Brook
A topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a small stream or brook.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 5,347 Americans carry the last name Brook. That puts it at #7,240 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.56 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 64,102 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Brook 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
5.3K
1 in 64,102
Census rank
#7,240
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.6
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
4.6K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 4,607 bearers of the surname Brook in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.56 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 7240th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Brook, the largest self-reported group is White at 82.9%. The next largest groups are Black (11.5%) and Hispanic (2.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Brook
The surname Brook originated in England, deriving from the Old English word 'broc', meaning a small stream or brook. It likely emerged as a topographic name, given to individuals residing near such a geographic feature.
The earliest recorded instance of the surname Brook can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'de Broke'. This suggests the name may have initially referred to someone living by a brook.
One of the earliest known bearers of the name was John de Brook, born around 1260 in Derbyshire, England. He served as a knight during the reign of King Edward I.
In the 14th century, the name was also associated with the village of Brook in Rutland, England. This may have contributed to its widespread adoption as a surname in that region.
Sir Thomas Brook (c.1355-1419) was a prominent figure during the Hundred Years' War, serving as a military commander under King Henry V. He was present at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415.
During the Tudor period, Sir David Brook (c.1490-1548) was a notable courtier and diplomat, serving under King Henry VIII. He played a role in the events leading up to the English Reformation.
In the 17th century, Robert Brook (1602-1669) was a celebrated Puritan minister and author, known for his work 'The Lives of the Puritans'.
The Brook family also had a strong presence in colonial America, with Thomas Brook (1608-1667) being one of the founders of the town of Ipswich, Massachusetts.
Throughout history, the surname Brook has been spelled in various ways, including Broke, Brooke, and Brookes, reflecting regional variations in pronunciation and spelling.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Brook
Among Census respondents with the surname Brook, the largest self-reported group is White at 82.9%. The next largest groups are Black (11.5%) and Hispanic (2.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Brook 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 Brook surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White82.9%
- Black or African American11.5%
- Hispanic or Latino2.5%
- Two or more races1.6%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.8%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.8%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Brook 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 | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #7,240 | #7,240 | 0.0% |
| Count | 4,607 | 4,607 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 1.56 | 1.56 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Brook bearers went from 4,607 to 4,607 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #7,240 to #7,240.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Brook
FAQ
Brook surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Brook?
The surname Brook holds position #7,240 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 5,347 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 1.56 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Brook surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Brook, the largest self-reported group is White at 82.9%. The next largest groups are Black (11.5%) and Hispanic (2.5%). 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.