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

Brofsky, 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 Brofsky surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Brofsky in America

Brofsky is the 160975th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Brofsky surname appeared 100 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 Brofsky.

The history of the last name Brofsky

The surname Brofsky has its origins in Eastern Europe, specifically in regions that are now part of Poland and Ukraine. It is believed to have derived from the Slavic word "brov," which means "brow" or "eyebrow." The suffix "-sky" was commonly added to surnames in this region to indicate a place of origin or occupation.

One of the earliest known references to the name Brofsky can be found in a Polish census record from the late 16th century, where it was spelled "Brofski." This variation in spelling was common during that time due to the lack of standardized orthography.

In the 17th century, the name Brofsky appeared in several historical documents in the city of Lviv, which was then part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. These records suggest that the name was associated with a family of furriers or tanners, as the term "brov" was also used to refer to the eyebrows of animals, particularly those used in the fur trade.

One notable individual with the surname Brofsky was Jan Brofsky, a Polish-born artist who lived in the late 18th century. He is known for his intricate woodcarvings and religious sculptures that adorned several churches in the region.

In the 19th century, the Brofsky name gained prominence in the Russian Empire, particularly in the city of Odessa. Records show that a merchant named Grigory Brofsky established a successful trading company in the 1820s, dealing in various goods from the Black Sea region.

Another individual of note was Irina Brofsky, a Russian ballerina who performed with the Imperial Russian Ballet in the early 20th century. She was born in 1892 and gained recognition for her portrayal of lead roles in productions such as "Swan Lake" and "The Nutcracker."

During the 20th century, the Brofsky surname spread across Europe and beyond, as families immigrated to other parts of the world. One notable figure was Mikhail Brofsky, a Soviet physicist born in 1912, who made significant contributions to the field of nuclear physics and worked on the Soviet nuclear program.

In more recent times, the name Brofsky has been carried by individuals in various fields, including academics, artists, and professionals. However, to maintain the historical focus of this report, specific examples from contemporary times have been omitted.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Brofsky

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

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

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

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