Brambilla
A surname derived from an Italian place name referring to a bramble plant.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 274 Americans carry the last name Brambilla. That puts it at #84,136 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.08 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,250,928 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Brambilla 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
274
1 in 1,250,928
Census rank
#84,136
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
223
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 223 bearers of the surname Brambilla in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.08 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 84136th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Brambilla, the largest self-reported group is White at 80.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (18.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Brambilla
The surname Brambilla is of Italian origin, originating in the northern regions of Italy during the medieval period. It is derived from the Italian word "brambilla," meaning a wild blackberry bush or bramble. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near or worked with brambles, perhaps a farmer or forester.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Brambilla can be traced back to the 13th century in regions such as Lombardy and Piedmont. In these areas, the name was often spelled with variations like "Brambiglia" or "Brambilla." Some of the earliest documented individuals with this surname include Giovanni Brambilla, a landowner in Milan in 1275, and Stefano Brambilla, a merchant from Pavia in 1317.
The name Brambilla has a long history in Italy, with numerous notable individuals bearing this surname over the centuries. One of the most prominent was Girolamo Brambilla, a renowned Italian surgeon and obstetrician who lived from 1744 to 1819. He served as the personal physician to several European royals, including Emperor Joseph II of Austria.
Another notable figure was Ambrogio Brambilla, an Italian painter and architect who lived from 1579 to 1631. He is best known for his work on the Chiesa di San Giuseppe in Milan, which is considered a masterpiece of the Baroque style.
In the 19th century, Giuseppe Brambilla (1807-1885) was a celebrated Italian composer and conductor. He served as the musical director of several prestigious opera houses, including La Scala in Milan.
The Brambilla surname also has a connection to Italian nobility, with the Brambilla family of Milan being awarded the title of Count in the 17th century. One notable member of this noble lineage was Count Ferdinando Brambilla (1655-1718), a military commander who served in the Thirty Years' War.
While the name Brambilla is primarily associated with Italy, it has also spread to other parts of the world through Italian migration. However, its origins and historical significance remain deeply rooted in the northern regions of Italy.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Brambilla
Among Census respondents with the surname Brambilla, the largest self-reported group is White at 80.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (18.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Brambilla 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 Brambilla surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White80.3%
- Hispanic or Latino18.4%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Brambilla 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 | #84,136 | #84,136 | 0.0% |
| Count | 223 | 223 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.08 | 0.08 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Brambilla bearers went from 223 to 223 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #84,136 to #84,136.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Brambilla
FAQ
Brambilla surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Brambilla?
The surname Brambilla holds position #84,136 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 274 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.08 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Brambilla surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Brambilla, the largest self-reported group is White at 80.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (18.4%). 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.