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

Braxton, 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 Braxton surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Braxton in America

Braxton is the 2921st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Braxton surname appeared 12,268 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Braxton.

We can also compare 2010 data for Braxton 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 Braxton

The surname Braxton originated in England during the medieval period. It is a habitation name derived from the Old English words "bræc" meaning fern and "tun" meaning enclosure or settlement. This suggests that the name likely referred to someone who lived in a village or settlement surrounded by ferns or bracken.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Bractone" in reference to a place in Derbyshire. This suggests that the name was already well-established by the late 11th century.

During the 13th century, the name was recorded in various forms such as "Brakton," "Bractoun," and "Brakedon." These variations highlight the fluid nature of spelling during this period, as names were often written phonetically.

In the 14th century, the name began to take on its more modern spelling of "Braxton." One notable bearer of the name from this era was Sir Robert Braxton, a wealthy landowner who lived in Leicestershire and was knighted in 1379.

The 16th century saw the emergence of several notable Braxtons, including Thomas Braxton (1492-1557), a wealthy merchant and alderman in the city of London. Another prominent figure was William Braxton (1515-1592), a lawyer and member of the English Parliament.

In the 17th century, the Braxton family gained prominence in the American colonies. One of the most celebrated members was Carter Braxton (1736-1797), a wealthy planter and merchant from Virginia who signed the Declaration of Independence.

Another notable Braxton from this era was Edward Braxton (1627-1684), an Anglican clergyman who became the first Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield in 1661.

As the centuries passed, the Braxton name continued to be borne by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, writers, and politicians. Some examples include the English painter John Braxton (1785-1868), the American novelist Charles Braxton (1817-1888), and the Canadian politician John Braxton (1861-1932).

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Braxton

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

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

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

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