Brin
A surname possibly derived from the Old French word for "hemp" or "brin de paille" meaning "straw."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 925 Americans carry the last name Brin. That puts it at #29,279 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.27 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 370,545 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Brin 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
925
1 in 370,545
Census rank
#29,279
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.3
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
808
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 808 bearers of the surname Brin in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.27 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 29279th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Brin, the largest self-reported group is White at 85.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (6.2%) and Black (5.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Brin
The surname BRIN is believed to have originated from the Catalan region of Spain, dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Catalan word "bri," meaning vigor or strength. The name may have initially referred to a person with a robust or hardy disposition.
In the early 13th century, the name appeared in various records from the Catalonian region, including the "Llibre dels Fets" (Book of Deeds), a chronicle of the reign of King James I of Aragon. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this surname was Ramon Brin, a nobleman mentioned in a document from the year 1237.
During the 14th and 15th centuries, the Brin family had a significant presence in the city of Barcelona. Notable figures from this period include Joan Brin (1328-1402), a prominent merchant and banker, and Bernat Brin (1410-1478), a respected jurist and legal scholar.
As the Brin name spread beyond Catalonia, it underwent some variations in spelling, such as Bryn, Brynn, and Brynne. These alternative spellings were more commonly found in other regions of Spain and parts of France.
In the 16th century, the Brin name appeared in records from the Balearic Islands, where it was associated with several influential families. One notable individual from this era was Guillem Brin (1522-1598), a renowned navigator and explorer who participated in several expeditions to the Americas.
Over the centuries, the Brin surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, scholars, and military leaders. A few notable examples include:
1. Miguel Brin (1683-1768), a Spanish painter known for his religious works and portraiture.
2. Jaume Brin (1738-1802), a Catalan philosopher and writer who contributed to the Enlightenment movement in Spain.
3. Francesc Brin (1815-1891), a Spanish military officer who fought in the Carlist Wars and later served as a general.
4. Josep Brin (1856-1928), a Catalan architect known for his contribution to the Modernisme movement in Barcelona.
5. Sergey Brin (born 1973), a Russian-American computer scientist and co-founder of Google, one of the most influential technology companies in the world.
While the Brin surname has its roots in the Catalan region of Spain, it has since spread across various countries and cultures, carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and accomplishments.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Brin
Among Census respondents with the surname Brin, the largest self-reported group is White at 85.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (6.2%) and Black (5.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Brin 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 Brin surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White85.5%
- Hispanic or Latino6.2%
- Black or African American5.6%
- Two or more races1.4%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Brin 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 | #29,279 | #29,279 | 0.0% |
| Count | 808 | 808 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.27 | 0.27 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Brin bearers went from 808 to 808 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #29,279 to #29,279.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Brin
FAQ
Brin surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Brin?
The surname Brin holds position #29,279 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 925 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.27 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Brin surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Brin, the largest self-reported group is White at 85.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (6.2%) and Black (5.6%). 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.