NameCensus.

UK surname

Sambrook

An English surname derived from a topographic name for someone living near a sandy brook or stream.

In the 1881 census there were 616 people recorded with the Sambrook surname, ranking it #5,709 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,152, ranked #5,124, up from #5,709 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Wolstanton and Edgmond (Edgmond), Chetwynd, Cheswardine, Hinstock. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wakefield, Doncaster and Cheshire East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sambrook is 1,285 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 87.0%.

1881 census count

616

Ranked #5,709

Modern count

1,152

2016, ranked #5,124

Peak year

1999

1,285 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sambrook had 616 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,709 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,152 in 2016, ranked #5,124.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,011 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Small Town Suburbia.

Sambrook surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sambrook surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sambrook 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 480 #5,191
1861 historical 467 #5,562
1881 historical 616 #5,709
1891 historical 707 #5,553
1901 historical 815 #5,539
1911 historical 1,011 #4,501
1997 modern 1,191 #4,738
1998 modern 1,264 #4,682
1999 modern 1,285 #4,647
2000 modern 1,238 #4,776
2001 modern 1,232 #4,698
2002 modern 1,210 #4,868
2003 modern 1,179 #4,875
2004 modern 1,177 #4,890
2005 modern 1,169 #4,865
2006 modern 1,136 #4,988
2007 modern 1,139 #5,026
2008 modern 1,155 #4,991
2009 modern 1,150 #5,140
2010 modern 1,169 #5,152
2011 modern 1,166 #5,108
2012 modern 1,193 #4,937
2013 modern 1,200 #4,980
2014 modern 1,202 #5,013
2015 modern 1,159 #5,119
2016 modern 1,152 #5,124

Geography

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Where Sambrooks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Wolstanton, Edgmond (Edgmond), Chetwynd, Cheswardine, Hinstock, Cannock and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wakefield, Doncaster, Cheshire East and South Staffordshire. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Wolstanton Staffordshire
3 Edgmond (Edgmond), Chetwynd, Cheswardine, Hinstock Shropshire
4 Cannock Staffordshire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wakefield 027 Wakefield
2 Doncaster 035 Doncaster
3 Cheshire East 046 Cheshire East
4 South Staffordshire 004 South Staffordshire
5 Wakefield 016 Wakefield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sambrook

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sambrook

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Small Town Suburbia

Nationally, the Sambrook surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Small Town Suburbia, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Sambrook 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 is predominantly comprised of married couples with no resident dependent children, living in areas characterised neither by under-occupancy nor overcrowding throughout the UK in or adjacent to small towns. White ethnic groups and affiliation with Christianity predominates. Housing tends to be predominantly semi-detached or detached and workers are employed principally in managerial and professional occupations, with semi-skilled occupations also in evidence. These areas of the Supergroup are of higher population density.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Sambrook 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

Sambrook is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Sambrook 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 Sambrook 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 Sambrook, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Sambrook

The surname Sambrook has its origins in England, with records of the name dating back to the 13th century. The name is derived from a combination of the Old English words "sam" meaning half, and "broc" meaning brook or stream, indicating that the original bearers of this name likely lived near a small brook or stream.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Sambrook surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which were a series of census records compiled in England during the reign of King Edward I. These rolls mentioned a person named William de Sambrook, indicating the presence of this surname in the county of Worcestershire during that time period.

The Sambrook name appears to have originated in the West Midlands region of England, particularly in the counties of Worcestershire and Shropshire. Some records suggest that the name may have been derived from a place name, such as the hamlet of Sambrook in Shropshire, which was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Sambric."

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Sambrook surname. One of the earliest recorded figures was Sir John Sambrook, who lived in the 15th century and served as the High Sheriff of Shropshire in 1463. Another prominent individual was Sir Jeremy Sambrook (1590-1654), a Member of Parliament and landowner in Warwickshire during the English Civil War.

In the 18th century, William Sambrook (1718-1796) was a renowned English architect and surveyor, who designed several churches and public buildings in London. His son, John Sambrook (1745-1821), also pursued a career in architecture and became the Surveyor General of the Office of Works.

In the field of literature, Pamela Sambrook (1924-2019) was a notable English author and critic, best known for her works on the Romantic poets and her contributions to the study of English literature.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the Sambrook surname throughout history, but the name has a long and rich legacy rooted in the English countryside, where it originated from the description of a location near a small stream or brook.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sambrook families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sambrook 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. Staffordshire leads with 220 Sambrooks recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.83x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 220 10.83x
Shropshire 128 24.62x
Glamorgan 44 4.20x
Yorkshire 31 0.52x
Middlesex 27 0.45x
Warwickshire 27 1.78x
Pembrokeshire 21 10.98x
Worcestershire 18 2.29x
Lancashire 15 0.21x
Buckinghamshire 10 2.75x
Cheshire 10 0.75x
Surrey 10 0.34x
Durham 9 0.50x
Gloucestershire 8 0.68x
Lincolnshire 7 0.73x
Monmouthshire 7 1.61x
Derbyshire 6 0.64x
Kent 4 0.19x
Montgomeryshire 4 2.90x
Bedfordshire 2 0.64x
Cornwall 2 0.29x
Wiltshire 2 0.38x
Cardiganshire 1 0.68x
Dorset 1 0.25x
Hampshire 1 0.08x
Sussex 1 0.10x
Westmorland 1 0.76x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cannock in Staffordshire leads with 43 Sambrooks recorded in 1881 and an index of 121.30x.

Place Total Index
Cannock 43 121.30x
Hinstock 23 1292.13x
Stoke Upon Trent 22 10.21x
Wolverhampton 21 13.44x
Aston 19 4.55x
Hatherton 18 2045.45x
Swansea Town 18 20.95x
Great Wyrley 15 678.73x
Normanton 15 83.71x
Stafford St Mary 15 52.16x
St Dogmells 14 275.59x
Wolstanton 14 22.69x
Harborne 12 18.43x
Bishopston Higher 11 2619.05x
Drayton In Hales 11 102.61x
Wellington 11 37.65x
Linslade 10 280.90x
Shrewsbury St Mary 9 43.86x
Burton Upon Trent 8 16.83x
Dudley 8 8.37x
Ercall Magna 8 215.05x
Monks Coppenhall 8 15.96x
Stockton On Tees 8 9.27x
Tottenham 8 8.35x
Wrockwardine 8 69.99x
Birmingham 7 1.38x
Burslem 7 12.03x
Cheslyn Hay 7 188.68x
Cheswardine 7 315.32x
Edgmond 7 122.38x
Kimberworth 7 21.15x
Penge 7 18.21x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 7 51.70x
Toxteth Park 7 2.89x
Bilston 6 15.24x
Clifton 6 10.05x
Kilgerran 6 259.74x
Llandyfodwg 6 101.01x
Llansamlet Higher 6 76.73x
Staveley 6 35.86x
Wolstanton Chesterton 6 57.80x
Worthen 6 108.70x
Bitterley 5 242.72x
Ellesmere 5 55.99x
Isleworth 5 18.68x
Oldbury 5 12.93x
Sedgley 5 6.63x
Waters Upton 5 1250.00x
Bedwellty 4 5.21x
Bushbury 4 109.59x
Crigglestone 4 69.69x
Deptford St Paul 4 2.53x
Hulme 4 2.68x
Rawmarsh 4 18.98x
Shrewsbury St Julian 4 31.10x
Stanton Lacy 4 89.09x
Wednesfield 4 13.38x
Bow London 3 3.92x
Chelsea London 3 1.65x
Hammersmith London 3 2.02x
Kings Norton 3 4.26x
Newport 3 47.77x
Paddington London 3 1.36x
Alberbury Criggion 2 606.06x
Bishopston Lower 2 270.27x
Eccleshall 2 25.97x
Eccleshall Croxton 2 333.33x
Huntington 2 555.56x
Llanymynech 2 196.08x
Monmouth 2 17.33x
Newtown 2 22.68x
Norton Canes 2 27.03x
Oswestry Town 2 12.01x
Scilly Islands St Mary 2 75.19x
Shipton 2 526.32x
Swindon 2 4.84x
Warrington 2 2.36x
Weston Subedge 2 285.71x
Wolstanton Knutton 2 16.13x
Worcester Blockhouse 2 46.30x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 42
Sarah 29
Elizabeth 20
Ellen 15
Jane 15
Ann 13
Emma 12
Alice 9
Hannah 8
Harriet 8
Annie 7
Eliza 7
Florence 5
Agnes 4
Anne 4
Lucy 4
Martha 4
Caroline 3
Catherine 3
Charlotte 3
Edith 3
Elizth. 3
Margaret 3
Rose 3
Amelia 2
Clara 2
Eleanor 2
Eliz. 2
Emily 2
Fanny 2
Lilly 2
Lottie 2
Louisa 2
Lydia 2
Mabel 2
Ruth 2
Bither 1
Catharine 1
Catherin 1
Elenor 1
Elezebth 1
Elijih 1
Ethel 1
Hariott 1
Isabella 1
Jenny 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Letitia 1
Lizzie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 53
John 36
Thomas 27
George 22
Henry 17
Joseph 16
Samuel 15
Alfred 9
Charles 9
James 9
David 7
Edward 7
Arthur 5
Albert 4
Jeremiah 4
Richard 4
Frederick 3
Harry 3
Lewis 3
Walter 3
Daniel 2
Edwin 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Fredk. 2
Sampson 2
Wm. 2
Benj. 1
Charlie 1
Elias 1
Fred. 1
Frederic 1
Fredrick 1
G. 1
Geo. 1
Gester 1
Griffith 1
H.G. 1
Handel 1
Jesse 1
Jno. 1
Johnny 1
Jos. 1
Leonard 1
Levi 1
Luke 1
Noah 1
Oliver 1
Percevil 1
Wm.John 1

FAQ

Sambrook surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sambrook surname in 1881?

In 1881, 616 people were recorded with the Sambrook surname. That placed it at #5,709 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sambrook surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,152 in 2016. That gives Sambrook a modern rank of #5,124.

What does the Sambrook surname mean?

An English surname derived from a topographic name for someone living near a sandy brook or stream.

What does the Sambrook map show?

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