NameCensus.

UK surname

Brownsey

In the 1881 census there were 84 people recorded with the Brownsey surname, ranking it #21,690 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 92, ranked #32,035, down from #21,690 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Bedminster and Langport, Drayton with Middleney, Curry Rivell, Swell, Aller. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Somerset, New Forest and Derbyshire Dales.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brownsey is 163 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 9.5%.

1881 census count

84

Ranked #21,690

Modern count

92

2016, ranked #32,035

Peak year

1891

163 bearers

Map years

5

1891 to 2006

Key insights

  • Brownsey had 84 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #21,690 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 92 in 2016, ranked #32,035.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 163 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Brownsey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brownsey surname density by area, 2006 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Brownsey 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 40 #26,118
1861 historical 94 #21,883
1881 historical 84 #21,690
1891 historical 163 #17,300
1901 historical 128 #19,822
1911 historical 120 #20,447
1997 modern 98 #27,179
1998 modern 110 #26,129
1999 modern 103 #27,305
2000 modern 105 #27,001
2001 modern 100 #27,402
2002 modern 100 #27,944
2003 modern 101 #27,561
2004 modern 99 #28,136
2005 modern 99 #28,177
2006 modern 103 #27,785
2007 modern 98 #29,019
2008 modern 94 #29,950
2009 modern 93 #30,682
2010 modern 93 #31,239
2011 modern 94 #31,016
2012 modern 83 #32,611
2013 modern 93 #31,785
2014 modern 88 #32,495
2015 modern 91 #32,153
2016 modern 92 #32,035

Geography

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Where Brownseys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Bedminster, Langport, Drayton with Middleney, Curry Rivell, Swell, Aller, Shapwick, Witchampton and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Somerset, New Forest, Derbyshire Dales, Salford and Gosport. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Bedminster Somerset
3 Langport, Drayton with Middleney, Curry Rivell, Swell, Aller Somerset
4 Shapwick, Witchampton Dorset
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Somerset 007 South Somerset
2 New Forest 001 New Forest
3 Derbyshire Dales 007 Derbyshire Dales
4 Salford 013 Salford
5 Gosport 004 Gosport

Forenames

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First names often paired with Brownsey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Brownsey

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Brownsey, 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 Brownsey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Brownsey 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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Brownsey is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Brownsey is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Brownsey falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Brownsey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

1881 census detail

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Brownsey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brownsey 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. Somerset leads with 55 Brownseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 44.35x.

County Total Index
Somerset 55 44.35x
Gloucestershire 8 5.29x
Kent 4 1.52x
Lancashire 4 0.44x
Dorset 3 5.93x
Essex 3 1.97x
Hampshire 2 1.27x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bedminster in Somerset leads with 19 Brownseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 163.09x.

Place Total Index
Bedminster 19 163.09x
Taunton St Mary 14 614.04x
Curry Rivell 12 2926.83x
Clifton 8 104.71x
Drayton 5 4545.45x
Broughton In Salford 4 47.85x
Hollingbourn 4 1333.33x
Shepton Mallet 4 287.77x
Stock 3 1875.00x
Beaulieu 2 800.00x
Haselbury Bryan 1 526.32x
Hilfield 1 2500.00x
Minterne Magna 1 1111.11x
South Petherton 1 156.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 5
Alice 3
Caroline 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Hannah 2
Agnes 1
Ann 1
Cath.H. 1
Charlotte 1
Elizabeth 1
Ellen 1
Ethel 1
Eva 1
Jane 1
Jemima 1
Kate 1
Leah 1
Lilian 1
Lilly 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Maud 1
Rose 1
Sarah 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 6
Albert 3
Charles 3
Frank 2
Frederick 2
George 2
John 2
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Bertie 1
Chas. 1
Clarence 1
Cornelius 1
David 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Fred. 1
Henery 1
Henry 1
Hubert 1
Isaac 1
James 1
Oscar 1
Percy 1
Philip 1
Reginald 1
Robt. 1
Sydney 1
Walter 1

Top occupations

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 Brownsey households.

FAQ

Brownsey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brownsey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 84 people were recorded with the Brownsey surname. That placed it at #21,690 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brownsey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 92 in 2016. That gives Brownsey a modern rank of #32,035.

What does the Brownsey map show?

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