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

Braden, 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 Braden surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Braden in America

Braden is the 2648th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Braden surname appeared 13,603 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 5 people would have the surname Braden.

We can also compare 2010 data for Braden 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 Braden

The surname Braden originated in England, specifically from the northern counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "brad" and "dun," which together mean "broad hill" or "broad down." This suggests that the name likely referred to someone who lived near a prominent hill or elevated area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Braden can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Bradedun." This document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and population across much of England and parts of Wales.

In the 13th century, the name was also recorded in various forms such as "Bradden," "Bradene," and "Braddene." These variations reflect the natural evolution of language and spelling over time.

Several notable individuals have borne the surname Braden throughout history. One example is Sir John Braden (c. 1480 - 1537), an English soldier and Member of Parliament during the reign of Henry VIII. Another is Robert Braden (1609 - 1683), a prominent Puritan minister and author in colonial New England.

In the 18th century, Sampson Braden (1745 - 1823) was a British naval officer who served in the American Revolutionary War. He later became a Member of Parliament and was knighted for his services.

Moving into the 19th century, we find Charles Braden (1830 - 1905), an American businessman and philanthropist who founded the Braden Steel Company in Pennsylvania. He was known for his support of educational institutions and charitable causes.

Lastly, Spruille Braden (1894 - 1978) was an American diplomat and politician who served as Ambassador to several countries, including Colombia, Cuba, and Peru. He played a significant role in shaping U.S. foreign policy in Latin America during his career.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the surname Braden throughout history, reflecting its English origins and the diverse paths its bearers have taken across various professions and parts of the world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Braden

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

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 Braden 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 Braden 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 Braden was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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