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

Branscum, 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 Branscum surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Branscum in America

Branscum is the 12048th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Branscum surname appeared 2,588 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 Branscum.

We can also compare 2010 data for Branscum 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 Branscum

The surname Branscum has its origins in England, emerging during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "bran," meaning "burn" or "brook," and "cumb," meaning "valley." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone residing near a valley with a stream or small river.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which mentions a place called Branscome in Somerset. This entry provides evidence of the name's existence and its association with a specific location during the 11th century.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, including Branscombe and Branscom, reflecting the evolving spellings common during that era. A notable figure from this time period was Sir John Branscum, a knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War against the French in the 1340s.

During the 16th century, the name was found in records from the county of Devon, where the village of Branscombe is located. This area is believed to be the ancestral homeland of many bearers of the Branscum surname.

One of the most prominent individuals with this name was Robert Branscum, born in 1542 in Branscombe, Devon. He was a respected landowner and served as a magistrate in the local community.

In the 17th century, the name spread to other parts of England, including London. A notable figure from this period was William Branscum, born in 1612 in Southwark, London. He was a successful merchant and played a role in the expansion of trade between England and the American colonies.

The 18th century saw the Branscum name cross the Atlantic Ocean, with bearers of the name settling in various parts of the American colonies. One such individual was Thomas Branscum, born in 1738 in Virginia. He served as a soldier in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.

Another noteworthy figure was Elizabeth Branscum, born in 1782 in Maryland. She was a pioneer who migrated westward with her family, eventually settling in Indiana, where she became a respected member of the local community.

Throughout its history, the Branscum surname has maintained its connection to its English roots, with many bearers of the name tracing their ancestry back to the counties of Somerset, Devon, and surrounding areas. While the spelling may have varied over time, the name's essence has endured, representing a rich heritage spanning centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Branscum

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

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

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

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