Braff
A surname derived from the Middle English term "braf", meaning terraced slope or hillside.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 343 Americans carry the last name Braff. That puts it at #68,770 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.10 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 999,284 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Braff surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
343
1 in 999,284
Census rank
#68,770
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
286
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 286 bearers of the surname Braff in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.10 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 68770th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Braff, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (6.3%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (3.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Braff
The surname "BRAFF" is believed to have originated in Germany, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the 12th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old German word "braf," which means "honest" or "upright."
In its earliest forms, the name was often spelled as "Braf" or "Braff," and it was primarily concentrated in the regions of Bavaria and Saxony. Some records suggest that the name may have also had roots in the Netherlands, where it was sometimes spelled as "Brafft" or "Braght."
One of the earliest known references to the name "BRAFF" can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of medieval documents related to the history of Saxony, which includes a mention of a certain "Henricus Braff" in the year 1231.
Another notable early record is from the Annales Fuldenses, a set of annals written by monks in Fulda, Germany, which mentions a "Braffo de Saxonia" in the year 1156.
As the name spread throughout Europe in the following centuries, various variations in spelling emerged, such as "Braffe," "Braffin," and "Braffert." One of the earliest recorded individuals with this surname was Johann Braff (c. 1450-1520), a German theologian and reformer who played a role in the Protestant Reformation.
In the 16th century, a notable figure named Hans Braff (c. 1530-1595) was a prominent merchant and landowner in the city of Augsburg, Germany.
During the 17th century, the name "BRAFF" appeared in various records across Europe, including the mention of a Dutch painter named Adriaen Braff (c. 1610-1670) and a German composer named Johann Braff (c. 1650-1720).
In the 18th century, a German philosopher and writer named Friedrich Braff (1735-1810) gained recognition for his works on ethics and moral philosophy.
As the name spread further throughout Europe and eventually to other parts of the world, it continued to evolve in spelling and pronunciation, with variations such as "Braffe," "Brafft," and "Braf" emerging in different regions.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Braff
Among Census respondents with the surname Braff, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (6.3%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (3.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Braff bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Braff surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White86.7%
- Hispanic or Latino6.3%
- Asian and Pacific Islander3.9%
- Two or more races2.5%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Braff surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #68,770 | #68,770 | 0.0% |
| Count | 286 | 286 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.10 | 0.10 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Braff bearers went from 286 to 286 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #68,770 to #68,770.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Braff
FAQ
Braff surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Braff?
The surname Braff holds position #68,770 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 343 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.10 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Braff surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Braff, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (6.3%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (3.9%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.