The Brodie surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 6,585 people carried this name — #5,288 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 44,800 people counted. That is up 3% from 6,365 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Brodie surname

Scottish habitational surname of uncertain meaning. Probably of Pictish or Gaelic origin.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Brodie» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Brodie was found among the farmers of Northumberland: 18 in every 10,000.

Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Northumberland 18

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.

In Scotland, 1880s

Brodie was 18 in every 10,000 names in Scotland.

That is about 1 in 556. Its home there, in Guppy’s words: “South of the Forth and the Clyde.” He counted the more than 20,000 names in Halliburton’s County Directory of Scotland, taking Scotland as a whole, and listed only the names that reached 10 in every 10,000.

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), appendix: alphabetical list of the most frequent Scottish names, p. 587 — public domain · names in Halliburton’s County Directory of Scotland, per 10,000 for the whole country.

In Scotland’s registers today

Brodie was recorded 44 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 591st most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 123. Each birth counts the child’s surname, each marriage both partners’ and each death the surname of the person who died — a yearly count of registrations, not of the people who live in Scotland.

National Records of Scotland, «Most Common Surnames, 2025» (published 26 May 2026): every surname recorded 10 or more times in the 2025 registers, and the series from 1975 · different spellings are counted separately — © Crown copyright 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

In print

Brodie in American newspapers,
1895–1914.

Newspaper page from The Anaconda Standard carrying the name Brodie
The Anaconda Standard 1895-11-07
Newspaper page from Ottumwa Tri-weekly Courier carrying the name Brodie
Ottumwa Tri-weekly Courier 1914-09-05
Newspaper page from Rock Island Argus carrying the name Brodie
Rock Island Argus 1903-11-02

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 1,354 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Brodie in Australian newspapers,
1810s–2000s.

43,746 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Brodie. The most, 6,881, date from the 1930s.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 16,174
Victoria 10,501
Queensland 8,918
South Australia 3,541
Western Australia 2,909
Tasmania 1,147
ACT (Canberra) 437
Northern Territory 29

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Brodie.

Who carried it

People named Brodie,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Alexander Brodie d. 1770 · politician
  • Helena Penelope Mills Budgen d. 1972
  • Alexander Brodie d. 1806
  • Margaret Brodie d. 1734
  • Barbara Brodie d. 1776
  • William Brodie of Milton d. 1805

Wikidata (CC0) · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Brodie,
in the records of 7 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States1,368 records

1,368 records of the Brodie name in the United States
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 490
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 251
  • Other U.S. records 627
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Robert E. Brodie

    Born 1912 in New York. Enlisted 1943 at New York City; driver from Westchester County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1974, buried at Long Island National Cemetery, New York.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Henry Woosley Brodie

    Arrived at New York in 1904 aboard the Kaiser Wilhelm II from Bremen, aged 32; merchant. From London, England; bound for New York.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)
  3. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Raymond Herbert Brodie

    Born 1947; from Middleburg, New York. U.S. Marine Corps, shore party specialist; died in an accident 1969 in Quang Nam, South Vietnam.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)

Showing 3 of 1,368 records for Brodie in the United States.

Counts: NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain).

Australia1,445 records

1,445 records of the Brodie name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 774
  • Queensland State Archives indexes 229
  • Other Australian records 442
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Elizabeth Brodie

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Elizabeth & Henry, sailing from London in 1846. Native of Greenock, Renfrewshire. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1848. Married 1848 in New Norfolk, Tasmania.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Martin Brodie

    Died 1893 in Launceston, Tasmania, aged 36. Will registered in Tasmania in 1893.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Ann Brodie

    Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1835. Married 1835 in New Norfolk, Tasmania.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 1,445 records for Brodie in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

Canada205 records

205 records of the Brodie name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 133
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 22
  • Other Canadian records 50
  1. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Elizabeth Brodie

    Killed in the Halifax Explosion of 1917, aged 71; buried at St John's Cemetery, Halifax.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Douglas Stuart Brodie

    Buried in 1992 at Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, Nova Scotia, aged 68.

    Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Delta Mae Brodie

    Buried in 2000 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 86.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.

Showing 3 of 205 records for Brodie in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · Contains information provided by the City of Waterloo under licence · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

United Kingdom124 records

124 records of the Brodie name in the United Kingdom
  • Stirling Council burial records 55
  • Scottish rolls of honour, First World War 28
  • Other British records 41
  1. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record James Brodie

    Born 1888 at Kinloss; bank accountant. Served in the First World War. Named in the Morayshire roll of honour (1921).

    National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Peter Brodie

    Buried in 1921 at Valley Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland, aged 72.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Walter William Brodie

    Will proved in 1931; of Llanelly, Carmarthenshire.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)

Showing 3 of 124 records for Brodie in the United Kingdom.

Counts: Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0); Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

Netherlands41 records

41 records of the Brodie name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch population registers 29
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 10
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 2
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Elisabeth Brodie

    Married in 1877 in Amsterdam. Died 1942 in Bussum, aged 86.

    Open Archives, Noord-Hollands Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record James Brodie

    Married in 1747 in Rotterdam; soldier.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Jane Margaret Brodie

    Died 1934 in Soest, aged 70.

    Open Archives, Het Utrechts Archief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 41 records for Brodie in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

New Zealand15 records

15 records of the Brodie name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 13
  • Marlborough District cemetery records 1
  • Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 1
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Benjamin Brodie

    Died 1944, aged 65; buried at Bromley Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Eric Paul Silke Brodie

    Died 1981, aged 33; buried at Fairhall Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record John Brodie

    Died 1911, aged 60; buried at Linwood Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 15 records for Brodie in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

France5 records

5 records of the Brodie name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Grace Brodie

    Born 1904 in Great Britain; died 1997 in Beaucaire (Gers).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Andrew Duncan Brodie

    Born 1954 in Great Britain; died 1998 in Angers (Maine-et-Loire).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 2 of 5 records for Brodie in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Brodie.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Brodie is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

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