2000
#148,244
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 102
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Branim
A Polish surname potentially derived from the Polish word "bronić" meaning "to defend".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 136 Americans carry the last name Branim. That puts it at #142,788 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,520,252 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Branim 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
136
1 in 2,520,252
Census rank
#142,788
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
119
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 119 bearers of the surname Branim in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 142788th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Branim, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (5.0%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Branim
The surname BRANIM originates from the region of Silesia, which spans parts of modern-day Poland, Germany, and the Czech Republic. It emerged during the late 15th century and is believed to be derived from the Old Slavic word "bran," meaning "defense" or "protection."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in a manuscript from the Duchy of Silesia, dated around 1492, where it is spelled as "Brannim." This variation hints at the surname's potential roots in the Slavic languages spoken in the region during that era.
Historical records suggest that BRANIM was initially associated with individuals who held positions related to defense or military service, such as guardsmen or soldiers. However, over time, the surname spread beyond its initial occupational connotations.
In the 16th century, a notable figure with this surname was Jan BRANIM (1522-1597), a prominent merchant and landowner from the town of Wrocław, then part of the Kingdom of Bohemia. His successful business ventures and land acquisitions contributed to the surname's establishment within the region's merchant class.
Another prominent individual bearing the BRANIM surname was Tomasz BRANIM (1678-1741), a renowned architect and master builder who contributed to the design and construction of several notable churches and public buildings in Silesia during the late 17th and early 18th centuries.
During the 18th century, the name appears in records from the village of Branimierz, located in the Prussian province of Silesia (now part of modern-day Poland). This village's name, which translates to "BRANIM's village" or "BRANIM's settlement," further reinforces the surname's deep roots in the region.
In the 19th century, a notable figure was Karol BRANIM (1815-1887), a Polish writer and journalist who played a significant role in the cultural and literary movements of his time. His works often explored themes of national identity and the struggle for independence.
Another individual of note was Maria BRANIM (1856-1923), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights in Silesia. She founded several schools and educational initiatives aimed at providing educational opportunities for girls and promoting gender equality.
Throughout its history, the surname BRANIM has maintained a strong presence in the regions of Silesia and neighboring areas, reflecting its deep-rooted origins and the contributions of its bearers to various fields, including commerce, architecture, literature, and education.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Branim
Among Census respondents with the surname Branim, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (5.0%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Branim 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 Branim surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White93.3% · 111
- Two or more races5.0% · 6
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.7% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Branim
Branim 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
#147,253
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 112
+10 bearers (+9.8%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 991 places
2020
#142,788
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 119
+7 bearers (+6.3%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 4,465 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #148,244 | 102 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #147,253 | 112 | 0.04 | +10 bearers (+9.8%) | Up 991 places |
| 2020 | #142,788 | 119 | 0.04 | +7 bearers (+6.3%) | Up 4,465 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 Branim 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 | #147,253 | #142,788 | 3.0% |
| Count | 112 | 119 | 6.3% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -0.5% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Branim bearers went from 112 to 119 (+6.3% change). The surname moved up 4,465 positions in the national ranking, going from #147,253 to #142,788.
FAQ
Branim surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Branim?
Name Census estimates that about 136 living Americans carry the surname Branim. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,520,252 residents.
How common is Branim?
Branim ranks #142,788 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 119 people with the surname Branim. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (136), 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 Branim.
Has Branim become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Branim went from 112 recorded bearers to 119. That is an increase of 7 (+6.3%). In the national ranking it rose from #147,253 to #142,788.
What does the Census say about the background of Branim?
Among Census respondents with the surname Branim, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (5.0%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.7%). 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 Branim in the 2020 Census, accounting for 93.3% (111 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Branim appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (93.3%), Two or More Races (5.0%), Asian/Pacific Islander (1.7%). 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 Branim (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 Branim mean?
A Polish surname potentially derived from the Polish word "bronić" meaning "to defend". 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 Branim (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 common is the surname Branim?
If you just want to know how common the surname Branim is, HowManyOfMe.org gives you the headline number in one glance.