NameCensus.

UK surname

Rushbrook

An English surname referring to someone living near a rushing brook or stream.

In the 1881 census there were 482 people recorded with the Rushbrook surname, ranking it #6,956 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 529, ranked #9,589, down from #6,956 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Erith, Darlington and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Chelmsford, Bexley and Mid Suffolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rushbrook is 645 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 9.8%.

1881 census count

482

Ranked #6,956

Modern count

529

2016, ranked #9,589

Peak year

1911

645 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rushbrook had 482 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,956 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 529 in 2016, ranked #9,589.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 645 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Rushbrook surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rushbrook surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rushbrook 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 401 #6,031
1861 historical 366 #6,987
1881 historical 482 #6,956
1891 historical 481 #7,664
1901 historical 578 #7,272
1911 historical 645 #6,480
1997 modern 557 #8,579
1998 modern 577 #8,597
1999 modern 592 #8,517
2000 modern 575 #8,648
2001 modern 575 #8,530
2002 modern 573 #8,710
2003 modern 538 #8,988
2004 modern 557 #8,783
2005 modern 560 #8,679
2006 modern 546 #8,867
2007 modern 557 #8,813
2008 modern 551 #8,951
2009 modern 548 #9,201
2010 modern 562 #9,200
2011 modern 545 #9,345
2012 modern 527 #9,497
2013 modern 551 #9,320
2014 modern 555 #9,316
2015 modern 541 #9,451
2016 modern 529 #9,589

Geography

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Where Rushbrooks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Erith, Darlington, London parishes, St Pancras and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Chelmsford, Bexley, Mid Suffolk and Norwich. 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 Erith Kent
2 Darlington Durham
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 St Marylebone London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Chelmsford 016 Chelmsford
2 Bexley 014 Bexley
3 Mid Suffolk 006 Mid Suffolk
4 Mid Suffolk 012 Mid Suffolk
5 Norwich 005 Norwich

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rushbrook

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rushbrook

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Rushbrook surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Rushbrook household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Rushbrook is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Rushbrook is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Rushbrook 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 Rushbrook is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Rushbrook

The surname Rushbrook originated in England during the medieval period. It is a locational name derived from the combination of the Old English words "rysc" meaning rushes and "broc" meaning brook, referring to a stream or small river where rushes grew abundantly. This name likely originated in a specific place called Rushbrook, located in the county of Suffolk.

The earliest known record of the name Rushbrook dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was documented as "Ryscebroc" in Suffolk. This historic manuscript, commissioned by William the Conqueror, serves as a valuable source of information about landowners and settlements in England during that time period.

In the 13th century, the name appeared as "Risshebrok" in the Feet of Fines for Suffolk, a collection of legal documents related to land transactions. This variation in spelling highlights the evolution of the name over time.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname Rushbrook was Sir Thomas Rushbrook, a prominent landowner who lived in the 14th century. His descendants continued to hold land and influence in the area for several generations.

During the 16th century, the name was recorded as "Rushbrooke" in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk. This spelling variation reflects the influence of local dialects and pronunciation on the written form of the name.

In the 17th century, a notable figure with the surname Rushbrook was Robert Rushbrook, born in 1609 in Suffolk. He was a respected scholar and clergyman who served as the rector of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds from 1649 until his death in 1685.

Another prominent individual with the Rushbrook surname was Sir William Rushbrook, a successful merchant and Member of Parliament for Ipswich in the late 17th century. He was born in 1642 and played a significant role in local politics and trade during his lifetime.

In the 18th century, John Rushbrook, born in 1712 in Suffolk, was a renowned architect and surveyor. He designed several notable buildings in the region, including the Shire Hall in Bury St. Edmunds, which still stands today as a testament to his architectural skills.

The 19th century saw the emergence of Thomas Rushbrook, a notable author and poet born in 1805 in Suffolk. His works, which included collections of poems and historical accounts, gained widespread recognition and contributed to the literary heritage of the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rushbrook families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rushbrook 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 142 Rushbrooks recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.02x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 142 3.02x
Suffolk 91 15.89x
Essex 41 4.42x
Surrey 39 1.70x
Kent 36 2.24x
Cambridgeshire 25 8.39x
Durham 24 1.72x
Norfolk 21 2.90x
Staffordshire 13 0.82x
Yorkshire 11 0.24x
Warwickshire 10 0.84x
Bedfordshire 5 2.05x
Buckinghamshire 5 1.76x
Shropshire 5 1.23x
Northamptonshire 4 0.90x
Hertfordshire 3 0.93x
Berkshire 1 0.28x
Dorset 1 0.32x
Lancashire 1 0.02x
Leicestershire 1 0.19x
Lincolnshire 1 0.13x
Sussex 1 0.13x
Worcestershire 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wetherden in Suffolk leads with 28 Rushbrooks recorded in 1881 and an index of 3500.00x.

Place Total Index
Wetherden 28 3500.00x
Trimley St Martin 20 2040.82x
St Marylebone London 17 6.77x
St Pancras London 17 4.49x
Bethnal Green London 14 6.85x
Darlington 13 24.07x
Erith 12 75.95x
Camberwell 11 3.66x
Islington London 11 2.41x
Limehouse London 11 21.31x
Shoreditch London 11 5.40x
St George Hanover 11 17.92x
Stranton 11 23.36x
West Ham 10 4.88x
Aston 9 2.76x
Lambeth 9 2.20x
Lewisham 9 10.52x
Thorpe 8 816.33x
Hampstead London 7 9.56x
Rotherhithe 7 12.05x
Sutton 7 283.40x
Tottenham 7 9.35x
Walton 7 341.46x
Bury St Edmunds St James 6 39.22x
Halvergate 6 769.23x
Heston 6 38.44x
Kirton 6 588.24x
Burton Upon Trent 5 13.47x
Castleford 5 29.46x
Harrold 5 303.03x
Heigham 5 12.89x
Hillingdon 5 33.36x
Ipswich St Mary Key 5 335.57x
Lakenheath 5 165.56x
Lee 5 21.47x
Leyton Low 5 26.50x
Newmarket All Sts 5 227.27x
Walthamstow 5 14.97x
Whittington 5 147.06x
Battersea 4 2.31x
Chippenham 4 384.62x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 4 30.79x
Hackney London 4 1.52x
Newington 4 2.30x
Norton Canes 4 69.20x
Peterborough 4 12.49x
South Hanningfield 4 1052.63x
Woodford 4 38.06x
Bromley London 3 2.90x
Deptford St Paul 3 2.42x
Handsworth 3 7.67x
Hertford All Saints 3 165.75x
Poplar London 3 3.38x
Wandsworth 3 6.63x
Wisbech St Peter 3 20.09x
Anlaby 2 198.02x
Banham 2 108.70x
Barking 2 7.36x
Bow London 2 3.34x
Chalfont St Peter 2 85.47x
Colchester St Peter 2 53.91x
Datchet 2 103.09x
Eastwell 2 1052.63x
Felsham 2 377.36x
Ipswich St Stephen 2 204.08x
Keighley 2 4.03x
Leiston 2 50.89x
Norwich St Paul 2 46.19x
Paddington London 2 1.16x
Reedham 2 144.93x
Westley 2 769.23x
Clare 1 36.50x
Ealing 1 2.38x
East Ham 1 5.81x
Gorleston 1 6.87x
Kensington London 1 0.38x
St Andrew Holborn 1 6.27x
St Martin Outwich 1 1000.00x
Tonbridge 1 1.73x
Woolwich 1 1.69x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 33
Sarah 17
Emma 13
Alice 12
Eliza 10
Elizabeth 10
Ellen 10
Edith 8
Jane 8
Emily 6
Maria 6
Louisa 5
Ann 4
Julia 4
Susan 4
Annie 3
Caroline 3
Charlotte 3
Elizth. 3
Ethel 3
Florence 3
Hannah 3
Margaret 3
Martha 3
Matilda 3
Minnie 3
Sophia 3
Agnes 2
Anna 2
Avis 2
Catherine 2
Charlott 2
Frances 2
Harriet 2
Harriett 2
Naomi 2
Rebecca 2
Selina 2
Amelia 1
Betsy 1
Celia 1
Elenor 1
Fanny 1
Jessy 1
Julie 1
Kate 1
Laura 1
Lilly 1
Lizzie 1
Tryphena 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 35
George 15
James 14
John 13
Henry 12
Robert 12
Alfred 9
Charles 9
Thomas 8
Richard 6
Arthur 5
Edward 5
Frank 5
Frederick 5
Harry 5
Joseph 5
David 4
Ernest 4
Samuel 4
Walter 4
Albert 3
Edwin 3
Herbert 3
Wm. 3
Benjamin 2
Elijah 2
Fredk. 2
Jeremiah 2
Stephen 2
Alma 1
Ann 1
Bertrand 1
Cort. 1
Daniel 1
Dennis 1
Edmond 1
Francis 1
Fredk 1
G. 1
Gilbert 1
Hy. 1
Isaac 1
Jesse 1
Jno. 1
Jno.T. 1
Jonathan 1
Mark 1
Michael 1
Osbourne 1
Ray 1

FAQ

Rushbrook surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rushbrook surname in 1881?

In 1881, 482 people were recorded with the Rushbrook surname. That placed it at #6,956 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rushbrook surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 529 in 2016. That gives Rushbrook a modern rank of #9,589.

What does the Rushbrook surname mean?

An English surname referring to someone living near a rushing brook or stream.

What does the Rushbrook map show?

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