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

Breneman, 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 Breneman surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Breneman in America

Breneman is the 12339th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Breneman surname appeared 2,520 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 Breneman.

We can also compare 2010 data for Breneman 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 Breneman

The surname Breneman is of German origin, originating in the region of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is believed to have emerged around the 16th century. The name is derived from the German words "Bren" meaning "to burn" and "Mann" meaning "man," suggesting that the name may have originated from an occupation related to burning or working with fire, such as a charcoal burner or a blacksmith.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Breneman name can be found in the church records of the town of Kirchheimbolanden, located in Rhineland-Palatinate, dating back to the late 16th century. In these records, the name appears with various spellings, including Brenneman, Brennemann, and Breneman.

The Breneman name gained prominence in the 17th and 18th centuries, with several notable individuals bearing the surname. Johann Philipp Breneman (1689-1767) was a German composer and organist who served as the court organist to the Prince-Bishop of Bamberg. Michael Breneman (1720-1789) was a prominent American Mennonite farmer and landowner in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, known for his contributions to the local community.

In the 19th century, the Breneman name continued to spread across Europe and North America. One notable figure was John Breneman (1819-1892), an American politician and farmer who served as a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate from 1869 to 1872. Another significant individual was Johann Gottlieb Breneman (1807-1885), a German-American painter and illustrator known for his portraiture and religious works.

As the Breneman family dispersed across different regions, variations in the spelling of the name emerged, such as Brenneman, Brenaman, and Brennaman. Some of these variations may have been influenced by the local dialects or preferences of the regions where the family settled.

Throughout history, several individuals with the Breneman surname have made notable contributions in various fields, including music, art, politics, and agriculture. While the name may have originated from a humble occupation, it has since been carried by individuals who have left their mark on their respective communities and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Breneman

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

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

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

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