UK surname
An English surname derived from the Old French word "bruton", meaning a fortified house or castle.
In the 1881 census there were 44 people recorded with the Brutton surname, ranking it #27,447 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 18, ranked #36,832, down from #27,447 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) 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 Brutton is 125 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 59.1%.
1881 census count
44
Ranked #27,447
Modern count
18
2016, ranked #36,832
Peak year
1861
125 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Brutton surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Brutton 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 | 55 | #23,413 |
| 1861 | historical | 125 | #17,678 |
| 1881 | historical | 44 | #27,447 |
| 1891 | historical | 86 | #25,951 |
| 1901 | historical | 72 | #26,162 |
| 1911 | historical | 55 | #27,313 |
| 1997 | modern | 34 | #34,282 |
| 1998 | modern | 37 | #34,149 |
| 1999 | modern | 36 | #34,323 |
| 2000 | modern | 29 | #34,976 |
| 2001 | modern | 28 | #34,936 |
| 2002 | modern | 22 | #35,709 |
| 2003 | modern | 26 | #35,371 |
| 2004 | modern | 20 | #36,053 |
| 2005 | modern | 22 | #35,993 |
| 2006 | modern | 22 | #36,105 |
| 2007 | modern | 19 | #36,450 |
| 2008 | modern | 21 | #36,355 |
| 2009 | modern | 18 | #36,682 |
| 2010 | modern | 15 | #37,038 |
| 2011 | modern | 14 | #37,115 |
| 2012 | modern | 17 | #36,811 |
| 2013 | modern | 16 | #36,955 |
| 2014 | modern | 16 | #36,974 |
| 2015 | modern | 16 | #36,978 |
| 2016 | modern | 18 | #36,832 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Exeter St David (including Castle Yard), Walthamstow, Low Leyton, London parishes and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. 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 | Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside | Durham |
| 2 | Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) | Devon |
| 3 | Walthamstow, Low Leyton | Essex |
| 4 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 5 | Birmingham Town: Birmingham | Warwickshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Brutton 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 Brutton, 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 Brutton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Brutton 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, Brutton 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 Brutton is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Brutton, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Brutton has its origins in England and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "brot," which meant a small stream or brook. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a small stream or brook.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Brutton can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1194, where a person named Richard de Brutton is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already well-established in the area by the late 12th century.
In the 13th century, the name appears in various records, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275, where a William de Brutton is listed. The "de" prefix indicates that the name was originally associated with a particular place, likely a village or hamlet called Brutton.
The Brutton surname is also recorded in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1279, where it is spelled as "Bruttone." This variation in spelling was common during the Middle Ages, as there was no standardized system of spelling at the time.
One notable historical figure with the surname Brutton was John Brutton, who lived in the 15th century. He was a merchant and landowner in Gloucestershire and is mentioned in various legal documents and property records from that time.
Another prominent individual was Thomas Brutton, born in 1540 in Somerset. He was a clergyman and served as the Rector of Stoke St. Gregory in Somerset from 1573 until his death in 1610.
In the 17th century, the name appears in the parish records of Warwickshire, where a family of Bruttons was residing in the village of Oxhill. One member of this family, William Brutton, born in 1623, was a farmer and landowner in the area.
The 18th century saw the birth of John Brutton, a renowned architect from Gloucestershire. He was born in 1701 and is known for designing several notable buildings, including the Church of St. Michael and All Angels in Stratton, Gloucestershire.
Another significant figure was Robert Brutton, born in 1789 in Somerset. He was a wealthy industrialist and owned several mills and factories in the area. He played a significant role in the industrial development of the region during the 19th century.
Throughout history, the Brutton surname has maintained a strong presence, particularly in the counties of Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Oxfordshire, and Somerset in England. While the name may have originated from a specific location, it has since spread to various parts of the country and beyond.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brutton 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. Somerset leads with 10 Bruttons recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.48x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Somerset | 10 | 14.48x |
| Devon | 8 | 8.96x |
| Middlesex | 6 | 1.40x |
| Staffordshire | 4 | 2.76x |
| Essex | 3 | 3.54x |
| Northumberland | 3 | 4.70x |
| Kent | 2 | 1.37x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.47x |
| Anglesey | 1 | 13.14x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.78x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.20x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 2.10x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.48x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 1.78x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Yeovil in Somerset leads with 10 Bruttons recorded in 1881 and an index of 714.29x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yeovil | 10 | 714.29x |
| Burton Upon Trent | 4 | 117.99x |
| Littleham | 4 | 615.38x |
| Tynemouth | 3 | 87.72x |
| West Ham | 3 | 16.04x |
| East Stonehouse | 2 | 113.64x |
| Hampstead London | 2 | 29.94x |
| Kensington London | 2 | 8.38x |
| Lewisham | 2 | 25.61x |
| Amlwch | 1 | 138.89x |
| Chorlton On Medlock | 1 | 12.36x |
| Exeter Holy Trinity | 1 | 285.71x |
| Great Malvern | 1 | 85.47x |
| Hammersmith London | 1 | 9.46x |
| Headingley Cum Burley | 1 | 36.50x |
| Hedworth Monkton Jarrow | 1 | 18.08x |
| Leatherhead | 1 | 192.31x |
| Leicester St Mary | 1 | 26.04x |
| Plymouth Charles The | 1 | 25.38x |
| St Anne Soho London | 1 | 40.82x |
| Thorner | 1 | 714.29x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Brutton 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 Brutton 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 Brutton households.
FAQ
In 1881, 44 people were recorded with the Brutton surname. That placed it at #27,447 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 18 in 2016. That gives Brutton a modern rank of #36,832.
An English surname derived from the Old French word "bruton", meaning a fortified house or castle.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Brutton 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.