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

Brill, 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 Brill surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Brill in America

Brill is the 3841st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Brill surname appeared 9,215 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Brill.

We can also compare 2010 data for Brill 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 Brill

The surname Brill is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word 'brill' or 'brylle,' which referred to a small stream or brook. The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the 13th century, when it was often spelled as 'Brille' or 'Bryl.'

During the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century, many place names were influenced by the Norman French language. It is possible that the name Brill may have originated from a Norman-influenced place name, such as Brill in Buckinghamshire, which was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as 'Bruhella.'

One of the earliest known bearers of the name Brill was William de Brille, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1194. Other early records include Walter de Brill, documented in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1279.

Over the centuries, the Brill surname has been associated with several notable individuals. Sir Matthew Brill (1572-1629) was an English lawyer and Member of Parliament during the reign of King James I. Another prominent figure was Richard Brill (1619-1699), an English clergyman and author of several theological works.

In the 18th century, John Brill (1734-1794) was a renowned English musician and composer, known for his contributions to the development of the violin concerto. A century later, Reginald Brill (1858-1942) was a distinguished English architect responsible for designing several notable buildings, including the Croydon Town Hall.

Across the Atlantic, one of the earliest recorded instances of the Brill surname in America was that of John Brill, who arrived in Pennsylvania from England in 1683. Another early American bearer of the name was Benjamin Brill (1725-1809), a Revolutionary War soldier and farmer from New Jersey.

Throughout its history, the surname Brill has been associated with various occupations and professions, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and experiences of its bearers. Whether derived from a geographical location or an Old English word, the name Brill has left an indelible mark on the annals of history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Brill

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

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

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

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