UK surname
An English occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of brown bread or a baker.
In the 1881 census there were 27 people recorded with the Brunell surname, ranking it #29,793 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 69, ranked #33,762, down from #29,793 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Edmonton, Gloucester City: St Mary-de-Lode, College Precincts, Kingsholm St Mary and Scoulton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brunell is 110 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 155.6%.
1881 census count
27
Ranked #29,793
Modern count
69
2016, ranked #33,762
Peak year
1861
110 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Brunell surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Brunell surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 28 | #28,274 |
| 1861 | historical | 110 | #19,562 |
| 1881 | historical | 27 | #29,793 |
| 1891 | historical | 68 | #28,300 |
| 1901 | historical | 28 | #30,951 |
| 1911 | historical | 18 | #31,542 |
| 1997 | modern | 58 | #31,831 |
| 1998 | modern | 60 | #31,931 |
| 1999 | modern | 64 | #31,692 |
| 2000 | modern | 57 | #32,417 |
| 2001 | modern | 55 | #32,482 |
| 2002 | modern | 64 | #32,007 |
| 2003 | modern | 61 | #32,352 |
| 2004 | modern | 63 | #32,380 |
| 2005 | modern | 60 | #32,917 |
| 2006 | modern | 68 | #32,441 |
| 2007 | modern | 70 | #32,580 |
| 2008 | modern | 67 | #33,135 |
| 2009 | modern | 70 | #33,182 |
| 2010 | modern | 68 | #33,632 |
| 2011 | modern | 69 | #33,532 |
| 2012 | modern | 67 | #33,840 |
| 2013 | modern | 68 | #33,877 |
| 2014 | modern | 66 | #34,025 |
| 2015 | modern | 69 | #33,788 |
| 2016 | modern | 69 | #33,762 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Edmonton, Gloucester City: St Mary-de-Lode, College Precincts, Kingsholm St Mary, Scoulton, Wirksworth and St Giles Camberwell. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edmonton | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| 2 | Gloucester City: St Mary-de-Lode, College Precincts, Kingsholm St Mary | Gloucestershire |
| 3 | Scoulton | Norfolk |
| 4 | Wirksworth | Derbyshire |
| 5 | St Giles Camberwell | London (South Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Brunell surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Brunell, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Brunell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Brunell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Brunell is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Brunell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Brunell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Brunell has its origins in medieval England, originating from the Old English words "brun" meaning brown and "hyll" meaning hill or slope. It was likely a name given to someone who lived near a brown-colored hill or slope.
The name can be traced back to the 13th century, with one of the earliest recorded instances being Robertus de Brunhull in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1212. Other early spellings include Brunhill, Brounhull, and Brownhill.
In the Domesday Book of 1086, there are several place names that may have contributed to the development of the surname, such as Brunhill in Oxfordshire and Brunhull in Wiltshire. These place names suggest the presence of people associated with brown hills or slopes in those areas.
Notably, a Sir Thomas Brunell (c.1370-1438) was a prominent figure during the Hundred Years' War, serving as the Lord Treasurer of England under King Henry V. He was also a notable diplomat and played a crucial role in negotiating the Treaty of Troyes in 1420.
Another individual bearing the name was John Brunell (c.1550-1610), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge from 1602 to 1603.
In the 16th century, a family of Brunells from Somerset, England, were known for their involvement in the wool trade. One member, Richard Brunell (c.1520-1585), was a successful merchant and landowner.
During the English Civil War in the 17th century, Captain Thomas Brunell (c.1610-1670) fought for the Parliamentarian forces and was instrumental in the siege of Bristol in 1645.
The name Brunell also has connections to the engineering and architectural fields. Isambard Kingdom Brunell (1806-1859) was a renowned English civil engineer responsible for designing notable structures such as the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol and the Great Western Railway.
These examples demonstrate the long-standing presence of the surname Brunell in various regions of England, spanning several centuries and encompassing individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brunell surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 8 Brunells recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.56x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 8 | 2.56x |
| Essex | 6 | 11.55x |
| Surrey | 4 | 3.12x |
| Durham | 2 | 2.55x |
| Kent | 2 | 2.23x |
| Norfolk | 2 | 4.94x |
| Buckinghamshire | 1 | 6.29x |
| Devon | 1 | 1.83x |
| Northamptonshire | 1 | 4.04x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Walthamstow in Essex leads with 4 Brunells recorded in 1881 and an index of 213.90x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Walthamstow | 4 | 213.90x |
| Bootle Cum Linacre | 3 | 120.97x |
| Kirkdale | 3 | 57.14x |
| Cornsay | 2 | 952.38x |
| Dagenham | 2 | 645.16x |
| Norwich St Peter | 2 | 740.74x |
| Southwark St George Martyr | 2 | 37.74x |
| Toxteth Park | 2 | 18.90x |
| Camberwell | 1 | 5.95x |
| Folkestone | 1 | 57.47x |
| Newington | 1 | 10.29x |
| Northampton All Sts | 1 | 119.05x |
| Ramsgate | 1 | 68.03x |
| Stoke Poges | 1 | 526.32x |
| Tormoham | 1 | 43.10x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Brunell surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Brunell surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Brunell households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 2 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Bricklayers Labourer | 1 |
| Chimney Sweeper | 1 |
| Civil Engineer | 1 |
| Clerk Cocoa Manufactery | 1 |
| Domestic Servt | 1 |
| Dress Maker | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Foreman Bootle Omnibus Stables | 1 |
| Gen Lab | 1 |
| General Labour | 1 |
| India Rubber Worker | 1 |
| Interest Of Money | 1 |
| Lab In Starch Works (N/Ch) | 1 |
| Labourer In Iron Works | 1 |
| Packer | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 27 people were recorded with the Brunell surname. That placed it at #29,793 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 69 in 2016. That gives Brunell a modern rank of #33,762.
An English occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of brown bread or a baker.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Brunell bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.