Brazaitis
Lithuanian surname referring to a local craftsman.
According to the 2000 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 137 Americans carry the last name Brazaitis. That puts it at #144,908 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,501,856 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Brazaitis 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.
Brazaitis appeared in the 2000 Census surname file but was not included in the published 2020 file. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames with at least 100 recorded bearers, so this usually means the name fell below that threshold.
Bearers in the US
137
1 in 2,501,856
Census rank
#144,908
2000 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
105
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 105 bearers of the surname Brazaitis in its 2000 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 144908th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Brazaitis, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.3%.
Origin
Meaning and origin of Brazaitis
The surname Brazaitis finds its origin in Lithuania, a country that has a rich and diverse history dating back to the early Middle Ages. The areas where the surname was originally found are largely concentrated in the central and eastern parts of Lithuania. The name derives from Lithuanian roots and is linked etymologically to the word "bražas," which means "quick" or "brisk." This term may have been used to describe an ancestor who was notable for their swiftness or agility.
Historical references to the surname Brazaitis can be traced back to the late medieval period, although specific records from this time are sparse. The name appears in various historical documents and church registries from the 16th and 17th centuries. For example, a 1598 registry from the Diocese of Vilnius mentions a landowner by the name of Kazys Brazaitis. This early mention indicates that the name was firmly established in Lithuanian society by this time.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname in more detailed records comes from the 18th century. In 1723, Jonas Brazaitis is mentioned as a merchant in the city of Kaunas, Lithuania. His business dealings were noted in various municipal documents, showcasing the surname's presence in urban centers as well as rural areas. By this time, the spelling of the name had standardized, although minor regional variations could still be found.
Throughout the 19th century, the surname Brazaitis continued to appear in Lithuanian records. Antanas Brazaitis, born in 1821, was a notable figure during this period. A landowner and community leader, he played a significant role in local politics and social reforms. Historical records from this time also note that the Brazaitis family had diversified into various professions, ranging from tradesmen to scholars.
During the early 20th century, one of the most prominent bearers of the surname was Juozas Brazaitis, born in 1901 and died in 1974. He was a significant political figure and a member of the Lithuanian Activist Front, which played a role in the country's struggle for independence. His contributions to Lithuanian politics and his prolific writings are well-documented in historical texts and have ensured the surname Brazaitis a place in Lithuanian history.
Another notable individual with the surname Brazaitis was Petras Brazaitis, a renowned botanist born in 1888. His work in the field of plant taxonomy and his contributions to Lithuanian botanical research were recognized internationally, and he published several influential papers before his death in 1957. His achievements highlight the broad range of fields in which members of the Brazaitis family have excelled.
In summary, the surname Brazaitis carries a rich history that is deeply intertwined with the cultural and historical tapestry of Lithuania. From its origins rooted in descriptive terminology to its presence in medieval records and its association with significant historical figures, Brazaitis has evolved to become a well-established and respected name in Lithuanian society.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Brazaitis
Among Census respondents with the surname Brazaitis, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.3%.
The bar chart below shows how Brazaitis bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2000 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 Brazaitis surname at the time of the 2000 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.3%
- Unknown or suppressed5.7%
FAQ
Brazaitis surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Brazaitis?
Name Census estimates that about 137 living Americans carry the surname Brazaitis. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,501,856 residents.
How common is Brazaitis?
Brazaitis ranks #144,908 in the 2000 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 2000 Census file counted 105 people with the surname Brazaitis. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (137), 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 Brazaitis.
Has Brazaitis become more or less common over time?
Brazaitis appears here with 2000 Census data. When additional surname-file years are available for this name, Name Census uses them to show longer-term movement in rank and bearer count.
What does the Census say about the background of Brazaitis?
Among Census respondents with the surname Brazaitis, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.3%. These figures come from the 2000 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 Brazaitis in the 2000 Census, accounting for 94.3%.
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Brazaitis appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2000 file are White (94.3%).
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Not necessarily. Brazaitis appears here with 2000 Census data, while the latest surname file loaded on Name Census is 2020. When a surname drops below the Census publication threshold, older rows can still be kept for historical reference even if the name no longer appears in the newest file.
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 Brazaitis mean?
Lithuanian surname referring to a local craftsman. 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 2000 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 Brazaitis (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 many people have the last name Brazaitis?
Want to know how many Americans have the surname Brazaitis? HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, puts the living-bearer count front and centre.