NameCensus.

UK surname

Debruin

A Dutch surname derived from the nickname for someone with a brownish complexion.

In the 1881 census there were 16 people recorded with the Debruin surname, ranking it #31,301 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 150, ranked #23,724, up from #31,301 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wealden, Swale and North Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Debruin is 162 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 837.5%.

1881 census count

16

Ranked #31,301

Modern count

150

2016, ranked #23,724

Peak year

2014

162 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Debruin had 16 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,301 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 150 in 2016, ranked #23,724.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 31 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Debruin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Debruin surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Debruin 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 4 #32,658
1861 historical 5 #33,418
1881 historical 16 #31,301
1891 historical 15 #32,956
1901 historical 27 #31,057
1911 historical 31 #29,952
1997 modern 114 #24,967
1998 modern 120 #24,793
1999 modern 124 #24,508
2000 modern 127 #24,121
2001 modern 118 #24,832
2002 modern 122 #24,874
2003 modern 117 #25,282
2004 modern 124 #24,559
2005 modern 135 #23,297
2006 modern 144 #22,520
2007 modern 154 #21,804
2008 modern 155 #21,956
2009 modern 154 #22,536
2010 modern 154 #23,082
2011 modern 157 #22,574
2012 modern 154 #22,870
2013 modern 158 #22,817
2014 modern 162 #22,624
2015 modern 154 #23,306
2016 modern 150 #23,724

Geography

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Where Debruins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wealden, Swale, North Somerset and Barnet. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wealden 011 Wealden
2 Swale 006 Swale
3 North Somerset 023 North Somerset
4 Barnet 033 Barnet
5 North Somerset 021 North Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Debruin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Debruin

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Debruin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Debruin 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 are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Debruin is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Debruin 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

Debruin falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Debruin is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Debruin

The surname DEBRUIN originated in the Netherlands during the 16th century. It is derived from the Dutch words "de" meaning "the" and "bruin" meaning "brown". The name likely referred to someone with a brown complexion or hair color, or perhaps someone who lived near a brown-colored landmark or structure.

The earliest recorded instance of the name appears in archival records from the city of Amsterdam in the year 1592, where a merchant named Jan DEBRUIN is listed as a member of the local guild. During this time period, many Dutch surnames were being established and solidified as family names passed down through generations.

In the 17th century, the name DEBRUIN can be found in various Dutch colonies and settlements around the world, particularly in areas of present-day South Africa, Indonesia, and the Caribbean. This reflects the global reach of Dutch traders and settlers during the Dutch Golden Age.

One notable figure with the surname DEBRUIN was Pieter DEBRUIN (1665-1735), a Dutch naval officer and explorer who led several expeditions to the East Indies and helped establish Dutch control over various Indonesian islands.

Another prominent individual was Willem DEBRUIN (1718-1789), a Dutch painter and engraver known for his landscape paintings and etchings of Dutch cities and countryside scenes.

In the 19th century, the name DEBRUIN appeared among Dutch immigrants who settled in various parts of North America, including Canada and the United States. For example, Johannes DEBRUIN (1822-1901) was a Dutch-born farmer who settled in Michigan and became a prominent figure in the local Dutch community.

Johanna DEBRUIN (1846-1920) was a Dutch-American educator and women's rights advocate who worked to establish schools and promote education for immigrant communities in New York City.

Another notable figure was Jan DEBRUIN (1879-1962), a Dutch-born architect who designed several landmark buildings in South Africa, including the Johannesburg City Hall and the Pretoria Station.

These examples illustrate the widespread distribution and historical significance of the surname DEBRUIN, which has its roots in the Netherlands but has since been carried by individuals across various continents and professions over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Debruin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Debruin 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. Middlesex leads with 4 Debruins recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.29x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 4 10.29x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Mile End Old Town London in Middlesex leads with 3 Debruins recorded in 1881 and an index of 361.45x.

Place Total Index
Mile End Old Town London 3 361.45x
St George Hanover Square 1 147.06x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Harriet 1
Janet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Chas. 2

Top occupations

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 Debruin households.

Occupation Count
Dressmaker 1
Laborer 1
Mariner 1

FAQ

Debruin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Debruin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 16 people were recorded with the Debruin surname. That placed it at #31,301 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Debruin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 150 in 2016. That gives Debruin a modern rank of #23,724.

What does the Debruin surname mean?

A Dutch surname derived from the nickname for someone with a brownish complexion.

What does the Debruin map show?

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