Brenneman
A surname of German origin, referring to someone who lived near a well or spring.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 6,547 Americans carry the last name Brenneman. That puts it at #6,094 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.91 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 52,353 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Brenneman surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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.
Bearers in the US
6.5K
1 in 52,353
Census rank
#6,094
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.9
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
5.6K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 5,629 bearers of the surname Brenneman in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.91 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 6094th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Brenneman, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.4%) and Two or More Races (1.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Brenneman
The surname Brenneman originated from Germany and Switzerland, tracing its roots back to the Middle Ages. It is a locational name derived from the village or town of Brennen, which means "to burn" or "to clear land by burning" in German.
In the 13th century, the name Brenneman was documented as Brennemann in various German records and manuscripts. This early spelling variation highlights the name's connection to the practice of clearing land through burning, a common method used by settlers and farmers at the time.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Brenneman can be found in the Pomeranian town of Kolberg, where a certain Johann Brenneman was mentioned in a church registry dating back to 1478. Meanwhile, in Switzerland, the Brenneman family was well-established in the canton of Bern by the 16th century.
Notable individuals with the surname Brenneman include Johann Georg Brenneman (1668-1734), a German Lutheran theologian and author from Saxony. In the United States, Jacob Brenneman (1785-1857) was a prominent Mennonite leader and minister from Pennsylvania, who played a significant role in shaping the religious community's beliefs and practices.
Another noteworthy figure was William Brenneman (1834-1924), an American businessman and industrialist from Ohio, known for his contributions to the development of the agricultural machinery industry. In the field of education, Ida Brenneman (1868-1944) was a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights, serving as the first female principal of the State Normal School in Millersville, Pennsylvania.
Additionally, the Brenneman name has been associated with various place names and locations throughout history. For instance, the village of Brenneman in Ontario, Canada, was named after one of the early settlers bearing this surname.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Brenneman
Among Census respondents with the surname Brenneman, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.4%) and Two or More Races (1.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Brenneman bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Brenneman surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White96.7%
- Hispanic or Latino1.4%
- Two or more races1.1%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.4%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Brenneman surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #6,094 | #6,094 | 0.0% |
| Count | 5,629 | 5,629 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 1.91 | 1.91 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Brenneman bearers went from 5,629 to 5,629 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #6,094 to #6,094.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Brenneman
FAQ
Brenneman surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Brenneman?
The surname Brenneman holds position #6,094 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 6,547 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 1.91 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Brenneman surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Brenneman, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.4%) and Two or More Races (1.1%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.