Brewster
An occupational surname referring to a brewer of beer or ale.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 22,725 Americans carry the last name Brewster. That puts it at #1,830 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 6.63 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 15,083 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Brewster 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
23K
1 in 15,083
Census rank
#1,830
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
6.6
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
20K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 19,564 bearers of the surname Brewster in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 6.63 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 1830th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Brewster, the largest self-reported group is White at 72.7%. The next largest groups are Black (20.2%) and Hispanic (3.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Brewster
The surname Brewster originated in England during the medieval period, deriving from the Old English words "brēowan" meaning "to brew" and "hūs" meaning "house". It initially referred to someone who brewed ale or beer, often working at an inn or public house. The name was localized in various parts of England, including Nottinghamshire, Yorkshire, Norfolk, and Suffolk.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Brewster appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Breviator" and "Breu(u)ator". The name is also found in various medieval records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1195, where it is spelled "Breuuestre".
In the 13th century, a prominent figure bearing the name was Sir John Brewster, a knight from Nottinghamshire who fought in the Barons' War against King Henry III. In the 14th century, William Brewster of Scrooby, Nottinghamshire (c. 1567-1644), was a influential figure in the English Separatist movement and later became a leader of the Pilgrims who sailed to the New World on the Mayflower in 1620.
Another notable Brewster was Sir David Brewster (1781-1868), a Scottish physicist, mathematician, and inventor, best known for his contributions to the field of optics and the invention of the kaleidoscope. He was also a respected writer and served as the Principal of the University of St. Andrews.
In the United States, one of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Brewster was Benjamin Brewster (1593-1683), a colonial settler who arrived in Massachusetts in 1632 and became a prominent figure in the early history of the colony.
The surname Brewster has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Brewster's Hill in Nottinghamshire and Brewster's Farm in Suffolk. Additionally, the name has been spelled in various ways over the centuries, including Bruster, Bruwster, and Breuester.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Brewster
Among Census respondents with the surname Brewster, the largest self-reported group is White at 72.7%. The next largest groups are Black (20.2%) and Hispanic (3.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Brewster 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 Brewster surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White72.7%
- Black or African American20.2%
- Hispanic or Latino3.7%
- Two or more races2.2%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.8%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.5%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Brewster 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 | #1,770 | #1,830 | -3.4% |
| Count | 18,554 | 19,564 | 5.4% |
| Per 100K | 6.88 | 6.63 | -3.6% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Brewster bearers went from 18,554 to 19,564 (+5.4% change). The surname moved down 60 positions in the national ranking, going from #1,770 to #1,830.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Brewster
FAQ
Brewster surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Brewster?
The surname Brewster holds position #1,830 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 22,725 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 6.63 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Brewster surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Brewster, the largest self-reported group is White at 72.7%. The next largest groups are Black (20.2%) and Hispanic (3.7%). 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.