History of your Surname
Get access to Brakefield family records.Start a free trial

Brakefield Family History

Brakefield Name Meaning

English (Kent): topographic name for someone who lived ‘(by the) bracken-covered open land’ from Middle English brake ‘thicket patch of brushwood’ or braken ‘bracken fern’ (corresponding to the northern bracken) + feld ‘flat open country’.

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


Similar surnames: Wakefield, Brayfield, Benefield, Bradfield, Barfield, Barnfield

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Brakefield family from?

You can see how Brakefield families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Brakefield family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Brakefield families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 6 Brakefield families living in British Columbia. This was about 55% of all the recorded Brakefield's in Canada. British Columbia had the highest population of Brakefield families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Brakefield surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Brakefield ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Cook were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Brakefield. 33% of Brakefield men worked as a Farmer and 19% of Brakefield women worked as a Cook. Some less common occupations for Americans named Brakefield were Carpenter and Housekeeper. .

View Census Data for Brakefield | 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.

United States shown, Canada data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Farmer
    33%
  • Laborer
    24%
  • Clerk
    5%
  • Carpenter
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Cook
    19%
  • Stenographer
    19%
  • Saleslady
    15%
  • Housekeeper
    12%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Brakefield family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 5,000 census records available for the last name Brakefield. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Brakefield census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Brakefield

Passenger Lists

There are 242 immigration records available for the last name Brakefield. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Brakefield immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Brakefield. For the veterans among your Brakefield ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Brakefield military records

You've only scratched the surface of Brakefield family history

Discover More

What is the average Brakefield lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Brakefield life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1942, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Brakefield in 1942 was 34, and 80 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Brakefield

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Brakefield family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Brakefield last name

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