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

Brigida, 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 Brigida surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Brigida in America

Brigida is the 115639th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Brigida surname appeared 151 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 Brigida.

We can also compare 2010 data for Brigida 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 Brigida

The surname Brigida originated in Portugal, with roots dating back to the late Middle Ages. It is derived from the Latinized form of the feminine given name Brigid, which in turn comes from the Celtic Brig, meaning "the exalted one" or "high one." This name was particularly popular among the ancient Celts of Ireland, Scotland, and parts of England.

The name Brigida first appeared in Portuguese records as early as the 13th century, often associated with individuals from the northern regions of the country. One of the earliest documented references is found in a 1272 charter from the Monastery of Santa Maria de Alcobaça, which mentions a landowner named Alvaro Brigida.

In the 15th century, the Brigida surname gained prominence when it was borne by Brigida Anriques (c. 1420-1506), a Portuguese noblewoman who was the mistress of King John II of Portugal. Their son, George of Lencastre, Duke of Coimbra, played a significant role in Portuguese history and exploration.

Another notable figure was Brigida Antonia de Sousa e Lemos (1644-1706), a Portuguese nun and writer who authored several religious works. Her writings were influential in the Baroque literary tradition of Portugal.

The Brigida surname also has a strong connection to the Azores islands, where it was brought by early Portuguese settlers in the 15th and 16th centuries. One prominent individual from this region was Brigida Maria de Sousa Tavares (1711-1793), a wealthy landowner and philanthropist who donated much of her fortune to charitable causes.

In Brazil, the Brigida surname can be traced back to the early days of Portuguese colonization in the 16th century. One of the earliest recorded Brigidas was João Brigida, a soldier who participated in the conquest of Rio de Janeiro in 1565.

Throughout history, the Brigida surname has been associated with various noble families, clergymen, and influential individuals across the Portuguese-speaking world, reflecting its long-standing presence and cultural significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Brigida

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

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

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

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