Brimley
A surname from a place name derived from Old English words meaning "brim" and "clearing in the woods".
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 651 Americans carry the last name Brimley. That puts it at #39,117 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.19 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 526,504 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Brimley 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
651
1 in 526,504
Census rank
#39,117
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
563
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 563 bearers of the surname Brimley in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.19 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 39117th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Brimley, the largest self-reported group is White at 65.0%. The next largest groups are Black (32.3%) and Hispanic (1.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Brimley
The surname Brimley originated in England, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "brimm" and "leah," meaning "vigorous" and "woodland clearing" respectively. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to a person living in a lively or prosperous woodland area.
In the Domesday Book of 1086, a record of landowners in England compiled by order of William the Conqueror, there are several entries that may be related to the name Brimley. These include "Brimelegh" and "Brimelai," which could refer to early spellings or variations of the surname.
One of the earliest documented individuals with the surname Brimley was John Brimley, who was born in Gloucestershire, England, around 1230. Records from the 14th century also mention a William Brimley, a landowner in Somerset, and a Thomas Brimley, a merchant in London.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Brimley family seemed to have a strong presence in the county of Gloucestershire. Notable individuals from this period include Richard Brimley (1547-1623), a member of the local gentry, and his son, John Brimley (1585-1661), who served as a magistrate in the county.
The name Brimley has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Brimley Hill in Herefordshire and Brimley Farm in Gloucestershire. These locations may have derived their names from the surname or vice versa, reflecting the historical connection between the family and certain areas.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Brimley. One example is Wilfred Brimley (1934-2020), an American actor known for his roles in films such as "Cocoon" and "The Firm." Another is John Brimley Bigge (1792-1865), an English lawyer and colonial administrator who served as the Commissioner of Inquiry into the state of the colonies in Australia in the 1820s.
Other notable individuals with the surname Brimley include John Brimley (1631-1691), an English poet and clergyman; Thomas Brimley (1789-1879), a British journalist and essayist; and George Brimley (1819-1857), an English author and literary critic.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Brimley
Among Census respondents with the surname Brimley, the largest self-reported group is White at 65.0%. The next largest groups are Black (32.3%) and Hispanic (1.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Brimley 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 Brimley surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White65.0%
- Black or African American32.3%
- Hispanic or Latino1.4%
- Two or more races1.1%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Brimley 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 | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #39,117 | #39,117 | 0.0% |
| Count | 563 | 563 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.19 | 0.19 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Brimley bearers went from 563 to 563 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #39,117 to #39,117.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Brimley
FAQ
Brimley surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Brimley?
The surname Brimley holds position #39,117 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 651 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.19 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Brimley surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Brimley, the largest self-reported group is White at 65.0%. The next largest groups are Black (32.3%) and Hispanic (1.4%). 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.