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Brierton Family History

Brierton Surname Meaning

English: habitational name from Brierton in County Durham (formerly in Yorkshire) or Brearton in North Yorkshire which are both named with Old English brēr ‘briar’ + tūn ‘farmstead’.

Alternatively, it may refer to Brereton in Cheshire which has the same origin.

The etymology points to the combination of natural elements, with 'briar' indicating a thorny plant common in the area.

The term 'farmstead' reflects the agricultural roots of these names, suggesting a historical connection to farming communities.

As such, these names encapsulate the geographical and agricultural history of the regions they originate from.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


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Where is the Brierton family from?

You can see how Brierton families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Brierton family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1841 and 1920. The most Brierton families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 40 Brierton families living in Lancashire. This was about 56% of all the recorded Brierton's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Brierton families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Brierton surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Brierton ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Brierton. 85% of Brierton women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Brierton | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    85%
  • Housewife
    16%

What Brierton family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 2,000 census records available for the last name Brierton. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Brierton census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Brierton

Passenger Lists

There are 322 immigration records available for the last name Brierton. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Brierton immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 440 military records available for the last name Brierton. For the veterans among your Brierton ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Brierton military records

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What is the average Brierton lifespan?

Between 1963 and 2004, in the United States, Brierton life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1963, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Brierton in 1963 was 55, and 91 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Brierton

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Brierton ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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