NameCensus.

UK surname

Brunner

An occupational surname referring to a well-digger or someone who lived near a well or spring.

In the 1881 census there were 94 people recorded with the Brunner surname, ranking it #20,467 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 238, ranked #17,361, up from #20,467 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Hull Holy Trinity and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Salford, East Hertfordshire and City of London.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brunner is 238 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 153.2%.

1881 census count

94

Ranked #20,467

Modern count

238

2016, ranked #17,361

Peak year

2016

238 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brunner had 94 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,467 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 238 in 2016, ranked #17,361.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 163 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Brunner surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brunner surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Brunner 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 51 #24,096
1861 historical 67 #25,342
1881 historical 94 #20,467
1891 historical 102 #23,719
1901 historical 163 #17,205
1911 historical 152 #17,712
1997 modern 202 #17,514
1998 modern 216 #17,257
1999 modern 218 #17,258
2000 modern 213 #17,503
2001 modern 206 #17,624
2002 modern 206 #17,966
2003 modern 208 #17,685
2004 modern 208 #17,758
2005 modern 216 #17,283
2006 modern 208 #17,835
2007 modern 218 #17,477
2008 modern 221 #17,495
2009 modern 223 #17,735
2010 modern 225 #18,000
2011 modern 225 #17,841
2012 modern 216 #18,251
2013 modern 221 #18,252
2014 modern 218 #18,583
2015 modern 227 #17,941
2016 modern 238 #17,361

Geography

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Where Brunners are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Hull Holy Trinity and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Salford, East Hertfordshire, City of London, Havant and Oxford. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
3 London parishes London 3
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Salford 010 Salford
2 East Hertfordshire 003 East Hertfordshire
3 City of London 001 City of London
4 Havant 014 Havant
5 Oxford 008 Oxford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Brunner

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Brunner

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Brunner surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Brunner 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Brunner 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

Brunner is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Brunner 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 Brunner 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 - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Brunner, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Brunner

The surname Brunner has its origins in Germany, where it first emerged in the Middle Ages, around the 12th or 13th century. The name is derived from the German word "brunnen," which means "well" or "spring." This suggests that the name was likely given to someone who lived near a well or spring, or perhaps worked as a well-digger or water carrier.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Brunner can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus, a collection of historical documents from the 12th century, where a "Cunradus Brunner" is mentioned. The name also appears in various other medieval records, such as the Weinsbuch, a wine register from the 14th century, which lists a "Hainrich Brunner" as a winemaker.

In the 15th century, the name Brunner can be found in the town records of Nuremberg, where a "Hanns Brunner" is listed as a citizen. During this period, variations of the name such as "Bruner" and "Brunner" were common, reflecting the regional dialects and spelling conventions of the time.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname Brunner was Katharina Brunner (1472-1536), a German botanist and herbalist who wrote one of the first books on medicinal plants in the German language. Another notable figure was Johann Brunner (1612-1662), a Swiss theologian and writer who authored several works on theology and philosophy.

In the 18th century, the name Brunner gained prominence with the birth of Johann Gottfried Brunner (1706-1783), a Swiss physician and anatomist who made significant contributions to the study of the digestive system. His discoveries included the description of the duodenal glands, now known as Brunner's glands.

Another famous bearer of the name was Arnold Brunner (1857-1925), a Swiss architect and urban planner who designed several notable buildings in Zurich and other Swiss cities. His work was influential in shaping the urban landscape of Switzerland in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

In the 20th century, the surname Brunner continued to be associated with notable figures, such as the German novelist and playwright Albin Brunner (1893-1965), whose works explored themes of love, betrayal, and social commentary.

Overall, the surname Brunner has a rich history that spans centuries and is deeply rooted in the German-speaking regions of Europe. Its origins can be traced back to the Middle Ages, and it has been borne by a diverse array of individuals, from botanists and theologians to architects and writers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Brunner families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brunner 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. Warwickshire leads with 21 Brunners recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.08x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 21 9.08x
Lancashire 16 1.47x
Middlesex 15 1.64x
Yorkshire 9 0.99x
Berkshire 5 7.27x
Gloucestershire 4 2.22x
Hampshire 4 2.13x
Lanarkshire 3 1.01x
Northumberland 3 2.20x
Nottinghamshire 3 2.43x
Surrey 3 0.67x
Sussex 3 1.94x
Worcestershire 3 2.51x
Norfolk 1 0.71x
Oxfordshire 1 1.77x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 15 Brunners recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.47x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 15 19.47x
Widnes 7 89.17x
Aston 6 9.43x
Bootle Cum Linacre 6 69.44x
Hornsey 6 51.77x
South Hinksey 5 1666.67x
Fawley 4 666.67x
Holy Trinity 4 18.31x
Chirton 3 97.09x
Govan 3 4.09x
Radcliffe On Trent 3 1666.67x
Spitalfields London 3 43.48x
Tadcaster West 3 416.67x
Yardley 3 98.04x
Chelsea London 2 7.24x
Cheltenham 2 14.42x
St Anne Soho London 2 38.17x
Toxteth Park 2 5.43x
Barlavington 1 1666.67x
Brighton 1 3.21x
Broughton In Salford 1 10.05x
Camberwell 1 1.71x
Clifton 1 11.00x
Eastbourne 1 14.06x
Lambeth 1 1.25x
Lt Milton 1 909.09x
North Deighton 1 2500.00x
Norwich St Peter 1 107.53x
Paddington London 1 2.97x
Pocklington 1 116.28x
St George Hanover Square 1 6.19x
Stapleton 1 29.33x
Wimbledon 1 19.92x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 5
Annie 3
Elizabeth 3
Sarah 3
Alice 2
Clara 2
Martha 2
Anna 1
Beatrice 1
Bertha 1
C. 1
Caroline 1
Corali 1
Eliza 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Infant 1
Josephine 1
Kate 1
Louise 1
Margareth 1
Marrie 1
May 1
Teressa 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 7
George 4
Henry 3
James 3
William 3
Engelbert 2
Herbert 2
Thomas 2
Anthony 1
Bernard 1
Bertram 1
Cecil 1
Charles 1
Edward 1
Felix 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
Fritz 1
Gottfried 1
Harry 1
Isaac 1
Joseph 1
Laurence 1
Leo 1
Leopold 1
Rudolf 1
Sidney 1
Stanley 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Brunner surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brunner surname in 1881?

In 1881, 94 people were recorded with the Brunner surname. That placed it at #20,467 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brunner surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 238 in 2016. That gives Brunner a modern rank of #17,361.

What does the Brunner surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a well-digger or someone who lived near a well or spring.

What does the Brunner map show?

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