This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Brookes family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Brookes Family History

Brookes Surname Meaning

English (West Midlands): variant of Brooks.

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


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Brookes family from?

You can see how Brookes families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Brookes family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Brookes families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 1,507 Brookes families living in Staffordshire. This was about 19% of all the recorded Brookes's in United Kingdom. Staffordshire had the highest population of Brookes families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Brookes surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Brookes ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Brookes. 7% of Brookes men worked as a General Labourer and 69% of Brookes women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Brookes were Bricklayer and Incapacitated.

View Census Data for Brookes | 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 Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    7%
  • Incapacitated
    4%
  • Builders Labourer
    3%
  • Bricklayer
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    69%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    2%
  • Incapacitated
    2%

What Brookes family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 142,000 census records available for the last name Brookes. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Brookes census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Brookes

Passenger Lists

There are 12,000 immigration records available for the last name Brookes. 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 Brookes immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 10,000 military records available for the last name Brookes. For the veterans among your Brookes ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Brookes military records

You've only scratched the surface of Brookes family history

Discover More

What is the average Brookes lifespan?

Between 1958 and 2004, in the United States, Brookes life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1960, and highest in 1992. The average life expectancy for Brookes in 1958 was 53, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Brookes

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Brookes 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.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Brookes family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial