it is spelled "Brunlowe."

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the Brownlow family held lands and properties in various parts of Essex and Hertfordshire. In the 16th century, a prominent member of the family was Sir John Brownlow (c.1524-1584), who served as Lord Chief Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another notable figure with the surname Brownlow was Sir Richard Brownlow (1553-1638), who was a member of Parliament and served as Chief Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas during the reign of King James I. He acquired the estate of Belton House in Lincolnshire, which remained in the Brownlow family for several generations.

In the 17th century, Sir John Brownlow (1594-1668) was a Royalist during the English Civil War and served as a member of Parliament. His grandson, Sir John Brownlow (1659-1697), was a prominent politician and was created Viscount Tyrconnel in the Irish peerage in 1718.

During the 18th century, the Brownlow family continued to hold significant landholdings and influence in Lincolnshire. One notable member was Sir John Brownlow (1690-1754), who served as a member of Parliament and was created Baron Brownlow in 1718.

Throughout history, the surname Brownlow has been associated with various place names and locations, such as Brownlow Hill in Liverpool, Brownlow Street in London, and Brownlow North in Lincolnshire, among others. The surname has also been carried by numerous individuals from different walks of life, including politicians, lawyers, landowners, and military figures.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Brownlow families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brownlow 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. Lancashire leads with 298 Brownlows recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.85x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 298 2.85x
Nottinghamshire 204 17.18x
Lincolnshire 85 6.04x
Yorkshire 64 0.73x
Middlesex 52 0.59x
Surrey 37 0.86x
Derbyshire 22 1.60x
Kent 17 0.57x
Leicestershire 15 1.54x
Durham 14 0.53x
Oxfordshire 13 2.39x
Sussex 12 0.81x
Cambridgeshire 10 1.79x
Norfolk 9 0.66x
Devon 7 0.38x
Cheshire 6 0.31x
Lanarkshire 6 0.21x
Renfrewshire 6 0.88x
Cumberland 4 0.53x
Northumberland 3 0.23x
Warwickshire 3 0.14x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.38x
Worcestershire 2 0.17x
Angus 1 0.12x
Ayrshire 1 0.15x
Bedfordshire 1 0.22x
Berkshire 1 0.15x
Dorset 1 0.17x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.51x
Midlothian 1 0.08x
Northamptonshire 1 0.12x
Ross-shire 1 0.41x
Royal Navy 1 0.95x
Somerset 1 0.07x
West Lothian 1 0.75x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Little Bolton in Lancashire leads with 49 Brownlows recorded in 1881 and an index of 36.46x.

Place Total Index
Little Bolton 49 36.46x
Basford 45 82.24x
Nottingham St Mary 32 10.42x
Horwich 23 201.75x
Greasley 19 70.92x
Hindley 19 42.64x
Atherton 18 47.31x
Manchester 17 3.62x
Salford 15 4.88x
Gateshead 14 7.14x
Halliwell 13 34.17x
Lambeth 13 1.69x
St Nicholas Lincoln 13 96.58x
Tonge With Haulgh 13 63.88x
Worksop 13 36.92x
Mansfield 11 26.77x
Warsop 11 350.32x
Hove 10 15.35x
Kensington London 10 2.04x
Lenton 10 35.75x
St Michael Crooked Lane 10 5000.00x
Gainsborough 9 27.11x
Outwell 9 342.21x
Withnell 9 140.41x
Carburton 8 1379.31x
Coddington 8 509.55x
Great Bolton 8 5.78x
Holy Trinity 8 3.81x
Hucknall Torkard 8 26.57x
Moss Side 8 14.55x
Winterton 8 165.29x
York St Maurice 8 48.66x
Bottesford 7 673.08x
Chesterfield 7 13.54x
Conisbrough 7 85.47x
East Wickham 7 196.63x
Oxford St Thomas 7 27.58x
Packington 7 201.15x
Penge 7 12.44x
Radford 7 11.60x
Beauchief 6 2068.97x
Ecclesfield 6 9.38x
Hulme 6 2.75x
Ince In Makerfield 6 12.34x
Market Rasen 6 76.24x
North Elmshall 6 689.66x
Preston 6 2.15x
Sharples 6 52.91x
West Derby 6 1.96x
Barony 5 0.69x
Chadderton 5 9.78x
Hackney London 5 1.01x
Liverpool 5 0.79x
Lowdham 5 224.22x
Marton 5 378.79x
Newbold Dunston 5 38.14x
North Somercotes 5 135.50x
Sculcoates 5 3.61x
Southwark St John 5 18.56x
Toxteth Park 5 1.41x
Widnes 5 6.63x
Barrow On Humber 4 48.96x
Birkenhead 4 2.58x
Bow London 4 3.57x
Bowling 4 4.63x
Broughton In Salford 4 4.19x
Dry Drayton 4 353.98x
Gorton 4 4.07x
Hugglescote 4 27.84x
Ingham 4 222.22x
Mattersey 4 388.35x
Newark Upon Trent 4 9.37x
Oxford St Ebbe 4 24.98x
Sheffield 4 1.44x
Shoreditch London 4 1.05x
St Paul Lincoln 4 161.94x
Stretford 4 6.96x
Swannington 4 110.80x
Wandsworth 4 4.72x
Westleigh 4 16.85x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 61
William 54
Thomas 37
George 29
James 29
Samuel 16
Arthur 14
Edward 14
Henry 14
Joseph 13
Charles 11
Richard 10
Robert 10
Alfred 9
Frederick 7
Philip 6
Christopher 5
Herbert 5
Noah 5
Ralph 5
Walter 5
Harry 4
Peter 4
Ellis 3
Stephen 3
Wallace 3
Albert 2
Allen 2
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Fred 2
Mark 2
Miles 2
Saml. 2
Alexander 1
Amos 1
D. 1
Dan 1
Daniel 1
Davey 1
Frank 1
Fredrick 1
G. 1
Gabriel 1
Harrold 1
Levi 1
Lewis 1
Luke 1
Maurice 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Brownlow surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brownlow surname in 1881?

In 1881, 902 people were recorded with the Brownlow surname. That placed it at #4,226 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brownlow surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 940 in 2016. That gives Brownlow a modern rank of #6,094.

What does the Brownlow surname mean?

From the Old English elements brun, meaning "brown," and hlaw, meaning "hill," likely referring to someone living near a brown hill.

What does the Brownlow map show?

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