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

Bridgers, 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 Bridgers surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bridgers in America

Bridgers is the 12842nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bridgers surname appeared 2,397 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Bridgers.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bridgers 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 Bridgers

The surname Bridgers originated in England and dates back to the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "brycg", meaning bridge, and the addition of the suffix "-er" denotes an occupation related to bridges, likely a bridge builder or someone who lived near a bridge.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, which mention a Richard le Brugger. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also contain references to individuals with the surname, such as William le Brigger from Oxfordshire.

During the Middle Ages, the Bridgers surname was concentrated in the counties of Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, and Wiltshire, areas known for their numerous bridges spanning rivers and streams. This geographic distribution suggests that the name may have originated among those involved in the construction or maintenance of bridges in these regions.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholdings in England compiled in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the Bridgers surname. However, it does mention several place names with the prefix "brycg", indicating the presence of bridges in those locations, which may have contributed to the eventual development of the surname.

One notable individual with the surname Bridgers was John Bridgers (1583-1637), an English lawyer and member of Parliament who served as a Justice of the Peace for Gloucestershire. Another prominent figure was Sir John Bridgers (1652-1719), a wealthy merchant and Member of Parliament for Hereford in the late 17th and early 18th centuries.

In the 16th century, variations of the name such as Brugger, Briger, and Briggere were also recorded in various historical documents. The surname Bridgers can also be traced to place names like Bridger's Hill in Somerset and Bridger's Farm in Wiltshire, further highlighting the connection between the name and geographical locations associated with bridges.

Other noteworthy individuals bearing the Bridgers surname include:

1. James Bridgers (1804-1881), an American fur trapper and explorer in the Rocky Mountains.
2. William Bridgers (1758-1828), an English clergyman and author of several religious works.
3. Thomas Bridgers (1660-1725), an English mathematician and surveyor known for his work on navigation and surveying techniques.
4. Elizabeth Bridgers (1698-1768), an English philanthropist and benefactor who contributed to the establishment of several schools and charitable institutions.
5. Robert Bridgers (1819-1888), a British naval officer and explorer who served in the Royal Navy and led expeditions to the Arctic regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bridgers

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

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

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

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