2000
#9,819
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 3,040
First available Census row
Per 100,000 1.13
Rare Last name
Brisco
A topographic surname derived from the Old Norse word "birki," meaning "birch wood" or "birch copse."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 3,326 Americans carry the last name Brisco. That puts it at #10,549 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.97 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 103,053 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Brisco surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Brisco with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
3.3K
1 in 103,053
Census rank
#10,549
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.9K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,900 bearers of the surname Brisco in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.97 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 10549th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Brisco, the largest self-reported group is Black at 53.2%. The next largest groups are White (36.3%) and Two or More Races (5.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of 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.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Brisco
Among Census respondents with the surname Brisco, the largest self-reported group is Black at 53.2%. The next largest groups are White (36.3%) and Two or More Races (5.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Brisco bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Brisco surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American53.2% · 1,543
- White36.3% · 1,054
- Two or more races5.2% · 150
- Hispanic or Latino3.6% · 105
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.9% · 26
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.8% · 22
Timeline
Historical Census data for Brisco
Brisco appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#10,316
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 3,123
+83 bearers (+2.7%)
Per 100,000 1.06
Rank movement Down 497 places
2020
#10,549
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,900
-223 bearers (-7.1%)
Per 100,000 0.97
Rank movement Down 233 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #9,819 | 3,040 | 1.13 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #10,316 | 3,123 | 1.06 | +83 bearers (+2.7%) | Down 497 places |
| 2020 | #10,549 | 2,900 | 0.97 | -223 bearers (-7.1%) | Down 233 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Brisco surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #10,316 | #10,549 | -2.3% |
| Count | 3,123 | 2,900 | -7.1% |
| Per 100K | 1.06 | 0.97 | -8.5% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Brisco bearers went from 3,123 to 2,900 (-7.1% change). The surname moved down 233 positions in the national ranking, going from #10,316 to #10,549.
FAQ
Brisco surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Brisco?
Name Census estimates that about 3,326 living Americans carry the surname Brisco. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 103,053 residents.
How common is Brisco?
Brisco ranks #10,549 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.97 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 2,900 people with the surname Brisco. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (3,326), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.97 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.97 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Brisco.
Has Brisco become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Brisco went from 3,123 recorded bearers to 2,900. That is a decrease of 223 (-7.1%). In the national ranking it fell from #10,316 to #10,549.
What does the Census say about the background of Brisco?
Among Census respondents with the surname Brisco, the largest self-reported group is Black at 53.2%. The next largest groups are White (36.3%) and Two or More Races (5.2%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Black is the largest self-reported group for the surname Brisco in the 2020 Census, accounting for 53.2% (1,543 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Brisco appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Black (53.2%), White (36.3%), Two or More Races (5.2%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Brisco (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Brisco mean?
A topographic surname derived from the Old Norse word "birki," meaning "birch wood" or "birch copse." The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Brisco (0.97 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many Americans have the surname Brisco?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.