Find out how popular the last name Brackens is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Brackens.

Brackens, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Brackens surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Brackens in America

Brackens is the 33941st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Brackens surname appeared 670 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Brackens.

We can also compare 2010 data for Brackens to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Brackens

The surname Brackens has its origins in England, emerging in the medieval period around the 12th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "bracken," which referred to a type of fern that grew abundantly in certain regions of the country.

One of the earliest known references to the name Brackens can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the year 1198, where a person named William de Brackene is mentioned. This suggests that the name may have initially been used as a locative surname, identifying individuals who lived near areas where bracken ferns were prevalent.

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in various forms, such as Bracken, Brakyn, and Brakene, as evidenced by records from counties like Lancashire and Cheshire. This variation in spelling was common during that era, reflecting regional dialects and the inconsistencies in written records.

One notable figure bearing the Brackens surname was Sir Robert Brackens, a prominent landowner in Staffordshire during the 14th century. He is recorded as having been knighted by King Edward III in 1345 for his service in the Hundred Years' War against France.

In the 16th century, the name Brackens gained association with certain place names, such as Brackenthwaite in Cumberland and Brackenborough in Lincolnshire. This further reinforced the connection between the surname and locations where bracken ferns thrived.

Another individual of note was Elizabeth Brackens, born in 1592 in Yorkshire. She was a renowned herbalist and midwife, known for her extensive knowledge of medicinal plants, including the use of bracken ferns in traditional remedies.

During the 17th century, the Brackens surname spread across various regions of England, with records showing families bearing the name in counties like Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, and Oxfordshire.

In the 18th century, John Brackens (1701-1782), a prominent surveyor and cartographer from Worcestershire, gained recognition for his detailed maps of the English counties and his contributions to the field of mapmaking.

As the centuries progressed, the Brackens surname continued to be carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including scholars, artists, and military personnel, further cementing its place in the rich tapestry of English heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Brackens

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Brackens.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Brackens was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Brackens has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Brackens was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Brackens, please contact us.

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