UK surname
A locational surname referring to someone residing near a stream or brook.
In the 1881 census there were 61 people recorded with the Philbrook surname, ranking it #24,992 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 46, ranked #35,126, down from #24,992 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lewisham and Wandsworth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Philbrook is 109 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 24.6%.
1881 census count
61
Ranked #24,992
Modern count
46
2016, ranked #35,126
Peak year
1901
109 bearers
Map years
2
1891 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Philbrook surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Philbrook surname density by area, 1901 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 | 45 | #25,168 |
| 1861 | historical | 66 | #25,487 |
| 1881 | historical | 61 | #24,992 |
| 1891 | historical | 101 | #23,870 |
| 1901 | historical | 109 | #21,712 |
| 1911 | historical | 91 | #23,684 |
| 1997 | modern | 66 | #31,038 |
| 1998 | modern | 66 | #31,387 |
| 1999 | modern | 62 | #31,893 |
| 2000 | modern | 59 | #32,217 |
| 2001 | modern | 59 | #32,080 |
| 2002 | modern | 61 | #32,286 |
| 2003 | modern | 63 | #32,152 |
| 2004 | modern | 52 | #33,418 |
| 2005 | modern | 49 | #33,859 |
| 2006 | modern | 47 | #34,335 |
| 2007 | modern | 45 | #34,699 |
| 2008 | modern | 46 | #34,759 |
| 2009 | modern | 50 | #34,663 |
| 2010 | modern | 53 | #34,654 |
| 2011 | modern | 55 | #34,502 |
| 2012 | modern | 48 | #34,938 |
| 2013 | modern | 52 | #34,780 |
| 2014 | modern | 50 | #34,927 |
| 2015 | modern | 46 | #35,109 |
| 2016 | modern | 46 | #35,126 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Lewisham, Wandsworth and Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a. 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 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 2 | Lewisham | London (South Districts) |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | Wandsworth | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a | Essex |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Philbrook 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 Philbrook, 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 Philbrook surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Philbrook 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, Philbrook 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 Philbrook is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Philbrook, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Philbrook is believed to have originated in England, with the earliest records dating back to the 13th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "phil" meaning a small stream or brook, and "broc" meaning a brook or stream. This suggests that the name may have referred to someone who lived near a small stream or brook.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it appears as "Philbrok." This document was a census-like record of landowners in England during the reign of King Edward I. The name is also mentioned in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, further indicating its presence in the region.
The Philbrook surname appears to have been concentrated in the northern counties of England, particularly Yorkshire and Lancashire, during the medieval period. It is possible that the name originated in these areas, where small streams and brooks were abundant.
An early bearer of the name was John de Philbroke, who was mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Lancashire in 1285. Another notable figure was William Philbrook, a landowner in Yorkshire, who was recorded in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1301.
In the 16th century, the Philbrook name can be found in the parish records of Whalley, Lancashire, where several families with this surname were documented. One such individual was Richard Philbrook, who was born in Whalley in 1578.
As people began to migrate from England to the American colonies in the 17th and 18th centuries, the Philbrook surname made its way across the Atlantic. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in America was Thomas Philbrook, who was born in England in 1635 and later settled in Hampton, New Hampshire.
Another notable figure from this period was Samuel Philbrook, who was born in Hampton, New Hampshire in 1678. He was a farmer and served as a selectman (local government official) in the town.
In the 19th century, the Philbrook name continued to be found in various parts of New England and the northeastern United States. One prominent individual was John Philbrook, a successful businessman and philanthropist from Boston, Massachusetts, who lived from 1809 to 1888.
Other notable Philbrooks throughout history include Edward Philbrook (1803-1889), a shipbuilder and merchant from Maine, and Charles Philbrook (1856-1915), a lawyer and judge from New Hampshire.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Philbrook 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. Surrey leads with 23 Philbrooks recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.94x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Surrey | 23 | 7.94x |
| Essex | 15 | 12.78x |
| Kent | 14 | 6.90x |
| Middlesex | 8 | 1.34x |
| Kirkcudbrightshire | 1 | 11.61x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lewisham in Kent leads with 14 Philbrooks recorded in 1881 and an index of 129.39x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lewisham | 14 | 129.39x |
| Lambeth | 9 | 17.35x |
| Capel | 7 | 2592.59x |
| Tooting Graveney | 7 | 864.20x |
| Colchester Holy Trinity | 6 | 2307.69x |
| Bromley London | 4 | 30.56x |
| Chester All Sts | 4 | 4444.44x |
| Bethnal Green London | 3 | 11.61x |
| Tillingham | 2 | 952.38x |
| Anwoth | 1 | 666.67x |
| Bow London | 1 | 13.21x |
| Colchester St Mary At | 1 | 238.10x |
| Rayleigh | 1 | 370.37x |
| Saffron Walden | 1 | 80.65x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Philbrook 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 Philbrook 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 Philbrook households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 12 |
| Gardener | 3 |
| Labourer | 3 |
| Coachsmith | 2 |
| Dressmaker | 2 |
| General Labourer | 2 |
| Plumber | 2 |
| Agr Lab | 1 |
| Agr Labs Wife | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Cutler | 1 |
| Farm Labourer | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Invalid | 1 |
| Laborer Unmp | 1 |
| Machinist | 1 |
| Milliner | 1 |
| Painter | 1 |
| Sempstress | 1 |
| Servant | 1 |
| Ship Painter | 1 |
| Work At Colour Factory | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 61 people were recorded with the Philbrook surname. That placed it at #24,992 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 46 in 2016. That gives Philbrook a modern rank of #35,126.
A locational surname referring to someone residing near a stream or brook.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Philbrook 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.