Britten
A surname of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from a place name meaning "Britta's homestead" or "Britta's settlement."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 3,256 Americans carry the last name Britten. That puts it at #11,288 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.95 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 105,269 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Britten surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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.
Bearers in the US
3.3K
1 in 105,269
Census rank
#11,288
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.9
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.8K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,799 bearers of the surname Britten in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.95 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 11288th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Britten, the largest self-reported group is White at 71.5%. The next largest groups are Black (22.9%) and Hispanic (2.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Britten
The surname Britten originated in England during the medieval period, deriving from the Old English word "britten," meaning a Briton or a person of British descent. This name likely emerged as a way to distinguish those of British ancestry from the Anglo-Saxon or Norman populations that had settled in the region.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Britten can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Brictun" in reference to a landholder in Lincolnshire. This suggests that the name had already established itself in certain parts of England by the late 11th century.
During the Middle Ages, the name Britten was particularly prevalent in the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex, where it may have originated as a locational surname referring to settlements with names like Britten or Britton. In some instances, the name may have also been an occupational surname for someone who worked with or traded in British goods or products.
Notable individuals with the surname Britten include Sir Thomas Britten (c. 1370-1450), a prominent English soldier and diplomat who served under Henry V during the Hundred Years' War. Another early bearer of the name was John Britten (c. 1420-1480), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Norfolk.
In the 16th century, the name Britten gained further recognition with the birth of Edward Britten (1530-1595), an English theologian and scholar who served as the Dean of Westminster Abbey. His contemporary, Richard Britten (c. 1540-1620), was a respected lawyer and member of the Parliament of England.
Perhaps the most famous bearer of the surname Britten is the celebrated English composer Benjamin Britten (1913-1976), whose works, such as the opera Peter Grimes and the War Requiem, have become cornerstones of 20th-century classical music.
Throughout its history, the surname Britten has maintained its strong ties to England, and its bearers have made significant contributions to various fields, including military service, commerce, academia, and the arts.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Britten
Among Census respondents with the surname Britten, the largest self-reported group is White at 71.5%. The next largest groups are Black (22.9%) and Hispanic (2.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Britten bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Britten surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White71.5%
- Black or African American22.9%
- Hispanic or Latino2.3%
- Two or more races2.0%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.5%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Britten surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #11,557 | #11,288 | 2.3% |
| Count | 2,495 | 2,799 | 12.2% |
| Per 100K | 0.92 | 0.95 | 3.3% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Britten bearers went from 2,495 to 2,799 (+12.2% change). The surname moved up 269 positions in the national ranking, going from #11,557 to #11,288.
FAQ
Britten surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Britten?
The surname Britten holds position #11,288 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 3,256 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.95 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Britten surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Britten, the largest self-reported group is White at 71.5%. The next largest groups are Black (22.9%) and Hispanic (2.3%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.