NameCensus.

UK surname

Philbrick

An English occupational surname referring to a brick maker or layer, derived from Old English "filbrigg" meaning "fill bridge."

In the 1881 census there were 162 people recorded with the Philbrick surname, ranking it #14,746 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 203, ranked #19,396, down from #14,746 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a and St Dunstan Stepney. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Hertfordshire, Gloucester and Colchester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Philbrick is 241 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 25.3%.

1881 census count

162

Ranked #14,746

Modern count

203

2016, ranked #19,396

Peak year

2000

241 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Philbrick had 162 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,746 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 203 in 2016, ranked #19,396.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 220 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities.

Philbrick surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Philbrick surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Philbrick 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 88 #18,569
1861 historical 71 #24,765
1881 historical 162 #14,746
1891 historical 137 #19,501
1901 historical 181 #16,107
1911 historical 220 #14,088
1997 modern 226 #16,306
1998 modern 234 #16,404
1999 modern 240 #16,226
2000 modern 241 #16,146
2001 modern 227 #16,573
2002 modern 226 #16,939
2003 modern 205 #17,851
2004 modern 209 #17,706
2005 modern 197 #18,339
2006 modern 199 #18,357
2007 modern 207 #18,080
2008 modern 203 #18,470
2009 modern 204 #18,779
2010 modern 214 #18,601
2011 modern 223 #17,940
2012 modern 224 #17,786
2013 modern 220 #18,324
2014 modern 211 #19,002
2015 modern 202 #19,433
2016 modern 203 #19,396

Geography

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Where Philbricks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a and St Dunstan Stepney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Hertfordshire, Gloucester, Colchester and Woking. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a Essex
4 St Dunstan Stepney London (East Districts)
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Hertfordshire 011 East Hertfordshire
2 Gloucester 001 Gloucester
3 Gloucester 007 Gloucester
4 Colchester 002 Colchester
5 Woking 001 Woking

Forenames

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First names often paired with Philbrick

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Philbrick

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

Baseline UK

Group

Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities

Nationally, the Philbrick surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Philbrick household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Single-person households are common in these neighbourhoods, and these residents are typically divorced rather than never married. A high proportion of residents were born outside the UK in the EU. There are many young adults, some with young children, but relatively few residents are of normal retirement age or over. Although levels of identification with ethnic minorities are in line with the Supergroup average, individuals identifying with Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is more common than average. High long-term disability rates are observed, and unpaid care is more common than in the rest of the Group. The predominant housing types are terraced houses and flats, which are typically part of the social rented sector. This Group is commonly found in coastal areas and (present-day or former) industrial towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Philbrick is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Philbrick is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Philbrick falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Philbrick is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Philbrick

The surname PHILBRICK is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated as a locational name, referring to individuals who hailed from a specific area or settlement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of this surname can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England compiled in 1086 under the order of William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a place called "Filibroc" or "Filebroc," which is thought to be the ancestral home of those bearing the name PHILBRICK.

The name itself is derived from the Old English words "fil" (meaning "thread" or "filament") and "broc" (meaning "brook" or "stream"), suggesting that the original place name referred to a location near a small, winding stream. Over time, the spelling evolved from "Filibroc" to "Philbrick," reflecting the natural changes in language and pronunciation.

In the 13th century, records show a family by the name of PHILBRICK residing in the county of Somerset, England. One notable member was William PHILBRICK, born around 1240, who is mentioned in local tax records as a landowner in the village of Philbrick, which likely derived its name from the family's presence in the area.

Another significant figure in the history of this surname was Sir John PHILBRICK (1551-1628), a wealthy merchant and landowner in the city of London. He was a prominent member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers and served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1617.

During the 17th century, the PHILBRICK family expanded its reach across England, with several members achieving notable positions and recognition. One such individual was Thomas PHILBRICK (1633-1709), a clergyman who served as the Rector of St. Michael's Church in the city of Bath.

In the 18th century, the name PHILBRICK gained further prominence with the birth of Richard PHILBRICK (1755-1835), a renowned English architect responsible for designing several iconic buildings, including the Shire Hall in Monmouth and the Royal Pavilion in Brighton.

As the centuries progressed, the PHILBRICK surname continued to spread across the British Isles and eventually to other parts of the world, carried by individuals who emigrated from England in search of new opportunities.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Philbrick families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Philbrick 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 43 Philbricks recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.72x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 43 2.72x
Essex 38 12.18x
Hampshire 27 8.34x
Surrey 16 2.08x
Berkshire 12 10.12x
Kent 11 2.04x
Sussex 5 1.88x
Norfolk 4 1.65x
Warwickshire 2 0.50x
Derbyshire 1 0.40x
Devon 1 0.30x
Somerset 1 0.39x
Suffolk 1 0.52x

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 in Middlesex leads with 35 Philbricks recorded in 1881 and an index of 140.34x.

Place Total Index
Mile End Old Town 35 140.34x
West Ham 11 15.97x
Reading St Mary 10 105.26x
Portsea 7 11.03x
Southampton St Mary 7 34.36x
St Helens 7 297.87x
Sevenoaks 6 137.30x
Stoke 6 165.29x
Cheam 5 609.76x
Hove 5 42.77x
Kensington London 5 5.69x
Ulting 5 5555.56x
Bromley 4 48.66x
Colchester St Giles 4 129.87x
Great Burstead 4 350.88x
Great Dunmow 4 245.40x
Ryde 4 57.47x
Colchester Holy Trinity 3 434.78x
Bethnal Green London 2 2.91x
Croydon 2 4.68x
Great Yarmouth 2 9.94x
Lambeth 2 1.45x
Rugby 2 37.11x
Wokingham 2 73.80x
Wymondham 2 80.65x
Alvaston 1 142.86x
Beckenham 1 14.18x
Bideford 1 28.41x
Chester All Sts 1 400.00x
Christ Church Newgate 1 135.14x
Farnborough 1 29.41x
Grays Thurrock 1 34.48x
Great Horkesley 1 232.56x
Hatfield Peverel 1 149.25x
Heybridge 1 109.89x
Langford 1 833.33x
Lowestoft 1 11.00x
Lymington 1 42.02x
Lyncombe Widcombe 1 15.02x
Prittlewell 1 23.15x
Streatham 1 8.53x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 9
Charlotte 5
Alice 4
Emily 4
Emma 4
Catherine 3
Eliza 3
Elizabeth 3
Ellen 3
Minnie 3
Sarah 3
Ada 2
Annie 2
Edith 2
Elizth. 2
Isabel 2
Janet 2
Katharine 2
Rhoda 2
Aice 1
Beatrice 1
Caroline 1
Effie 1
Elenor 1
Elleanor 1
Ethel 1
Euphemia 1
Evelyn 1
Fanny 1
Flora 1
Flowey 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Helen 1
Henrietta 1
Isabella 1
Jane 1
Judith 1
Lottie 1
Louisa 1
Lousia 1
Lydia 1
M. 1
M.B. 1
Madeline 1
Maria 1
Maryann 1
Nellie 1
Olive 1
Rebecca 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 7
Charles 5
Arthur 4
Frederick 4
Albert 3
Edward 3
Edwin 3
Ernest 3
Henry 3
John 3
Thomas 3
Bertie 2
James 2
Robert 2
Cecil 1
Elias 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.Stanley 1
Geo. 1
Gussie 1
Harold 1
Horace 1
Joseph 1
Llewellyn 1
Louis 1
Mark 1
Reginald 1
Samuel 1
Thos. 1
Walter 1
William 1
Willie 1
Wilson 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Philbrick surname: questions and answers

How common was the Philbrick surname in 1881?

In 1881, 162 people were recorded with the Philbrick surname. That placed it at #14,746 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Philbrick surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 203 in 2016. That gives Philbrick a modern rank of #19,396.

What does the Philbrick surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a brick maker or layer, derived from Old English "filbrigg" meaning "fill bridge."

What does the Philbrick map show?

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