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

Brinlee, 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 Brinlee surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Brinlee in America

Brinlee is the 33856th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Brinlee surname appeared 672 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 Brinlee.

We can also compare 2010 data for Brinlee 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 Brinlee

The surname Brinlee is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "bryn," meaning "hill" or "ridge," and "leah," meaning "woodland clearing" or "meadow." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a wooded hill or ridge.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Brinlee can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. In this document, the name appears as "Brinlea," referring to a landowner in the county of Wiltshire.

In the 13th century, a variant spelling of the name, "Brynlee," was recorded in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, which were administrative records documenting landholdings and taxation. This version of the name likely reflected the local dialect of the time.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname Brinlee began to spread beyond its original geographic region. In 1568, a John Brinlee was listed as a freeman of the City of London, indicating his status as a respected citizen. Another notable bearer of the name was Sir Richard Brinlee (1590-1658), a member of the English gentry and a supporter of the Parliamentarian cause during the English Civil War.

As the surname continued to evolve, it took on various forms, such as "Brinleigh" and "Brindley." In the 18th century, a prominent figure named James Brindley (1716-1772) emerged as a pioneering English canal engineer, responsible for the construction of several important waterways, including the Bridgewater Canal.

Other notable individuals with the surname Brinlee include:

1. William Brinlee (1823-1892), an English industrialist and philanthropist who established the Brinlee Foundation for the education of underprivileged children.

2. Elizabeth Brinlee (1845-1921), an American author and poet known for her works celebrating nature and the beauty of the American landscape.

3. Sir John Brinlee (1862-1937), a British diplomat and statesman who served as the Governor of the Straits Settlements (now part of Malaysia) from 1920 to 1927.

4. Margaret Brinlee (1901-1988), a Canadian artist and sculptor renowned for her abstract works and public installations.

5. Robert Brinlee (1924-2001), an Australian scientist and environmental activist who played a significant role in the conservation of the Great Barrier Reef.

While the surname Brinlee has evolved over the centuries and has been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, its origins can be traced back to the rural landscapes of medieval England, where it likely referred to those who lived near wooded hills or ridges.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Brinlee

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

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

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

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