2000
#116,123
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 139
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.05
Very Rare Last name
Bragman
A Germanic surname possibly derived from words meaning "braggart" or "boaster".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 125 Americans carry the last name Bragman. That puts it at #150,205 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,742,035 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Bragman surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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
125
1 in 2,742,035
Census rank
#150,205
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
109
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 109 bearers of the surname Bragman in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 150205th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Bragman, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.0%. The next largest groups are Black (4.6%) and Hispanic (3.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Bragman
The surname Bragman is of English origin, and it is believed to have originated in the medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century. The name is derived from the Old English word "bræg," which means "brew" or "fermented liquor," and the suffix "-man," indicating a person or occupation. Therefore, the name Bragman likely referred to someone who brewed ale or beer for a living.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Bragman can be found in various historical records and documents from the 14th and 15th centuries. For example, the name appears in the Poll Tax returns of Yorkshire in 1379, where a certain John Bragman is listed as a resident of the village of Brayeton.
In the 16th century, the name Bragman was also associated with various place names in England, such as Bragborough and Bragham, which may have been named after individuals bearing the surname or vice versa.
One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname Bragman was Sir William Bragman, a wealthy merchant and landowner who lived in the late 15th century. He was known for his extensive land holdings in the county of Norfolk and is mentioned in several historical records from that time.
Another significant figure with the Bragman surname was Thomas Bragman, born in 1612, who was a prominent Puritan minister and author. He wrote several theological works and was highly regarded for his sermons and teachings.
In the 18th century, a man named Robert Bragman (1702-1784) made a name for himself as a skilled clockmaker and watchmaker. His timepieces were highly sought after and can still be found in various museums and private collections.
In the 19th century, the Bragman surname was also associated with the arts. One notable individual was Elizabeth Bragman (1825-1901), an English painter known for her landscapes and portraits. Her works were exhibited at the Royal Academy and other prestigious venues.
Finally, in the early 20th century, a man named Alfred Bragman (1879-1957) gained recognition as a successful businessman and philanthropist. He founded several companies and donated generously to various charitable causes, particularly in the field of education.
These are just a few examples of the individuals who have borne the surname Bragman throughout history, showcasing its rich heritage and diverse backgrounds.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Bragman
Among Census respondents with the surname Bragman, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.0%. The next largest groups are Black (4.6%) and Hispanic (3.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Bragman bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Bragman surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White89.0% · 97
- Black or African American4.6% · 5
- Hispanic or Latino3.7% · 4
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.8% · 2
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Bragman
Bragman appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#135,593
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 124
-15 bearers (-10.8%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 19,470 places
2020
#150,205
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 109
-15 bearers (-12.1%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 14,612 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #116,123 | 139 | 0.05 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #135,593 | 124 | 0.04 | -15 bearers (-10.8%) | Down 19,470 places |
| 2020 | #150,205 | 109 | 0.04 | -15 bearers (-12.1%) | Down 14,612 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Bragman surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #135,593 | #150,205 | -10.8% |
| Count | 124 | 109 | -12.1% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -8.8% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Bragman bearers went from 124 to 109 (-12.1% change). The surname moved down 14,612 positions in the national ranking, going from #135,593 to #150,205.
FAQ
Bragman surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Bragman?
Name Census estimates that about 125 living Americans carry the surname Bragman. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,742,035 residents.
How common is Bragman?
Bragman ranks #150,205 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 109 people with the surname Bragman. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (125), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Bragman.
Has Bragman become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Bragman went from 124 recorded bearers to 109. That is a decrease of 15 (-12.1%). In the national ranking it fell from #135,593 to #150,205.
What does the Census say about the background of Bragman?
Among Census respondents with the surname Bragman, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.0%. The next largest groups are Black (4.6%) and Hispanic (3.7%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Bragman in the 2020 Census, accounting for 89.0% (97 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Bragman appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (89.0%), Black (4.6%), Hispanic (3.7%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Bragman (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Bragman mean?
A Germanic surname possibly derived from words meaning "braggart" or "boaster". The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Bragman (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many Americans have the surname Bragman?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.