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

Brando, 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 Brando surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Brando in America

Brando is the 53913th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Brando surname appeared 383 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 Brando.

We can also compare 2010 data for Brando 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 Brando

The surname Brando traces its origins to Italy, with the earliest records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have originated from the Italian word "brando," which means "sword" or "blazing fire." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to a skilled swordsman or a blacksmith who worked with fire.

In the early days, the name was primarily concentrated in the regions of Tuscany and Umbria, particularly in the cities of Florence and Perugia. Historical records from these areas mention various individuals with the surname Brando, indicating its presence and use during the medieval period.

One of the earliest known references to the name Brando can be found in the Florentine Priors' records from the 13th century, which list a certain Bindo Brando as a prominent citizen of the city. This document provides valuable insight into the name's antiquity and its connection to the influential families of the time.

The Brando surname has also been linked to several place names in Italy, such as Brando Montelupo, a small town located near Florence. It is possible that the surname originated from this location or that some families adopted the place name as their surname.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Brando. One of the most famous was Marlon Brando (1924-2004), the acclaimed American actor renowned for his performances in films like "The Godfather" and "A Streetcar Named Desire." Despite his Italian surname, Brando's ancestors were of mixed French, Dutch, and English descent.

Another prominent figure with the surname Brando was Giovanni Brando (1573-1638), an Italian painter and architect from Perugia. He was known for his work on various churches and palaces in his native city, leaving a lasting architectural legacy.

In the literary world, Orazio Brando (1701-1765) was an Italian poet and playwright from Siena. His works, including comedies and tragedies, were widely acclaimed during his lifetime and contributed to the cultural landscape of 18th-century Italy.

The surname Brando also has ties to the military, with General Raffaele Brando (1829-1900) being a distinguished Italian soldier who fought in the Wars of Italian Unification and later served as a senator in the newly formed Kingdom of Italy.

Lastly, Renato Brando (1886-1977) was an Italian artist and sculptor known for his works in bronze and marble. His sculptures can be found in various public spaces and museums across Italy, showcasing the artistic talents associated with this surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Brando

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

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

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

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