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

Brisco, 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 Brisco surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Brisco in America

Brisco is the 10316th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Brisco surname appeared 3,123 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Brisco.

We can also compare 2010 data for Brisco 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 Brisco

The surname Brisco is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name derived from the village of Brisco, located in the county of Cumbria, near the Scottish border. The name is thought to stem from the Old Norse words "brik" and "skogr," meaning "bridge" and "wood" respectively, suggesting that the area was once known for its bridge surrounded by woodland.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Westmorland, dated 1202, which mentions a Walter de Brisco. This indicates that the name was already well-established in the region by the early 13th century. Additionally, the Brisco surname appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Cumberland in 1332, further solidifying its presence in the area during the medieval era.

The name Brisco has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. Sir John Brisco (c. 1570-1636) was a prominent English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Westmorland during the reign of King James I. Another noteworthy figure was Sir Roger Brisco (c. 1610-1669), a Royalist commander during the English Civil War, who fought for King Charles I and was later knighted for his loyalty.

In the literary realm, Robert Brisco (1828-1898) was a renowned English writer and journalist who contributed to various publications, including Punch magazine. He is best known for his humorous sketches and essays depicting life in Victorian England.

Moving forward in time, Sir Lancelot Brisco (1897-1981) was a distinguished British diplomat who served as the Ambassador to Saudi Arabia from 1957 to 1961. His diplomatic efforts played a crucial role in strengthening relations between the two countries during a pivotal period in the Middle East.

Another notable figure with the Brisco surname was Charles Brisco (1884-1964), a British-born American actor who appeared in numerous Hollywood films during the early 20th century, including notable roles in classics such as Gone with the Wind (1939) and The Grapes of Wrath (1940).

While the surname Brisco may have evolved in its spelling and pronunciation over the centuries, its origins can be traced back to the rural landscapes of Cumbria, where it was first recorded as a locational name reflecting the area's distinctive geography. From political figures and military commanders to writers and actors, the Brisco name has left its mark on various chapters of history, spanning multiple centuries and continents.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Brisco

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

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

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Brisco, 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!