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

Brothers, 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 Brothers surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Brothers in America

Brothers is the 3096th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Brothers surname appeared 11,619 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Brothers.

We can also compare 2010 data for Brothers 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 Brothers

The surname Brothers is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "brōthor," meaning "brother." It likely originated as a descriptive name for someone who had a close relationship with a brother or was part of a religious brotherhood.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname can be traced back to the late 12th century in various English records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1190, where a William Brother is mentioned. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also include entries for people with the surname Brothers or variants like le Broder.

In the 13th century, the surname Brothers appeared in the Cartulary of St. Bartholomew's Hospital in London, where a Roger le Brodur is listed. This indicates that the name was present in the capital during that time period.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname was John Brothers, born around 1360 in Gloucestershire, England. He was a prominent landowner and served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Gloucestershire in 1388.

Another notable individual was Richard Brothers, born in 1757 in Placentia, Newfoundland. He was a religious writer and claimed to be a prophet, publishing several works including "A Revealed Knowledge of the Prophecies and Times" in 1794.

In the 16th century, the surname Brothers was associated with the village of Brotherton in Yorkshire, which likely contributed to its popularity in that region. William Brotherton, born around 1520 in Yorkshire, was a wealthy merchant and landowner who left a significant estate upon his death in 1587.

During the English Civil War in the 17th century, a Captain John Brothers fought for the Parliamentarian forces and was involved in several battles, including the Battle of Naseby in 1645.

Another notable bearer of the surname was Samuel Brothers, born in 1675 in London. He was a successful printer and publisher, known for his editions of classical works and religious texts.

Overall, the surname Brothers has a long history in England, with roots dating back to the Middle Ages. Its origins can be traced to the Old English word for "brother," reflecting familial or religious connections.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Brothers

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

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

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

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