UK surname
A surname of Irish origin meaning "descendant of Brian".
In the 1881 census there were 143 people recorded with the Obrion surname, ranking it #15,955 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4, ranked #38,419, down from #15,955 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Auckland St Andrew and Knaresborough (Bilton and Harrogate, Scriven with Tentergate, Knaresborough), Pannall. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Obrion is 168 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 97.2%.
1881 census count
143
Ranked #15,955
Modern count
4
2016, ranked #38,419
Peak year
1851
168 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Obrion surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Obrion 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 | 168 | #11,873 |
| 1861 | historical | 166 | #14,039 |
| 1881 | historical | 143 | #15,955 |
| 1891 | historical | 139 | #19,311 |
| 1901 | historical | 92 | #23,800 |
| 1911 | historical | 44 | #28,454 |
| 1997 | modern | 6 | #37,704 |
| 1998 | modern | 3 | #38,304 |
| 1999 | modern | 4 | #38,100 |
| 2000 | modern | 2 | #38,472 |
| 2001 | modern | 2 | #38,335 |
| 2002 | modern | 2 | #38,400 |
| 2003 | modern | 2 | #38,424 |
| 2004 | modern | 2 | #38,464 |
| 2005 | modern | 2 | #38,532 |
| 2006 | modern | 2 | #38,590 |
| 2007 | modern | 1 | #38,907 |
| 2008 | modern | 1 | #38,949 |
| 2009 | modern | 1 | #38,998 |
| 2010 | modern | 1 | #39,020 |
| 2011 | modern | 2 | #38,745 |
| 2012 | modern | 3 | #38,530 |
| 2013 | modern | 4 | #38,359 |
| 2014 | modern | 4 | #38,376 |
| 2015 | modern | 4 | #38,392 |
| 2016 | modern | 4 | #38,419 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Auckland St Andrew, Knaresborough (Bilton and Harrogate, Scriven with Tentergate, Knaresborough), Pannall, Manchester and Wigan. 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 | Auckland St Andrew | Durham |
| 3 | Knaresborough (Bilton and Harrogate, Scriven with Tentergate, Knaresborough), Pannall | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | Wigan | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Obrion 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 Obrion, 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 Obrion surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Obrion 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, Obrion 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 Obrion is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Obrion, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname OBRION is of Irish origin, dating back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Gaelic name Ó Brádaighin, which means "descendant of Bradigan". The name Bradigan itself is thought to be derived from the old Irish word "brádag", meaning "thief" or "robber".
The OBRION family is believed to have originated in County Mayo, Ireland, where the name was first recorded. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the early 17th century, which mentions an "O'Bradaghan" family.
In the 17th century, the name was sometimes anglicized as "O'Bradigan" or "O'Braddigan". During this time, the name was also found in various spellings, such as "O'Bradden" and "O'Braden".
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the OBRION surname was Terence O'Braddigan, who was born in County Mayo in the late 16th century. Another early bearer of the name was Patrick O'Bradden, a landowner in County Sligo, who was mentioned in the Hearth Money Rolls of 1665.
In the 18th century, the surname OBRION began to appear in its modern spelling. One notable figure from this period was Seán Ó Bradaigh (1670-1749), a poet and Irish language scholar from County Mayo.
Another prominent individual with the OBRION surname was Michael O'Brien (1796-1872), an Irish-born prelate who served as the first Catholic Bishop of Waterford and Lismore in Ireland.
In the 19th century, the name OBRION was also found among Irish immigrants to the United States and other countries. One such individual was Patrick O'Brien (1810-1891), an Irish-born politician who served as the 17th Governor of Michigan from 1865 to 1869.
Another notable bearer of the OBRION surname was Edna O'Brien (1930-present), an Irish novelist and memoirist known for her works exploring the inner lives of women and the societal constraints they face.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Obrion 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. Cumberland leads with 6 Obrions recorded in 1881 and an index of 44.68x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cumberland | 6 | 44.68x |
| Yorkshire | 5 | 3.23x |
| Kent | 3 | 5.64x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.64x |
| Surrey | 1 | 1.32x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Egremont in Cumberland leads with 6 Obrions recorded in 1881 and an index of 1875.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Egremont | 6 | 1875.00x |
| Attercliffe Cum Darnall | 3 | 208.33x |
| Leeds | 2 | 22.91x |
| West Wickham | 2 | 4000.00x |
| Fulham London | 1 | 44.25x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 7.35x |
| Longfield | 1 | 5000.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Obrion 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 Obrion 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 Obrion households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 4 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| Groom (Dom) | 1 |
| Lab Gen | 1 |
| Stone Carter | 1 |
| Tailores | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 143 people were recorded with the Obrion surname. That placed it at #15,955 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 4 in 2016. That gives Obrion a modern rank of #38,419.
A surname of Irish origin meaning "descendant of Brian".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Obrion 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.