NameCensus.

UK surname

Brunskill

A locational surname referring to someone from the town of Brunskill in Cumberland, England.

In the 1881 census there were 696 people recorded with the Brunskill surname, ranking it #5,211 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 910, ranked #6,254, down from #5,211 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Appleby St Lawrence, Crosby Garrett and Leeds. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Redcar and Cleveland and Eden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brunskill is 958 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 30.7%.

1881 census count

696

Ranked #5,211

Modern count

910

2016, ranked #6,254

Peak year

1998

958 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brunskill had 696 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,211 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 910 in 2016, ranked #6,254.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 879 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Brunskill surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brunskill surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Brunskill 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 501 #4,984
1861 historical 477 #5,465
1881 historical 696 #5,211
1891 historical 621 #6,225
1901 historical 879 #5,227
1911 historical 869 #5,118
1997 modern 932 #5,806
1998 modern 958 #5,866
1999 modern 950 #5,947
2000 modern 938 #5,991
2001 modern 929 #5,925
2002 modern 923 #6,079
2003 modern 893 #6,124
2004 modern 906 #6,067
2005 modern 886 #6,096
2006 modern 854 #6,293
2007 modern 859 #6,323
2008 modern 851 #6,417
2009 modern 865 #6,486
2010 modern 917 #6,297
2011 modern 900 #6,322
2012 modern 904 #6,231
2013 modern 902 #6,330
2014 modern 921 #6,272
2015 modern 924 #6,203
2016 modern 910 #6,254

Geography

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Where Brunskills are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Appleby St Lawrence, Crosby Garrett, Leeds, Orton and Middleton-in-Teesdale. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, Redcar and Cleveland and Eden. 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 Appleby St Lawrence Westmorland
2 Crosby Garrett Westmorland
3 Leeds Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Orton Westmorland
5 Middleton-in-Teesdale Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 051 County Durham
2 Redcar and Cleveland 004 Redcar and Cleveland
3 Eden 007 Eden
4 County Durham 064 County Durham
5 County Durham 046 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Brunskill

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Brunskill

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Brunskill surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Brunskill household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Brunskill 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

Brunskill 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

Brunskill falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Brunskill

The surname Brunskill originates from the northern counties of England, particularly Yorkshire and Lancashire. It is believed to have derived from the Old Norse words "brunnr" meaning a well or spring, and "skali" meaning a temporary shelter or hut. This suggests the name may have referred to someone who lived near a well or spring where travelers could take shelter.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1301, which mentions a Robert de Brunskill. The "de" prefix indicates the surname was originally a locational name, likely referring to a specific place called Brunskill.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various records from Lancashire, such as the Lancashire Inquests and Extents from 1324, which mentions a William de Brunnskill. The varying spellings, including Brunnskill and Brunschull, were common during this period.

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379 list a John de Brunskyll, while the Lancashire Wills from 1548 to 1625 include several instances of the name, such as Christopher Brunschull (1548) and John Brunskill (1625).

One notable individual with this surname was Sir William Brunskill (1637-1708), an English landowner and Member of Parliament for Knaresborough from 1695 to 1708. He was known for his involvement in local politics and for serving as a Deputy Lieutenant of the West Riding of Yorkshire.

Another significant figure was John Brunskill (1768-1857), a successful businessman and philanthropist from Yorkshire. He made his fortune in the textile industry and contributed to the establishment of several educational institutions in the region.

In the 19th century, the name was associated with the village of Brunskill in Lancashire, which likely took its name from the surname. The village is mentioned in various historical records and maps from that period.

Other notable individuals with the surname Brunskill include Thomas Brunskill (1792-1881), a prominent English architect responsible for designing several churches and public buildings in Yorkshire, and Robert Brunskill (1857-1943), a renowned historian and author of several works on vernacular architecture in England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Brunskill families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brunskill 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. Yorkshire leads with 157 Brunskills recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.34x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 157 2.34x
Westmorland 151 101.34x
Durham 144 7.14x
Lancashire 124 1.54x
Cumberland 60 10.28x
Northumberland 29 2.88x
Middlesex 12 0.18x
Lanarkshire 6 0.27x
Leicestershire 5 0.67x
Surrey 4 0.12x
Kent 2 0.09x
Hampshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. High Abbotside in Yorkshire leads with 21 Brunskills recorded in 1881 and an index of 1842.11x.

Place Total Index
High Abbotside 21 1842.11x
Wavertree 21 81.55x
Bishop Auckland 16 59.13x
Orton 15 337.08x
Kirkby Stephen 14 362.69x
Melbecks 13 479.70x
Stainmore 13 1130.43x
Accrington 12 16.41x
Crosby Garrett 12 2307.69x
Penrith 12 55.66x
Appleby St Michael 11 328.36x
Dent 11 391.46x
Gateshead 11 7.28x
Lynesack Softley 11 201.83x
Melsonby 11 894.31x
Newcastle On Tyne St 11 21.04x
Appleby St Lawrence 10 294.99x
Bolton 10 1063.83x
Coxlodge 10 130.38x
East Thickley 10 244.50x
Hunwick Helmington 10 206.61x
Mickleton 10 645.16x
Woodland 10 746.27x
Barrow In Furness 9 8.23x
Blackburn 9 4.20x
Muker 9 463.92x
Clitheroe 8 33.78x
Kendal 8 29.33x
Kirkandrews On Esk 8 404.04x
Leeds 8 2.11x
Parr 8 27.80x
Skelton In Guisbrough 8 44.03x
Tottington Lower End 8 20.93x
West Auckland 8 108.40x
Boldron 7 2000.00x
Lower Upper Holker 7 636.36x
Melmerby 7 1060.61x
Middleton In Teesdale 7 131.58x
Milbourne 7 1250.00x
Ravenstonedale 7 336.54x
Stanhope 7 33.61x
Stockton On Tees 7 7.20x
Thornaby 7 27.89x
West Rainton 7 112.18x
Bainbridge 6 377.36x
Barnard Castle 6 60.18x
Barony 6 1.08x
Evenwood Barony 6 87.46x
Livesey 6 42.49x
Rokeby 6 1333.33x
Threlkeld 6 618.56x
Wolsingham 6 32.64x
Asby 5 434.78x
Blencarn 5 1470.59x
Borrowby In 5 666.67x
Broughton In Salford 5 6.80x
Gamblesby 5 806.45x
Hartley 5 1428.57x
Hawes 5 113.90x
Hawkshead Monk Coniston 5 178.57x
Long Marton 5 301.20x
Melmerby In Leyburn 5 1923.08x
St Pancras London 5 0.92x
Warcop 5 299.40x
Bethnal Green London 4 1.36x
Byers Green 4 70.30x
Camberwell 4 0.92x
Cheetham 4 6.67x
Darlington 4 5.14x
Headingley Cum Burley 4 9.25x
Leyburn 4 176.99x
Liverpool 4 0.82x
Mallerstang 4 634.92x
Matterdale 4 500.00x
Newton Harcourt 4 930.23x
Skirwith 4 625.00x
Undermilbeck 4 81.47x
Habergham Eaves 3 4.08x
Norton 3 40.49x
Temple Sowerby 3 309.28x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 61
Elizabeth 36
Jane 32
Ann 20
Margaret 19
Sarah 19
Isabella 13
Alice 12
Hannah 9
Agnes 7
Annie 7
Ada 5
Martha 5
Emma 4
Phillis 4
Charlotte 3
Dinah 3
Eleanor 3
Ellen 3
Emily 3
Margret 3
Phoebe 3
Catherine 2
Christiana 2
Dora 2
Dorothy 2
Eliza 2
Frances 2
Harriet 2
Henrietta 2
Maria 2
Rachael 2
Rebecca 2
Rose 2
Ruth 2
Betty 1
Clara 1
Dorathy 1
Elizibeth 1
Elizth. 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
Flora 1
Laura 1
Lavinia 1
Louisa 1
Margeret 1
Marget 1
Margt.J. 1
Valerie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 55
William 45
Thomas 43
James 23
George 20
Robert 20
Richard 18
Joseph 15
Anthony 8
Henry 8
Jonathan 7
Walter 5
Christopher 4
Edward 4
Stephen 4
Albert 3
Frederick 3
Robt. 3
Samuel 3
Thos. 3
Alfred 2
Andrew 2
David 2
Edmund 2
Edwin 2
Herbert 2
Isaac 2
Joshua 2
Simon 2
Tom 2
Wm. 2
Anne 1
Charles 1
Cornelius 1
Cuthbert 1
Cyril 1
Edgar 1
Edmond 1
Elliott 1
Francis 1
Fredrick 1
Harrey 1
Jno.W. 1
Johnathan 1
Louis 1
Mark 1
Michael 1
Peter 1
Ralph 1
Robinson 1

FAQ

Brunskill surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brunskill surname in 1881?

In 1881, 696 people were recorded with the Brunskill surname. That placed it at #5,211 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brunskill surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 910 in 2016. That gives Brunskill a modern rank of #6,254.

What does the Brunskill surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from the town of Brunskill in Cumberland, England.

What does the Brunskill map show?

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