NameCensus.

UK surname

Brumby

An English surname derived from bramble, denoting someone who lived near a bramble patch.

In the 1881 census there were 540 people recorded with the Brumby surname, ranking it #6,388 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 802, ranked #6,897, down from #6,388 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lincoln St Botolph, Hull Holy Trinity and Gainsborough, Paddocks. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Lindsey and North Lincolnshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brumby is 842 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 48.5%.

1881 census count

540

Ranked #6,388

Modern count

802

2016, ranked #6,897

Peak year

2000

842 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brumby had 540 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,388 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 802 in 2016, ranked #6,897.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 713 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Brumby surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brumby surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Brumby 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 397 #6,070
1861 historical 231 #10,572
1881 historical 540 #6,388
1891 historical 589 #6,485
1901 historical 670 #6,496
1911 historical 713 #5,983
1997 modern 790 #6,602
1998 modern 822 #6,617
1999 modern 831 #6,599
2000 modern 842 #6,510
2001 modern 832 #6,453
2002 modern 822 #6,627
2003 modern 801 #6,645
2004 modern 826 #6,499
2005 modern 771 #6,810
2006 modern 782 #6,752
2007 modern 799 #6,699
2008 modern 808 #6,693
2009 modern 812 #6,801
2010 modern 817 #6,896
2011 modern 837 #6,694
2012 modern 809 #6,773
2013 modern 830 #6,747
2014 modern 827 #6,797
2015 modern 806 #6,896
2016 modern 802 #6,897

Geography

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Where Brumbys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lincoln St Botolph, Hull Holy Trinity, Gainsborough, Paddocks, Manchester and West Halton, Burton-on-Stather, Flixborough (Crosby). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Lindsey and North Lincolnshire. 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 Lincoln St Botolph Lincolnshire
2 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
3 Gainsborough, Paddocks Lincolnshire
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 West Halton, Burton-on-Stather, Flixborough (Crosby) Lincolnshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Lindsey 001 West Lindsey
2 North Lincolnshire 021 North Lincolnshire
3 North Lincolnshire 020 North Lincolnshire
4 West Lindsey 003 West Lindsey
5 West Lindsey 004 West Lindsey

Forenames

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First names often paired with Brumby

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Brumby

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

Brumby 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

Brumby falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Brumby

The surname Brumby has its origins in England, where it first appeared in the late 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "brōm" meaning broom and "by" meaning a village or town, indicating that the name likely referred to someone who lived in a town or village associated with broom plants.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Beverley, Yorkshire, where a Richard Brumby was mentioned in 1592. The name also appears in the records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, where a John Brumby was mentioned in 1611.

The Brumby surname is closely associated with the counties of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire in northern England. In the 17th century, several members of the Brumby family were prominent landowners and gentry in these areas, including Sir John Brumby (1614-1681), a baronet and member of parliament for Lincolnshire.

As the name spread across England, it took on various spellings, including Bramby, Brumbie, and Broomby. One notable example is Sir Benjamin Brumby (1711-1789), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War.

In the 19th century, the Brumby name gained prominence in Australia, where it became associated with the wild horses that roamed the country's vast outback regions. These horses, known as "brumbies," are believed to have descended from horses that escaped or were released by early European settlers.

One of the most famous figures associated with the Brumby name in Australia is Elyne Mitchell (1913-2002), an author best known for her novel "The Silver Brumby," which tells the story of a legendary brumby stallion and his descendants in the Australian Alps.

Other notable individuals with the Brumby surname include George Brumby (1790-1844), an English-born Australian pastoralist and landowner who established one of the first successful sheep stations in New South Wales, and James Brumby (1776-1838), an English-born Australian politician who served as a member of the Legislative Council of New South Wales in the early 19th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Brumby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brumby 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. Lincolnshire leads with 314 Brumbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 37.21x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 314 37.21x
Yorkshire 99 1.89x
Lancashire 37 0.59x
Middlesex 20 0.38x
Nottinghamshire 20 2.81x
Surrey 11 0.43x
Leicestershire 8 1.37x
Northumberland 7 0.89x
Kent 6 0.33x
Dorset 5 1.44x
Cambridgeshire 4 1.20x
Gloucestershire 3 0.29x
Staffordshire 3 0.17x
Hampshire 1 0.09x
Somerset 1 0.12x
Suffolk 1 0.16x
Sussex 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Rigsby in Lincolnshire leads with 19 Brumbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 9500.00x.

Place Total Index
Rigsby 19 9500.00x
Holy Trinity 17 13.52x
Gainsborough 16 80.44x
Sculcoates 16 19.30x
Winterton 15 517.24x
Coates 13 14444.44x
Sturton Bransby 13 1111.11x
Alkborough 12 1666.67x
Elsham 11 1208.79x
Lambeth 11 2.39x
Tetford 11 1028.04x
Habrough 10 1428.57x
Gosberton 9 240.00x
Brightside Bierlow 8 7.80x
Ecclesall Bierlow 8 7.52x
Great Grimsby 8 14.94x
Pendleton In Salford 8 10.72x
Elksley 7 1166.67x
Horncastle 7 80.37x
North Scarle 7 752.69x
Pegswood 7 397.73x
South Kyme 7 729.17x
Thornton Curtis 7 823.53x
Warter 7 642.20x
Ashby De La Zouch 6 44.25x
Brattleby 6 2222.22x
Deptford St Paul 6 4.32x
Everton 6 3.01x
Great Carlton 6 1276.60x
Salford 6 3.26x
St George In East London 6 12.09x
Waddington 6 389.61x
Burton Upon Stather 5 467.29x
Hammersmith London 5 3.85x
Hemswell 5 746.27x
Louth 5 25.85x
Scampton 5 1190.48x
St Maryle Wigford 5 76.22x
Thoresway 5 1063.83x
Aby 4 625.00x
Bathley 4 1290.32x
Bracebridge 4 104.17x
Broughton In Salford 4 6.99x
Clee With Weelsby 4 21.66x
Hampstead London 4 4.87x
Ludborough 4 634.92x
Market Weighton Arras 4 117.65x
Nettleton 4 459.77x
Pinchbeck 4 73.94x
Poole St James 4 30.75x
Southcoates 4 13.78x
Barton St Mary 3 70.92x
Barton St Peter 3 77.52x
Cannock 3 9.65x
Cleatham 3 1428.57x
Cleethorpes 3 60.48x
Cottingham 3 26.62x
Crofton 3 232.56x
Frieston 3 150.00x
Horton In Bradford 3 3.67x
Lusby 3 1764.71x
Nottingham St Mary 3 1.63x
Scawby 3 107.53x
Sproatley Wyton 3 405.41x
St Andrewthe Less 3 7.86x
St Michael Lincoln 3 131.00x
Swinton In Rotherham 3 21.69x
Washingborough 3 227.27x
West Derby 3 1.64x
Westbury On Trym 3 8.56x
Alford 2 38.24x
Ashby 2 75.76x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 2 11.18x
Donington 2 66.01x
East Barkwith 2 327.87x
Flixton 2 62.31x
Knaith Lea Gate Burton 2 298.51x
Nether Hallam 2 2.83x
South Newbald 2 714.29x
Well 2 909.09x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 35
Sarah 24
Elizabeth 21
Annie 18
Ann 14
Jane 11
Alice 10
Eliza 9
Charlotte 8
Hannah 8
Martha 8
Emma 6
Betsy 5
Edith 5
Emily 5
Fanny 5
Ellen 4
Ada 3
Anne 3
Florence 3
Frances 3
Harriett 3
Amelia 2
Betsey 2
Carrie 2
Catherine 2
Ethel 2
Harriet 2
Juliet 2
Kate 2
Lavinia 2
Lily 2
Margaret 2
Maria 2
Polly 2
Rose 2
Clara 1
Elizth. 1
Emme 1
Esther 1
George 1
Jessie 1
Kesiah 1
Kezia 1
Laura 1
Lilian 1
Lissy 1
Lizzie 1
Lucy 1
Theraza 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 36
John 33
Thomas 25
George 24
Henry 13
Charles 12
James 12
Joseph 12
Fred 7
Tom 7
Richard 5
Alfred 4
Geo. 4
Robert 4
Harry 3
Wm. 3
Arthur 2
Chas. 2
David 2
Edward 2
Emerson 2
Frederick 2
Herbert 2
Martin 2
Matthew 2
Septimus 2
Walter 2
Amos 1
Aron 1
Authur 1
Ben 1
Charles. 1
Clement 1
Coggan 1
Ellerby 1
Enoch 1
Francis 1
Frederic 1
Fredrick 1
Goodwin 1
Hemerson 1
Jabez 1
Jervis 1
Jonathan 1
Jos. 1
Joshua 1
Marshall 1
Rich.Ed. 1
Sam. 1
Wm.Geo. 1

FAQ

Brumby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brumby surname in 1881?

In 1881, 540 people were recorded with the Brumby surname. That placed it at #6,388 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brumby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 802 in 2016. That gives Brumby a modern rank of #6,897.

What does the Brumby surname mean?

An English surname derived from bramble, denoting someone who lived near a bramble patch.

What does the Brumby map show?

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