Brest
A surname derived from the city of Brest in France.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 514 Americans carry the last name Brest. That puts it at #47,966 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.15 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 666,837 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Brest 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
514
1 in 666,837
Census rank
#47,966
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
441
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 441 bearers of the surname Brest in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.15 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 47966th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Brest, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.7%) and Two or More Races (1.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Brest
The surname BREST originates from France, where it can be traced back to the 13th century. It is derived from the name of the city of Brest, located in the Brittany region of northwestern France. The name itself is believed to come from the Breton word "brest," meaning "promontory" or "hill."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname BREST can be found in the Livre des Bourgeois de Brest, a 14th-century document listing the names of citizens of the city of Brest. This document is a valuable historical record that provides insight into the lives and occupations of the inhabitants of the region during that time.
In the 15th century, the surname BREST appeared in various other historical records, such as the Livre des Censiers de Brest, which documented landowners and taxpayers in the area. This suggests that the BREST family may have held influential positions or owned property in the region during that era.
One notable figure bearing the surname BREST was Jean Brest (1595-1667), a French naval officer and explorer who played a significant role in the colonization of the Caribbean islands. He was appointed Governor of the French West Indies in 1650 and is credited with establishing several settlements in the region.
Another individual of note was Gustave Brest (1801-1874), a French politician and lawyer who served as a member of the French National Assembly in the mid-19th century. He was a vocal advocate for legal reform and played a crucial role in shaping the laws of his time.
In the realm of art, the name BREST is associated with Lucien Brest (1870-1935), a French painter and sculptor known for his Impressionist works depicting scenes from everyday life in Paris and the surrounding countryside.
Moving into the 20th century, the name BREST gained further recognition with Jacques Brest (1914-1997), a renowned French film director and screenwriter. He is best known for his critically acclaimed films, such as "Hiroshima Mon Amour" and "Last Year at Marienbad," which explored themes of memory, identity, and the complexities of human relationships.
Additionally, the BREST surname has been carried by prominent figures in various other fields, including science, literature, and academia, further contributing to its historical significance and cultural impact.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Brest
Among Census respondents with the surname Brest, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.7%) and Two or More Races (1.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Brest 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 Brest surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.5%
- Hispanic or Latino2.7%
- Two or more races1.4%
- Unknown or suppressed0.5%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Brest 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 | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #37,938 | #47,966 | -26.4% |
| Count | 550 | 441 | -19.8% |
| Per 100K | 0.20 | 0.15 | -25.0% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Brest bearers went from 550 to 441 (-19.8% change). The surname moved down 10,028 positions in the national ranking, going from #37,938 to #47,966.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Brest
FAQ
Brest surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Brest?
The surname Brest holds position #47,966 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 514 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.15 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Brest surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Brest, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.7%) and Two or More Races (1.4%). 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.