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

Britney, 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 Britney surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Britney in America

Britney is the 156044th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Britney surname appeared 104 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 Britney.

The history of the last name Britney

The surname Britney is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, specifically in the counties of Devonshire and Cornwall. It is derived from the Old English words "britten" and "ey," which together translate to "Briton's island," referring to the inhabitants of the region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Britney can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of land ownership compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. The name is listed as "Britteneye," likely referring to a family residing on an island or coastal area inhabited by Britons.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "Brittenye" and "Britteneigh," reflecting the linguistic evolution and regional variations of the time. Notable individuals bearing this surname include Sir John Britney (1280-1349), a prominent landowner and knight from Somerset, and Thomas Britney (1412-1483), a merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name Britney became more widespread across England, with several branches of the family settling in different regions. One notable figure was William Britney (1568-1642), a scholar and clergyman who served as the chaplain to King James I.

In the 18th century, the spelling of the name solidified into its modern form, "Britney." A prominent individual from this era was Admiral Sir Richard Britney (1723-1799), a naval officer who distinguished himself during the American Revolutionary War and was later knighted for his service.

Throughout the 19th century, the Britney surname continued to be represented across various professions and social classes. Notable individuals include Mary Britney (1801-1887), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights, and Sir John Britney (1845-1921), a renowned architect responsible for designing several iconic buildings in London.

As the centuries progressed, the Britney surname spread beyond England to other parts of the British Empire and eventually to various regions worldwide, carried by families seeking new opportunities or fleeing conflicts. Despite its geographical dispersal, the name has maintained its strong association with its English origins and rich historical legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Britney

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

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 Britney 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.

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

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

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