Bretherton
A locational surname derived from a place in Lancashire, England.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 137 Americans carry the last name Bretherton. That puts it at #148,347 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,501,856 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Bretherton 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
137
1 in 2,501,856
Census rank
#148,347
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
111
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 111 bearers of the surname Bretherton in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 148347th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Bretherton, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.8%.
Origin
Meaning and origin of Bretherton
The surname Bretherton originated in England and dates back to the 12th century. It is a locational name derived from the town of Bretherton in Lancashire, which itself is composed of the Old English words "brether" meaning "brother" and "tun" meaning "enclosure" or "settlement". This suggests the name may have originated as a description of a place where monks or brothers lived.
One of the earliest known records of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lancashire in 1176, where it is spelled "Brederton". Over time, various spelling variations emerged, including Bretherton,Brederton, Brotherton, and others. The name is also closely related to the place name Brotherton in Yorkshire, which shares a similar etymology.
In the Domesday Book of 1086, the area now known as Bretherton is referred to as "Bredretun". This early record provides evidence of the name's long history and its connection to the local geography.
Notable individuals with the surname Bretherton throughout history include:
1. Thomas Bretherton (c. 1570 - c. 1640), an English Catholic priest and controversialist.
2. John Bretherton (1770 - 1851), an English Catholic priest and missionary who worked in Australia.
3. Humphrey Bretherton (1572 - 1609), an English Catholic priest and martyr who was executed during the reign of James I.
4. William Bretherton (1687 - 1768), an English Catholic priest and mathematician.
5. John Bretherton (1925 - 2008), a British writer and dramatist best known for his plays and screenplays.
While the surname Bretherton is not among the most common in the English-speaking world, it has a rich history rooted in the geography and language of medieval England. The name's enduring presence over centuries is a testament to its significance in the local communities where it originated.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Bretherton
Among Census respondents with the surname Bretherton, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.8%.
The bar chart below shows how Bretherton 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 Bretherton surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.8%
- Unknown or suppressed7.2%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Bretherton 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 | #121,058 | #148,347 | -22.5% |
| Count | 132 | 111 | -15.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.05 | 0.04 | -20.0% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Bretherton bearers went from 132 to 111 (-15.9% change). The surname moved down 27,289 positions in the national ranking, going from #121,058 to #148,347.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Bretherton
FAQ
Bretherton surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Bretherton?
The surname Bretherton holds position #148,347 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 137 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Bretherton surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Bretherton, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.8%. 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.