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

Braggs, 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 Braggs surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Braggs in America

Braggs is the 12132nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Braggs surname appeared 2,568 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Braggs.

We can also compare 2010 data for Braggs 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 Braggs

The surname Braggs is believed to have originated in England, with the earliest known records dating back to the late 12th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "bræge," which means "brow" or "ridge," referring to a prominent geographical feature such as a hill or a cliff.

One of the earliest documented references to the name Braggs can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, which mention a certain Willelmus de Bragges. This suggests that the name was already in use during the late Anglo-Saxon period and may have initially been a locative surname, referring to someone who lived near a prominent ridge or hill.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Bragge, Bragges, and Bragg, reflecting the inconsistent spelling practices of the time. One notable example is Roger Bragge, who was mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1292.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname Braggs. However, it does mention several place names that may have contributed to the formation of the surname, such as Braggesleye (now Bradeley) in Staffordshire and Braggingham in Lincolnshire.

Throughout the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the surname Braggs. One of the earliest recorded was John Braggs (c. 1350-1414), a prominent English landowner and Member of Parliament for Huntingdonshire in the early 15th century. Another notable figure was Thomas Braggs (1545-1610), an English clergyman and author who served as the Archdeacon of Barnstaple.

In the 17th century, the Braggs family gained prominence in the American colonies. George Braggs (1623-1692) was one of the earliest settlers in Rhode Island, arriving in 1638 and becoming a respected figure in the local community. His descendants played significant roles in the development of the colony and the early United States.

During the 18th century, the name Braggs was associated with several military figures. Captain John Braggs (1715-1778) was a British naval officer who served during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War. Another notable figure was Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Braggs (1750-1823), who fought in the American Revolutionary War and later served as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates.

In the 19th century, the Braggs family continued to make contributions to various fields. Reverend John Braggs (1810-1882) was an influential Baptist minister and author, known for his work in promoting religious education. Additionally, Edward Braggs (1835-1912) was a renowned architect who designed several notable buildings in New York City, including the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Braggs

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

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

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

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