UK surname
A Scottish surname derived from the place name Bridykirk.
In the 1881 census there were 109 people recorded with the Brydie surname, ranking it #18,793 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 62, ranked #34,227, down from #18,793 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Kinross, Alloa and Anstruther Easter and Wester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brydie is 120 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 43.1%.
1881 census count
109
Ranked #18,793
Modern count
62
2016, ranked #34,227
Peak year
1901
120 bearers
Map years
3
1881 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Brydie surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Brydie surname density by area, 1881 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 | 97 | #17,484 |
| 1861 | historical | 59 | #26,466 |
| 1881 | historical | 109 | #18,793 |
| 1891 | historical | 118 | #21,540 |
| 1901 | historical | 120 | #20,545 |
| 1911 | historical | 11 | #32,463 |
| 1997 | modern | 60 | #31,629 |
| 1998 | modern | 64 | #31,562 |
| 1999 | modern | 65 | #31,605 |
| 2000 | modern | 65 | #31,641 |
| 2001 | modern | 62 | #31,798 |
| 2002 | modern | 59 | #32,468 |
| 2003 | modern | 59 | #32,530 |
| 2004 | modern | 60 | #32,684 |
| 2005 | modern | 60 | #32,917 |
| 2006 | modern | 62 | #33,043 |
| 2007 | modern | 65 | #33,045 |
| 2008 | modern | 60 | #33,743 |
| 2009 | modern | 58 | #34,144 |
| 2010 | modern | 58 | #34,346 |
| 2011 | modern | 57 | #34,393 |
| 2012 | modern | 62 | #34,155 |
| 2013 | modern | 62 | #34,260 |
| 2014 | modern | 60 | #34,400 |
| 2015 | modern | 61 | #34,284 |
| 2016 | modern | 62 | #34,227 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Kinross, Alloa, Anstruther Easter and Wester, Edinburgh and Portmoak. 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 | Kinross | Kinross |
| 2 | Alloa | Clackmannan |
| 3 | Anstruther Easter and Wester | Fife |
| 4 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 5 | Portmoak | Kinross |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Brydie 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 Brydie, 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 Brydie surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Brydie 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, Brydie 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 Brydie is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Brydie, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Brydie is believed to have originated in Scotland in the 14th century. It is thought to be derived from the Gaelic words "bri" meaning hill or ridge, and "deas" meaning southern or sunny, suggesting that the name may have referred to someone who lived on a sunny hillside or ridge.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Brydie can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a collection of homage rolls made during the reign of King Edward I of England. The rolls list a Robert de Brydie as a landowner in the county of Ayrshire, Scotland.
Another early mention of the name appears in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from 1365, where a John Brydie is recorded as a tax collector in the town of Lanark.
During the 16th century, the spelling of the name varied, with forms such as Briddie, Brydy, and Brydey appearing in various records. One notable person with this surname was William Brydie, a Scottish merchant who was born in Aberdeen in 1580 and later became a wealthy trader in the city of London.
In the 17th century, the Brydie surname was particularly prevalent in the Scottish Borders region, and several place names in that area, such as Brydie Hill and Brydie Burn, may be derived from the family name.
One of the most famous individuals with the Brydie surname was James Brydie, a Scottish philosopher and educator who lived from 1673 to 1739. He was a professor of moral philosophy at the University of Edinburgh and is credited with influencing the Scottish Enlightenment movement.
Other notable individuals with the Brydie surname include:
1. Robert Brydie (1753-1815), a Scottish architect and surveyor who designed several prominent buildings in Edinburgh. 2. Mary Brydie (1819-1900), a Scottish author and poet who wrote under the pen name "Violet Whyte." 3. Alexander Brydie (1847-1923), a Scottish engineer and inventor who patented several innovations in the field of steam engines. 4. George Brydie (1876-1954), a Scottish politician who served as a Member of Parliament for the constituency of Dumfries Burghs from 1923 to 1931.
While the surname Brydie is not among the most common in Scotland today, its rich history and connections to various regions and notable individuals make it a fascinating example of the country's diverse heritage.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brydie 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. Perthshire leads with 28 Brydies recorded in 1881 and an index of 58.69x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Perthshire | 28 | 58.69x |
| Fife | 23 | 36.55x |
| Kinross-shire | 17 | 631.97x |
| Lanarkshire | 12 | 3.49x |
| Clackmannanshire | 11 | 125.28x |
| Midlothian | 9 | 6.32x |
| Staffordshire | 4 | 1.11x |
| Angus | 2 | 2.03x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.08x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.09x |
| Stirlingshire | 1 | 2.55x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ardoch in Perthshire leads with 16 Brydies recorded in 1881 and an index of 4000.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Ardoch | 16 | 4000.00x |
| Barony | 10 | 11.49x |
| Alloa | 9 | 211.27x |
| Carnbee | 7 | 1842.11x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 7 | 12.22x |
| Kinross | 7 | 760.87x |
| Anstruther Easter | 6 | 1333.33x |
| Muckhart | 6 | 2727.27x |
| Anstruther Wester | 5 | 2083.33x |
| Fossoway | 5 | 1086.96x |
| Muthill | 5 | 806.45x |
| Portmoak | 5 | 1315.79x |
| Trentham | 4 | 131.15x |
| Dairsie | 2 | 769.23x |
| Dollar | 2 | 219.78x |
| Dundee | 2 | 5.44x |
| Govan | 2 | 2.35x |
| Crieff | 1 | 56.50x |
| Dunfermline | 1 | 10.33x |
| Edinburgh St Georges | 1 | 33.78x |
| Elie | 1 | 400.00x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 1.31x |
| South Leith | 1 | 6.24x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 1.76x |
| Stirling | 1 | 20.24x |
| Strathmiglo | 1 | 133.33x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Brydie surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Elizabeth | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Brydie 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 Brydie households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| (Retired) Private Tutor | 1 |
| Mariner | 1 |
| Scholar | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 109 people were recorded with the Brydie surname. That placed it at #18,793 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 62 in 2016. That gives Brydie a modern rank of #34,227.
A Scottish surname derived from the place name Bridykirk.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Brydie 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.