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

Britton, 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 Britton surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Britton in America

Britton is the 1217th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Britton surname appeared 29,040 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 10 people would have the surname Britton.

We can also compare 2010 data for Britton 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 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.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Britton

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

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

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

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