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

Brainard, 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 Brainard surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Brainard in America

Brainard is the 8299th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Brainard surname appeared 3,992 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 Brainard.

We can also compare 2010 data for Brainard 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 Brainard

The surname Brainard originated in England during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "brægen" meaning brain and "hierde" meaning herdsman or keeper, suggesting that the name was initially given to someone who tended flocks of sheep or other livestock.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Brainard can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Braghenard." This entry indicates that individuals with variations of this surname held lands in various parts of England at the time of the Norman Conquest.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the surname appeared in various historical records with spellings such as "Braynard," "Braynerde," and "Braynherde." These variations reflect the inconsistencies in spelling during that period, as well as the influence of different regional dialects.

One notable figure with the surname Brainard was Sir John Brainard (c. 1450-1508), who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1501. He was a prominent merchant and played a significant role in the governance of the city during his tenure.

Another individual of note was Daniel Brainerd (1719-1753), an American missionary who dedicated his life to spreading Christianity among the Native American tribes in New England and Pennsylvania. His efforts and writings had a lasting impact on the Christian missionary movement in the American colonies.

In the 19th century, John Brainard (1796-1828) was a notable American poet and journalist. His works, including "The Connecticut River" and "The Fall of Niagara," were widely praised and helped establish him as a prominent figure in the literary circles of his time.

One of the most prominent individuals with the surname Brainard was David Brainerd (1718-1747), an American missionary and religious leader who worked tirelessly to convert Native Americans to Christianity. His personal journals, which documented his experiences and struggles, became highly influential in the evangelical movement and inspired generations of missionaries.

Another notable figure was David Brainerd (1856-1946), an American botanist and plant collector who made significant contributions to the study of flora in the southwestern United States. He discovered and documented numerous new plant species, and his extensive collections are housed in various herbaria across the country.

While the surname Brainard has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through emigration to the Americas and other English-speaking countries. The name has endured for centuries and continues to be associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Brainard

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

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

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

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