NameCensus.

UK surname

Brummell

An English surname derived from the Old English word "brom" meaning broom or bramble bush.

In the 1881 census there were 90 people recorded with the Brummell surname, ranking it #20,965 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 137, ranked #25,254, down from #20,965 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Godalming, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Willesden. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Waverley, Denbighshire and Cherwell.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brummell is 165 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 52.2%.

1881 census count

90

Ranked #20,965

Modern count

137

2016, ranked #25,254

Peak year

1999

165 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brummell had 90 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,965 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 137 in 2016, ranked #25,254.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 151 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Brummell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brummell surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Brummell 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 39 #26,319
1861 historical 16 #31,832
1881 historical 90 #20,965
1891 historical 73 #27,677
1901 historical 101 #22,726
1911 historical 151 #17,797
1997 modern 150 #21,119
1998 modern 157 #21,058
1999 modern 165 #20,535
2000 modern 161 #20,822
2001 modern 157 #20,884
2002 modern 153 #21,609
2003 modern 150 #21,669
2004 modern 146 #22,202
2005 modern 143 #22,473
2006 modern 143 #22,619
2007 modern 140 #23,231
2008 modern 141 #23,383
2009 modern 146 #23,352
2010 modern 147 #23,809
2011 modern 144 #23,962
2012 modern 149 #23,372
2013 modern 147 #23,977
2014 modern 147 #24,177
2015 modern 143 #24,481
2016 modern 137 #25,254

Geography

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Where Brummells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Godalming, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Willesden, Croydon with Clapton and St Clement. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Waverley, Denbighshire, Cherwell, North Lincolnshire and Bracknell Forest. 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 Godalming Surrey
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 Willesden Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
4 Croydon with Clapton Cambridgeshire
5 St Clement Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Waverley 005 Waverley
2 Denbighshire 016 Denbighshire
3 Cherwell 016 Cherwell
4 North Lincolnshire 011 North Lincolnshire
5 Bracknell Forest 015 Bracknell Forest

Forenames

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First names often paired with Brummell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Brummell

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Brummell is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Brummell is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

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

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Brummell

The surname Brummell originated in England, and it is believed to have derived from the Old English words "brom" and "hyll," which together mean "hill covered with broom shrubs." This suggests that the name was likely taken from a location or place name where the earliest bearers of the surname lived or were associated with.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Brummell can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was spelled "Bromhull." This indicates that the name existed during the Norman Conquest and was likely brought to England by the Norman invaders.

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in various records with spellings such as "Bromhill," "Bromhull," and "Bromhulle." These variations reflect the lack of standardized spelling practices during that time period.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Brummell was John Brumhyll, who was listed in the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379.

In the 16th century, the surname was sometimes spelled "Brommell" or "Brumell," which are closer to the modern spelling of "Brummell."

A notable bearer of the surname was George Bryan Brummell (1778-1840), an influential English fashion leader and arbiter of men's style during the Regency era. He was known as "Beau Brummell" and was a close friend of the Prince Regent (later King George IV).

Another famous individual with the surname was William Brummell (1607-1663), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Christ's College, Cambridge from 1638 until his death.

In the 17th century, the surname Brummell was found in various parts of England, including Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, and Lincolnshire. It is possible that the name was also derived from place names such as Bromhill in Shropshire or Bromley in Kent.

Thomas Brummell (1669-1738) was an English mathematician and astronomer who was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1705.

John Brummell (1801-1857) was a British architect and surveyor who worked on several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Exchange and the Church of St. Peter upon Cornhill.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Brummell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brummell 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. Surrey leads with 19 Brummells recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.54x.

County Total Index
Surrey 19 4.54x
Cambridgeshire 15 27.59x
Middlesex 10 1.17x
Cornwall 9 9.26x
Hampshire 8 4.55x
Northumberland 6 4.70x
Glamorgan 4 2.68x
Lancashire 4 0.39x
Norfolk 4 3.03x
Sussex 3 2.07x
Devon 2 1.12x
Gloucestershire 1 0.59x
Kent 1 0.34x
Leicestershire 1 1.05x
Somerset 1 0.72x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Croydon Cum Clapton in Cambridgeshire leads with 7 Brummells recorded in 1881 and an index of 5000.00x.

Place Total Index
Croydon Cum Clapton 7 5000.00x
Northwood 7 278.88x
Battersea 6 19.00x
Bethnal Green London 6 16.09x
Godalming 6 228.14x
Burnley 4 46.62x
Carbrooke 4 2222.22x
Cardiff St Mary 4 48.60x
Caxton 4 2352.94x
Newton 4 1904.76x
Mevagissey 3 461.54x
Midhurst 3 638.30x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 3 39.32x
Penge 3 54.74x
Antony 2 212.77x
Plymouth St Andrew 2 14.53x
Rotherhithe 2 18.87x
Shoreditch London 2 5.37x
St Clement 2 198.02x
Westgate 2 25.28x
Bedminster 1 7.70x
Camberwell 1 1.82x
Croydon 1 4.31x
Jesmond 1 55.56x
Little Dean 1 416.67x
Norwood 1 51.02x
St Mary Kalendar 1 270.27x
St Mary Magdalene 1 140.85x
St Marylebone London 1 2.18x
St Stephen 1 294.12x
Tonbridge 1 9.47x
Tugby 1 1000.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 8
Alice 2
Elizabeth 2
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Frances 2
Isabella 2
Sarah 2
Ada 1
Adelaide 1
Ann 1
Eliz. 1
Elizth. 1
Ella 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Florence 1
Jane 1
Jessy 1
Juliana 1
Kezia 1
Letitia 1
Margaret 1
Neomia 1
Rose 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Brummell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brummell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 90 people were recorded with the Brummell surname. That placed it at #20,965 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brummell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 137 in 2016. That gives Brummell a modern rank of #25,254.

What does the Brummell surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Old English word "brom" meaning broom or bramble bush.

What does the Brummell map show?

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