NameCensus.

UK surname

Broxton

A locational surname originating from a place called Broxton in Cheshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 180 people recorded with the Broxton surname, ranking it #13,735 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 391, ranked #12,073, up from #13,735 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors and Chirbury. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Powys, Burnley and South Ribble.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Broxton is 407 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 117.2%.

1881 census count

180

Ranked #13,735

Modern count

391

2016, ranked #12,073

Peak year

1999

407 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Broxton had 180 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,735 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 391 in 2016, ranked #12,073.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 326 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Small Town Suburbia.

Broxton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Broxton surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Broxton 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 111 #16,006
1861 historical 106 #20,147
1881 historical 180 #13,735
1891 historical 274 #11,880
1901 historical 281 #12,167
1911 historical 326 #10,763
1997 modern 387 #11,275
1998 modern 391 #11,539
1999 modern 407 #11,305
2000 modern 393 #11,540
2001 modern 381 #11,637
2002 modern 371 #12,096
2003 modern 368 #11,963
2004 modern 378 #11,757
2005 modern 363 #12,037
2006 modern 372 #11,878
2007 modern 387 #11,652
2008 modern 390 #11,693
2009 modern 405 #11,616
2010 modern 400 #11,992
2011 modern 400 #11,865
2012 modern 379 #12,192
2013 modern 389 #12,177
2014 modern 398 #12,048
2015 modern 399 #11,928
2016 modern 391 #12,073

Geography

Back to top

Where Broxtons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors, Chirbury, Wigan and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Powys, Burnley, South Ribble, Shropshire and Cheshire East. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors Shropshire
3 Chirbury Montgomeryshire
4 Wigan Lancashire
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Powys 005 Powys
2 Burnley 014 Burnley
3 South Ribble 017 South Ribble
4 Shropshire 014 Shropshire
5 Cheshire East 023 Cheshire East

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Broxton

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Broxton

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Small Town Suburbia

Nationally, the Broxton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Small Town Suburbia, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Broxton 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 is predominantly comprised of married couples with no resident dependent children, living in areas characterised neither by under-occupancy nor overcrowding throughout the UK in or adjacent to small towns. White ethnic groups and affiliation with Christianity predominates. Housing tends to be predominantly semi-detached or detached and workers are employed principally in managerial and professional occupations, with semi-skilled occupations also in evidence. These areas of the Supergroup are of higher population density.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Broxton is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Broxton is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Broxton falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Broxton

The surname Broxton originated in England and can be traced back to the early medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "broc" meaning a small stream or brook, and "tun" meaning a settlement or enclosure. This suggests that the name was originally used to refer to someone who lived near a small stream or brook.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Broxton can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land and property ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Brochetone," referring to a settlement in Cheshire.

During the 13th century, the name Broxton was also associated with a village in Staffordshire, which was known as "Brocktone" at the time. This village likely took its name from the nearby brook or stream, further reinforcing the etymology of the surname.

In the 14th century, a notable bearer of the name was John Broxton, a landowner and nobleman who lived in Cheshire. He was mentioned in several historical records and documents from that period.

Another prominent individual with the surname Broxton was Richard Broxton, who was born in 1588 in Staffordshire. He was a renowned scholar and theologian who served as the Rector of Eccleshall in Staffordshire for many years.

In the 17th century, the name Broxton gained further recognition with Edward Broxton, a wealthy merchant and landowner from Cheshire. He was born in 1620 and played an influential role in the local community.

During the 18th century, Samuel Broxton, born in 1735 in Staffordshire, was a notable figure who served as a member of Parliament and was involved in various political and social initiatives in the region.

Another noteworthy individual with the surname Broxton was Elizabeth Broxton, born in 1789 in Cheshire. She was a prominent author and poet, known for her works that captured the rural life and natural beauty of the region.

Throughout its history, the surname Broxton has been closely associated with the counties of Cheshire and Staffordshire in England, reflecting its origins as a place name derived from the Old English words for a small stream and settlement.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Broxton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Broxton 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. Shropshire leads with 72 Broxtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 48.55x.

County Total Index
Shropshire 72 48.55x
Lancashire 37 1.82x
Montgomeryshire 20 50.84x
Yorkshire 12 0.71x
Staffordshire 11 1.90x
Northamptonshire 8 4.95x
Somerset 5 1.81x
Buckinghamshire 3 2.89x
Cheshire 2 0.53x
Hampshire 1 0.28x
Herefordshire 1 1.42x
Middlesex 1 0.06x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.43x
Perthshire 1 1.30x
Warwickshire 1 0.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chirbury in Shropshire leads with 18 Broxtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2068.97x.

Place Total Index
Chirbury 18 2068.97x
Pontesbury 14 777.78x
West Bromwich 11 33.16x
Wigan 9 31.61x
Worthen 9 569.62x
Churchstoke 8 1081.08x
Northampton St Sepulchre 8 97.44x
Montgomery 7 1000.00x
Morley 7 79.19x
Pitchford 7 5384.62x
Widnes 7 47.65x
Castle Cary 5 416.67x
Castleford 5 80.78x
Rusholme 5 92.08x
West Derby 5 8.39x
Wrockwardine 5 153.37x
Church Pulverbach 4 1666.67x
Everton 4 6.16x
Lilleshall 3 132.16x
Meole Brace 3 389.61x
Newport Pagnell 3 138.25x
Orrell 3 118.58x
Shrewsbury St Julian 3 81.74x
Birkenhead 2 6.62x
Church Stretton 2 202.02x
Manchester 2 2.18x
Pool 2 67.34x
Birmingham 1 0.69x
Brompton Rhiston 1 1000.00x
Broughton In Salford 1 5.37x
Forden 1 185.19x
Kensington London 1 1.05x
Leighton 1 434.78x
Leominster 1 34.36x
Monzie 1 227.27x
Nottingham St Mary 1 1.67x
Oswestry Rural 1 44.05x
Oswestry Town 1 21.05x
Portsea 1 1.45x
Shrewsbury St Chad 1 19.23x
Upholland 1 38.31x
Worthen 1 1428.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 11
Thomas 10
Richard 9
William 9
Benjamin 3
Henry 3
Samuel 3
Charles 2
Edward 2
George 2
Isaac 2
James 2
Reuben 2
Robert 2
Alice 1
Ben 1
Frank 1
Harry 1
Jas. 1
Joseph 1
Luke 1
Thos. 1

FAQ

Broxton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Broxton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 180 people were recorded with the Broxton surname. That placed it at #13,735 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Broxton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 391 in 2016. That gives Broxton a modern rank of #12,073.

What does the Broxton surname mean?

A locational surname originating from a place called Broxton in Cheshire, England.

What does the Broxton map show?

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