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

Brentley, 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 Brentley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Brentley in America

Brentley is the 113791st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Brentley surname appeared 154 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 Brentley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Brentley 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 Brentley

The surname Brentley is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from a place name, possibly referring to a location near the River Brent in Middlesex or another location with a similar name.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, which mentions a landowner named Brentlig in Somerset. This spelling variation suggests the name may have evolved from an Old English word or phrase related to a specific place.

By the 13th century, the name had spread to various parts of England, with records showing individuals named Brentley residing in counties such as Essex, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire. The name was often associated with landowners or families of some prominence in their local communities.

Notable historical figures bearing the surname Brentley include Sir John Brentley (1587-1671), a prominent English lawyer and judge who served as Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas. Another notable individual was Thomas Brentley (1642-1714), an English clergyman and author who wrote several works on religious subjects.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, the name Brentley was sometimes spelled as Brently, Brenteley, or Brentlie, reflecting the variations in spelling that were common during that era. The surname was also associated with certain place names, such as Brentley Farm in Wiltshire and Brentley Village in Essex.

Other historical figures with the surname Brentley include William Brentley (1671-1744), an English mathematician and astronomer who made contributions to the study of celestial mechanics, and Elizabeth Brentley (1754-1818), a noted author and poet who wrote several volumes of poetry and prose.

Overall, the surname Brentley has a rich history dating back to medieval England, with its origins likely rooted in a specific place name or geographical location. Over the centuries, individuals with this surname have made notable contributions in various fields, including law, religion, science, and literature.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Brentley

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

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

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

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