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

Brinson, 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 Brinson surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Brinson in America

Brinson is the 2912th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Brinson surname appeared 12,303 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Brinson.

We can also compare 2010 data for Brinson 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 Brinson

The surname Brinson originated in England and has its roots in the Anglo-Saxon era. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "brun," meaning brown or dark, and "tun," which refers to a town or enclosure. This suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive term for someone who lived in or near a town with a distinct brown or dark coloration.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Bruneston." This entry refers to a settlement in the county of Suffolk, further reinforcing the name's connection to a specific location.

During the medieval period, the name underwent various spelling variations, including Brunston, Brunson, and Brynston, reflecting the fluidity of English orthography at the time. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and scribal conventions.

Notable individuals bearing the Brinson surname throughout history include William Brinson, a merchant from London who was active in the early 17th century. His name appears in trade records from that era, indicating his involvement in the city's commercial activities.

Another figure of note is John Brinson, born in 1692 in Hampshire, England. He was a renowned clockmaker whose intricate timepieces were highly sought after by the gentry and aristocracy of the time.

In the 18th century, the name gained recognition through the works of author and poet Elizabeth Brinson, whose poems and essays captured the sentiments of her era. She was born in 1732 in Gloucestershire and published several volumes of poetry during her lifetime.

Moving into the 19th century, we find Thomas Brinson, a prominent industrialist from Yorkshire, who played a significant role in the development of the textile industry in the region. He was born in 1802 and his innovative manufacturing methods contributed to the growth of the local economy.

Finally, in the 20th century, the name Brinson was brought to international attention by the American jazz musician and composer James Brinson. Born in 1920 in New Orleans, he was a pioneering figure in the development of modern jazz, known for his unique style and improvisational skills.

While the surname Brinson may have evolved over the centuries, its roots can be traced back to the early days of English history, reflecting the rich tapestry of language, geography, and cultural influences that have shaped the development of surnames in the British Isles.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Brinson

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!