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

Brookes, 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 Brookes surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Brookes in America

Brookes is the 13616th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Brookes surname appeared 2,225 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 Brookes.

We can also compare 2010 data for Brookes 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 Brookes

The surname BROOKES originated in England and has its roots dating back to the Anglo-Saxon period. The name is derived from the Old English word "broc," which means a small stream or brook. It likely referred to someone who lived near a brook or stream.

The earliest recorded instances of the BROOKES surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appeared in various spellings, such as "Brok," "Brock," and "Broke."

During the Middle Ages, many people with the surname BROOKES settled in various parts of England, particularly in counties like Derbyshire, Staffordshire, and Warwickshire. The name was often associated with specific locations, such as Broke near Stafford and Brook in Derbyshire.

One notable figure with the BROOKES surname was Sir Robert Brooke (c. 1490-1558), who served as the Chief Baron of the Exchequer during the reign of Queen Mary I. Another prominent individual was Henry Brooke, 8th Baron Cobham (1564-1619), who was an English nobleman and politician.

In the 17th century, the BROOKES surname gained prominence with the writer and philosopher Ralph Brooke (1553-1625), who was known for his works on natural philosophy and religion. The name also appeared in literary circles with the poet and playwright Henry Brooke (1703-1783), best known for his novel "The Fool of Quality."

During the 18th century, the BROOKES surname was associated with several notable figures, including James Brooke (1742-1821), an English clergyman and author, and Sir James Brooke (1803-1868), who became the first White Rajah of Sarawak in Borneo.

As the BROOKES surname spread throughout England and beyond, it became associated with various professions and achievements. From scholars and writers to politicians and military leaders, the name has left an indelible mark on history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Brookes

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

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

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

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