UK surname
An English surname derived from an archaic word for a wood gatherer or forester.
In the 1881 census there were 73 people recorded with the Bruster surname, ranking it #23,220 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 6, ranked #38,110, down from #23,220 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Greenwich, Stockport and Walthamstow, Low Leyton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bruster is 160 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 91.8%.
1881 census count
73
Ranked #23,220
Modern count
6
2016, ranked #38,110
Peak year
1861
160 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Bruster surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Bruster 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 | 66 | #21,617 |
| 1861 | historical | 160 | #14,468 |
| 1881 | historical | 73 | #23,220 |
| 1891 | historical | 70 | #28,073 |
| 1901 | historical | 30 | #30,724 |
| 1911 | historical | 26 | #30,547 |
| 1997 | modern | 10 | #37,060 |
| 1998 | modern | 9 | #37,189 |
| 1999 | modern | 11 | #36,917 |
| 2000 | modern | 8 | #37,264 |
| 2001 | modern | 8 | #37,124 |
| 2002 | modern | 9 | #37,051 |
| 2003 | modern | 8 | #37,248 |
| 2004 | modern | 7 | #37,496 |
| 2005 | modern | 7 | #37,581 |
| 2006 | modern | 7 | #37,634 |
| 2007 | modern | 7 | #37,687 |
| 2008 | modern | 7 | #37,735 |
| 2009 | modern | 7 | #37,816 |
| 2010 | modern | 7 | #37,904 |
| 2011 | modern | 7 | #37,865 |
| 2012 | modern | 8 | #37,740 |
| 2013 | modern | 7 | #37,909 |
| 2014 | modern | 8 | #37,806 |
| 2015 | modern | 6 | #38,076 |
| 2016 | modern | 6 | #38,110 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Greenwich, Stockport, Walthamstow, Low Leyton, St Leonard Shoreditch and Uppingham, Beaumont Chase. 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 | Greenwich | London (South Districts) |
| 2 | Stockport | Cheshire |
| 3 | Walthamstow, Low Leyton | Essex |
| 4 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 5 | Uppingham, Beaumont Chase | Rutland |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Bruster 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 Bruster, 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 Bruster surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Bruster 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, Bruster 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 Bruster is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Bruster, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname BRUSTER originated in the German region of Bavaria in the early 12th century. It is derived from the Old High German words "brusten" meaning "to swell or bulge" and "hus" meaning "house". This suggests the name was likely given to someone who lived in a particularly large or bulging house.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name BRUSTER can be found in the Bavarian town records of Landshut from 1187, referencing a Wilhelm Bruster who was a local merchant. The name also appears in the records of the Cistercian abbey of Aldersbach from 1212, referring to a monk named Dietrich Bruster.
In 1329, a man named Hans Bruster was recorded as a master stonemason working on the construction of the Frauenkirche cathedral in Munich. This suggests the name had spread from its original rural roots to urban centers by the 14th century.
The earliest known spelling variation of the name was "Brusterius", found in a 1401 manuscript from the University of Heidelberg referring to a scholar named Johannes Brusterius.
One of the most notable early bearers of the BRUSTER name was Matthäus Bruster (1492-1567), a German Protestant reformer and theologian who was a close associate of Martin Luther. He is known for his translations of biblical texts into German.
Other historically significant individuals with the surname include Johann Bruster (1621-1677), a Baroque composer and organist from Nuremberg, and Sophia Bruster (1765-1833), a celebrated Bavarian folk artist known for her intricate woodcarvings.
In the 19th century, the name spread further with Theodor Bruster (1819-1891), a German-American pioneer and politician who served as the 12th Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin.
A more recent bearer was Gerhard Bruster (1892-1969), an influential German architect in the Bauhaus and International Style movements who helped rebuild cities after World War II.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bruster 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. Northamptonshire leads with 10 Brusters recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.73x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Northamptonshire | 10 | 14.73x |
| Rutland | 10 | 188.68x |
| Cumberland | 9 | 14.49x |
| Nottinghamshire | 8 | 8.23x |
| Surrey | 6 | 1.71x |
| Yorkshire | 6 | 0.84x |
| Essex | 5 | 3.51x |
| Lincolnshire | 5 | 4.33x |
| Glamorgan | 3 | 2.39x |
| Herefordshire | 3 | 10.14x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.23x |
| Anglesey | 1 | 7.82x |
| Angus | 1 | 1.50x |
| Channel Islands | 1 | 4.68x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.41x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.14x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 1.03x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.41x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Peterborough in Northamptonshire leads with 10 Brusters recorded in 1881 and an index of 203.67x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Peterborough | 10 | 203.67x |
| Uppingham | 10 | 1587.30x |
| Shelford Saxondale | 8 | 6153.85x |
| Lambeth | 6 | 9.54x |
| Leyton | 5 | 204.08x |
| Preston Quarter | 5 | 287.36x |
| Great Grimsby | 3 | 40.98x |
| Hereford St Peter | 3 | 379.75x |
| Aysgarth | 2 | 2222.22x |
| Crosscanonby | 2 | 97.56x |
| Liverpool | 2 | 3.85x |
| Swansea Town | 2 | 19.42x |
| Workington | 2 | 56.18x |
| Brampton Bierlow | 1 | 108.70x |
| Bushbury | 1 | 227.27x |
| Chatham | 1 | 14.77x |
| Edinburgh St Stephens | 1 | 52.63x |
| Fylingdales | 1 | 277.78x |
| Hemsworth | 1 | 243.90x |
| Holyhead | 1 | 42.02x |
| Islington London | 1 | 1.43x |
| Kirton | 1 | 217.39x |
| Montrose | 1 | 24.69x |
| Shipley | 1 | 26.95x |
| St Anne | 1 | 263.16x |
| Stamford St George | 1 | 192.31x |
| Swansea Lower | 1 | 156.25x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Bruster 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 Bruster 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 Bruster households.
FAQ
In 1881, 73 people were recorded with the Bruster surname. That placed it at #23,220 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 6 in 2016. That gives Bruster a modern rank of #38,110.
An English surname derived from an archaic word for a wood gatherer or forester.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bruster 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.