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

Brobst, 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 Brobst surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Brobst in America

Brobst is the 15074th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Brobst surname appeared 1,957 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Brobst.

We can also compare 2010 data for Brobst 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 Brobst

The surname BROBST is of German origin, and it can be traced back to the 16th century in the regions of Bavaria and Franconia. It is believed to be derived from the German word "Brot," which means "bread," and the suffix "-bst" or "-pst," which was commonly used in occupational surnames. This suggests that the name may have originated from an individual who was a baker or a bread maker.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the BROBST surname can be found in the church records of Nuremberg, Germany, where a certain Hans Brobst was mentioned in the year 1542. Another early reference to the name is found in the records of the city of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, where a Johannes Brobst was listed in the tax registers of 1589.

In the 17th century, the BROBST surname began to appear in various parts of Germany, as well as in neighboring regions such as Switzerland and Austria. One notable bearer of the name during this period was Johann Brobst (1603-1673), a German Lutheran theologian and author who served as a professor at the University of Jena.

As the BROBST family spread across Europe, the name also underwent various spelling variations, including Brobst, Probst, Propst, and Probest. Some of these variations were influenced by regional dialects and linguistic differences.

In the 18th century, the BROBST surname became more widespread, and several individuals with this name gained recognition in various fields. For example, Johann Friedrich Brobst (1738-1805) was a German composer and organist who served as the music director at the Neukirche in Nuremberg.

Another notable bearer of the BROBST name was Johann Georg Brobst (1777-1855), a German painter and engraver who was known for his landscapes and portraits. His works can still be found in various museums and private collections across Europe.

In the 19th century, the BROBST surname continued to be found throughout Germany and other parts of Europe. One prominent individual with this name was Wilhelm Brobst (1841-1914), a German architect who designed several notable buildings in Berlin, including the former Reichsbank building and the Königliches Opernhaus (Royal Opera House).

As families with the BROBST surname migrated to other parts of the world, the name also took root in various countries. For example, in the United States, the BROBST family can be traced back to the 18th century, when German immigrants began arriving in Pennsylvania and other regions.

Throughout its history, the BROBST surname has been borne by many individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields, including arts, literature, science, and academia. While the name may have originated from a humble occupation, it has since become a part of the rich tapestry of human history and cultural diversity.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Brobst

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

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

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

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