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

Brent, 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 Brent surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Brent in America

Brent is the 4535th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Brent surname appeared 7,820 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Brent.

We can also compare 2010 data for Brent 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 Brent

The surname Brent is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "brent," which means "burnt" or "burnt land." This suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive term for someone living on or near a piece of burnt or cleared land.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Brent can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landownership and taxation conducted in England in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. This indicates that the name was already in use during the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, the name appears in various historical records and documents, often associated with locations or place names. For instance, the Hundred Rolls of 1273 mention a William de Brent, suggesting a connection to a place called Brent. Similarly, the Pipe Rolls of 1230 reference a Roger de Brent, potentially linking the name to a locality bearing the same name.

Throughout the centuries, the name Brent has been subject to various spelling variations, including Brente, Brant, and Brunt. These variations reflect the fluidity of surname spelling before standardization became more common.

Notable individuals with the surname Brent have made their mark in various fields. Sir Nathaniel Brent (1573-1652) was an English lawyer and politician who served as Warden of Merton College, Oxford, and as a Member of Parliament. Another prominent figure was Sir Digby Brent (1592-1672), an English politician and landowner who served as a Parliamentarian during the English Civil War.

Other historical figures with the surname Brent include Robert Brent (1764-1819), an American politician and jurist who served as the first Attorney General of Virginia, and Margaret Brent (c. 1601-c. 1671), an English settler in colonial Maryland, known for her advocacy for women's rights and her role in the provincial government.

In the realm of literature, the surname Brent is associated with the British author and playwright Romilly Brent (1925-2016), whose works include plays and novels exploring social issues and family dynamics.

These are just a few examples of the many individuals throughout history who have carried the surname Brent, each contributing to the rich tapestry of its legacy and significance across various fields and eras.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Brent

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

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

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

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