2000
#1,147
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 28,001
First available Census row
Per 100,000 10.38
Uncommon Last name
Britton
An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "Briton" or "a Briton's settlement."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 31,799 Americans carry the last name Britton. That puts it at #1,250 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 9.28 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 10,779 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Britton 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 Britton with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
32K
1 in 10,779
Census rank
#1,250
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
9.3
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
28K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 27,730 bearers of the surname Britton in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 9.28 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 1250th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Britton, the largest self-reported group is White at 71.3%. The next largest groups are Black (19.5%) and Two or More Races (4.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Britton
The surname Britton has its roots in medieval England, originating from the Brittonic language spoken by the ancient Britons. It is believed to have derived from the word "Brython," meaning "a Briton" or "a Briton of Wales." The name's earliest recorded usage dates back to the late 11th century, shortly after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.
One of the earliest known references to the name Britton can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "Breton," reflecting the Old French spelling commonly used by the Norman scribes who compiled the record.
During the 12th and 13th centuries, the surname became more widespread across England, particularly in areas with strong Welsh influences, such as the border regions and the Welsh Marches. Variations in spelling, including Briton, Britoun, and Breton, were common due to the lack of standardized orthography at the time.
Notable historical figures bearing the surname Britton include John Britton (1771-1857), an English writer and antiquary known for his extensive works on the architectural antiquities of England. Another prominent individual was Thomas Britton (1644-1714), a renowned musical instrument maker and promoter of informal concerts known as the "Britton's Concerts" in London.
In the 15th century, the surname Britton appeared in connection with several place names, such as Britton's End in Buckinghamshire and Britton's Farm in Hampshire. These place names likely originated from individuals bearing the surname who resided or owned land in those areas.
Other notable individuals with the surname Britton throughout history include:
1. John Britton (1771-1857), an English writer and antiquary.
2. Thomas Britton (1644-1714), a renowned musical instrument maker and concert promoter.
3. Nathaniel Britton (1859-1934), an American botanist and co-founder of the New York Botanical Garden.
4. Sir John Britton (1831-1898), a British civil engineer who worked on various railway projects.
5. Harriet Britton (1856-1939), an American botanist and co-founder of the New York Botanical Garden.
The surname Britton has a rich history deeply rooted in the ancient Brittonic culture and the medieval origins of England. Its evolution through various spellings and its association with notable historical figures and places reflect the diverse and fascinating journey of this surname over the centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Britton
Among Census respondents with the surname Britton, the largest self-reported group is White at 71.3%. The next largest groups are Black (19.5%) and Two or More Races (4.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Britton 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 Britton surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White71.3% · 19,784
- Black or African American19.5% · 5,408
- Two or more races4.2% · 1,160
- Hispanic or Latino3.6% · 1,006
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.7% · 201
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6% · 171
Timeline
Historical Census data for Britton
Britton 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
#1,217
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 29,040
+1,039 bearers (+3.7%)
Per 100,000 9.84
Rank movement Down 70 places
2020
#1,250
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 27,730
-1,310 bearers (-4.5%)
Per 100,000 9.28
Rank movement Down 33 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #1,147 | 28,001 | 10.38 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #1,217 | 29,040 | 9.84 | +1,039 bearers (+3.7%) | Down 70 places |
| 2020 | #1,250 | 27,730 | 9.28 | -1,310 bearers (-4.5%) | Down 33 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 Britton 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 | #1,217 | #1,250 | -2.7% |
| Count | 29,040 | 27,730 | -4.5% |
| Per 100K | 9.84 | 9.28 | -5.7% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Britton bearers went from 29,040 to 27,730 (-4.5% change). The surname moved down 33 positions in the national ranking, going from #1,217 to #1,250.
FAQ
Britton surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Britton?
Name Census estimates that about 31,799 living Americans carry the surname Britton. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 10,779 residents.
How common is Britton?
Britton ranks #1,250 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Uncommon." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 9.28 per 100,000 residents, which is about 9 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 27,730 people with the surname Britton. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (31,799), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 9.28 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 9.28 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 9 of them to have the surname Britton.
Has Britton become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Britton went from 29,040 recorded bearers to 27,730. That is a decrease of 1,310 (-4.5%). In the national ranking it fell from #1,217 to #1,250.
What does the Census say about the background of Britton?
Among Census respondents with the surname Britton, the largest self-reported group is White at 71.3%. The next largest groups are Black (19.5%) and Two or More Races (4.2%). 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?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Britton in the 2020 Census, accounting for 71.3% (19,784 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Britton appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (71.3%), Black (19.5%), Two or More Races (4.2%). 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 Britton (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 Britton mean?
An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "Briton" or "a Briton's settlement." 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 Britton (9.28 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 Britton?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.