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

Brens, 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 Brens surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Brens in America

Brens is the 102197th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Brens surname appeared 176 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Brens.

We can also compare 2010 data for Brens 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 Brens

The surname BRENS is believed to have originated in England, specifically in the county of Lincolnshire, during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "bryn," which means "hill" or "rising ground," suggesting that the name may have been used to describe someone who lived on or near a hill.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname BRENS can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Brenez." This ancient record provides valuable insight into the distribution and prevalence of surnames in England during the 11th century.

Throughout the medieval period, the name underwent various spelling variations, including "Brenys," "Brennes," and "Brenys." These variations were common due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions at the time and the influence of regional dialects.

In the 13th century, a notable figure bearing the BRENS surname was Sir William Brens, a knight who served under King Edward I. He played a significant role in the Welsh Wars and was granted lands in Wales for his service.

During the 15th century, the BRENS family established a strong presence in the county of Lincolnshire. Records from this period mention John Brens, a wealthy landowner who served as a member of the local gentry.

In the 16th century, the BRENS surname was associated with the village of Brensall in Yorkshire. This place name is believed to have been derived from the Old English words "bryn" and "halh," meaning "hill" and "nook" or "corner," respectively.

One of the most prominent individuals with the BRENS surname was Sir Thomas Brens (1558-1631), an English politician and courtier who served as a Member of Parliament and held various positions under Queen Elizabeth I and King James I.

Another notable figure was Richard Brens (1609-1691), an English clergyman and author who served as the Dean of Salisbury Cathedral. He was known for his scholarly works on theology and philosophy.

In the 18th century, the BRENS surname gained recognition through the writings of Samuel Brens (1738-1816), a renowned English poet and essayist. His works were widely read and influential during the Romantic period.

The 19th century saw the rise of Charles Brens (1812-1884), a successful industrialist and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of the city of Manchester.

Throughout history, the BRENS surname has been associated with various professions, from nobility and clergy to writers and entrepreneurs, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and achievements of those who have carried this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Brens

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

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

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

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