NameCensus.

UK surname

Brownson

A surname derived from a nickname referring to someone with a brownish complexion or hair color.

In the 1881 census there were 281 people recorded with the Brownson surname, ranking it #10,175 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 352, ranked #13,104, down from #10,175 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Matlock, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Auckland St Andrew. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Nuneaton and Bedworth and Conwy.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brownson is 410 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 25.3%.

1881 census count

281

Ranked #10,175

Modern count

352

2016, ranked #13,104

Peak year

1911

410 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brownson had 281 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,175 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 352 in 2016, ranked #13,104.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 410 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Brownson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brownson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Brownson 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 216 #9,818
1861 historical 286 #8,793
1881 historical 281 #10,175
1891 historical 323 #10,480
1901 historical 347 #10,500
1911 historical 410 #9,126
1997 modern 354 #12,060
1998 modern 352 #12,489
1999 modern 347 #12,696
2000 modern 334 #12,980
2001 modern 327 #12,970
2002 modern 331 #13,115
2003 modern 326 #13,076
2004 modern 326 #13,122
2005 modern 308 #13,590
2006 modern 309 #13,633
2007 modern 308 #13,791
2008 modern 321 #13,516
2009 modern 333 #13,434
2010 modern 356 #13,071
2011 modern 348 #13,134
2012 modern 348 #13,020
2013 modern 356 #13,016
2014 modern 355 #13,125
2015 modern 355 #13,033
2016 modern 352 #13,104

Geography

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Where Brownsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Matlock, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Auckland St Andrew, Morchard Bishop and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, Nuneaton and Bedworth, Conwy and Carlisle. 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 Matlock Derbyshire
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 Auckland St Andrew Durham
4 Morchard Bishop Devon
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 052 County Durham
2 Nuneaton and Bedworth 018 Nuneaton and Bedworth
3 Conwy 007 Conwy
4 County Durham 055 County Durham
5 Carlisle 007 Carlisle

Forenames

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First names often paired with Brownson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Brownson

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

Young Families in Industrial Towns

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Inner London Working Professionals

Within London, Brownson is most associated with areas classed as Inner London Working Professionals, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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

These primarily Inner London neighbourhoods are more densely populated than the Supergroup average. Residents have a younger over-all age profile than the Supergroup as a whole, and are less likely to be owner occupiers. Full time employment is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup and multiple car ownership is uncommon. Chinese and non-EU-born European migrants are less in evidence than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Brownson 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

Brownson 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 Brownson 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 Brownson, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Brownson

The surname Brownson is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "brun" meaning brown and "sunu" meaning son. It likely originated as a descriptive name, referring to someone with brown hair or a tanned complexion. The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the 13th century in various parts of England.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Robert Brownson, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire in 1230. The Pipe Rolls were a series of financial records maintained by the English Exchequer, providing valuable insight into the names and locations of individuals during that time.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in the Calendars of Patent Rolls, a collection of records detailing letters patent issued by the English Crown. One such entry from 1349 mentioned a John Brownson from the county of Essex.

The Brownson surname has also been associated with various place names throughout England. For instance, the village of Brownswold in Rutland was once known as "Bruneswald" in the Domesday Book of 1086, suggesting a potential link between the name and the location.

Notable individuals with the surname Brownson include Orestes Augustus Brownson (1803-1876), an American philosopher, writer, and convert to Catholicism. He was a prominent figure in the intellectual circles of his time and authored numerous works on religion, politics, and social issues.

Another prominent bearer of the name was Henry Howard Brownson (1836-1913), an American actor and playwright. He was known for his performances on the stages of New York City and is credited with writing several popular plays in the late 19th century.

In the realm of sports, Henry Porter Brownson (1868-1943) was an American baseball player who competed in the Major League Baseball from 1892 to 1903, playing for teams such as the Washington Senators and the Cleveland Naps.

John Brownson (1719-1800) was an American soldier and farmer who served in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He participated in several battles, including the Battle of Bunker Hill and the Battle of Long Island.

Finally, Richard Brownson (1532-1616) was an English clergyman and academic who served as the Dean of Lichfield Cathedral in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He was also a noted author and contributed to various theological works during his lifetime.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Brownson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brownson 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 67 Brownsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.06x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 67 2.06x
Derbyshire 61 14.21x
Devon 37 6.48x
Cheshire 26 4.30x
Middlesex 21 0.77x
Nottinghamshire 17 4.60x
Warwickshire 16 2.31x
Durham 14 1.72x
Staffordshire 11 1.19x
Surrey 3 0.22x
Yorkshire 3 0.11x
Essex 2 0.37x
Hampshire 1 0.18x
Somerset 1 0.23x
Worcestershire 1 0.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ashton Under Lyne in Lancashire leads with 35 Brownsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 49.23x.

Place Total Index
Ashton Under Lyne 35 49.23x
Great Bolton 21 48.75x
Morchard Bishop 18 1512.61x
Matlock 15 260.42x
Hunwick Helmington 14 714.29x
Kensington London 13 8.53x
Snenton 13 89.53x
Hyde 11 61.62x
Litchurch 11 63.69x
Barton Upon Irwell 9 36.75x
Hartshill 9 1730.77x
Derby St Werburgh 7 28.25x
Islington London 7 2.63x
Macclesfield 7 26.02x
Plymouth St Andrew 7 15.93x
Burntwood Edial 6 101.52x
Kingsbury 6 405.41x
Parwich 6 1363.64x
Fenny Bentley 5 2173.91x
Monks Coppenhall 5 21.90x
Belper 4 48.08x
East Teignmouth 4 171.67x
Marston Montgomery 4 1111.11x
Axminster 3 111.94x
Soothill 3 30.58x
Chagford 2 145.99x
Mavesyn Ridware 2 454.55x
Middleton By Wirksworth 2 444.44x
Osmaston 2 571.43x
Southwark St George Martyr 2 3.63x
Stapleford 2 66.67x
Sudbury 2 408.16x
West Ham 2 1.67x
Wistaston 2 526.32x
Aldershot 1 5.31x
Aston 1 0.53x
Brailsford 1 163.93x
Brewood 1 37.45x
Brimington 1 30.67x
Burslem 1 3.77x
Croydon 1 1.35x
Devonport 1 15.24x
Exeter Heavitree 1 23.53x
Horninglow 1 22.94x
Lyncombe Widcombe 1 8.66x
Manchester 1 0.68x
Nottingham St Peter 1 24.27x
Oldbury 1 5.68x
St Marylebone London 1 0.68x
Tormoham 1 4.14x
Toxteth Park 1 0.91x
West Leake 1 666.67x
Weston Underwood 1 625.00x
Yeardsley Cum Whaley 1 84.03x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 22
Sarah 14
Elizabeth 12
Ellen 8
Ann 6
Annie 6
Alice 5
Eliza 5
Jane 5
Margaret 4
Bertha 3
Fanny 3
Frances 3
Adah 2
Catherine 2
Edith 2
Henrietta 2
Kate 2
Louisa 2
Martha 2
Anne 1
Carolin 1
Charlotte 1
Cicy 1
Eleanor 1
Elisabeth 1
Elizth. 1
Emma 1
Eugenie 1
Eveline 1
Flora 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Lily 1
Lydia 1
Mabel 1
Maria 1
Marion 1
Mgt. 1
Mona 1
Nancy 1
Nellie 1
Patty 1
Phebe 1
Rhoda 1
Rosea 1
S. 1
Sophia 1
Sturza 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 19
John 19
Thomas 15
William 12
James 11
Charles 7
Henry 5
Harry 4
Frederick 3
Abel 2
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Benjamin 2
David 2
Edmund 2
Edwin 2
Frank 2
Harold 2
Robert 2
Thos. 2
Wm. 2
Alonzo 1
Arnold 1
Chas.T. 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Herbert 1
Jas.Hague 1
Jno. 1
Joseph 1
Michael 1
Peveril 1
Richard 1
Sam. 1
Samuel 1
Sydney 1
Thurston 1
Wallace 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Brownson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brownson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 281 people were recorded with the Brownson surname. That placed it at #10,175 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brownson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 352 in 2016. That gives Brownson a modern rank of #13,104.

What does the Brownson surname mean?

A surname derived from a nickname referring to someone with a brownish complexion or hair color.

What does the Brownson map show?

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