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

Braun, 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 Braun surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Braun in America

Braun is the 1012th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Braun surname appeared 34,491 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 12 people would have the surname Braun.

We can also compare 2010 data for Braun 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 Braun

Braun is a surname of German origin, derived from the Old High German word "brun" meaning "brown" or "dark-haired." It likely originated as a descriptive nickname referring to someone with dark hair or a tanned complexion.

The surname can be traced back to the 11th century, with early records showing variations in spelling such as Brun, Brune, and Bruyn. One of the earliest known references to the name is in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Brun" and "Brune."

During the Middle Ages, the Braun surname was commonly found in regions of present-day Germany, including Bavaria, Saxony, and the Rhineland. It was also prevalent in parts of Switzerland and Austria, reflecting the widespread use of the German language in those areas.

Notable bearers of the Braun surname include Johannes Braun (1628-1708), a German astronomer and mathematician who made significant contributions to the study of comets and planetary motion. Johann Braun (1590-1668) was a renowned Baroque architect and sculptor who designed several churches and palaces in Germany and Italy.

In the 19th century, Braun became a prominent name in the field of engineering and manufacturing. Karl Braun (1800-1882) established the Braun Company, a leading manufacturer of electrical and mechanical equipment. His grandson, Max Braun (1884-1951), continued the family business and expanded it into a global enterprise.

Another notable figure was Wernher von Braun (1912-1977), a German-American aerospace engineer and space architect. He played a crucial role in the development of rocket technology and was a key figure in the U.S. space program, leading the design and construction of the Saturn V rocket that propelled the Apollo missions to the Moon.

Eva Braun (1912-1945) was perhaps one of the most famous bearers of the surname. She was the longtime companion and eventual wife of Adolf Hitler, the infamous leader of Nazi Germany. Their relationship and her role in Hitler's inner circle have been the subject of extensive historical analysis and speculation.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Braun

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

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

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

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