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

Brais, 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 Brais surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Brais in America

Brais is the 80419th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Brais surname appeared 236 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Brais.

We can also compare 2010 data for Brais 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 Brais

The surname BRAIS is believed to have originated in France, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the 12th century. The name is thought to have derived from the Old French word "bras," meaning "arm" or "strength," suggesting that it may have been initially used as a descriptive nickname for someone with a strong or muscular build.

During the Middle Ages, the name BRAIS was particularly prevalent in the northern regions of France, such as Normandy and Brittany. It is possible that the name may have been associated with certain occupations or trades that required physical strength, such as blacksmithing or carpentry. However, no definitive historical records have been found to confirm this connection.

One of the earliest documented references to the surname BRAIS can be found in the Cartulary of Savigny, a medieval manuscript that records land transactions and legal documents from the 12th century. This cartulary mentions a "Radulphus Brais" who was involved in a land dispute in the year 1171.

In the 13th century, the name BRAIS appears in various records related to the French nobility. For instance, a "Robert Brais" was recorded as a knight who participated in the Eighth Crusade, which took place between 1270 and 1272. Another notable historical figure was Jean Brais, a French poet and clergyman who lived in the 15th century and authored several religious works.

Throughout the centuries, the surname BRAIS has undergone various spelling variations, such as Bras, Braz, Braze, and Braize. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and the preferences of scribes who recorded the name in official documents.

Several prominent individuals have borne the surname BRAIS over the years, including:

1. Jacques Brais (1598-1672), a French Catholic priest and missionary who traveled to New France (present-day Canada) in the 17th century.
2. Pierre Brais (1745-1825), a French revolutionary and politician who served as a deputy in the National Convention during the French Revolution.
3. Émile Brais (1859-1938), a French-Canadian writer and journalist who founded the literary magazine "Le Terroir" and contributed to the development of Canadian literature.
4. Henri Brais (1890-1976), a French sculptor and medal engraver known for his works depicting historical figures and events.
5. Yvonne Brais (1911-1989), a French actress and singer who appeared in several films and stage productions during the mid-20th century.

It is worth noting that while the surname BRAIS has a rich history rooted in France, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including Canada, where it is particularly prevalent in the French-speaking regions of Quebec and New Brunswick.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Brais

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

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

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

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