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

Brotherson, 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 Brotherson surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Brotherson in America

Brotherson is the 62045th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Brotherson surname appeared 323 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 Brotherson.

We can also compare 2010 data for Brotherson 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 Brotherson

The surname "Brotherson" originated in England during the late medieval period. It is a patronymic name, derived from the phrase "brother's son," indicating that the original bearer was the son of someone's brother. The name first appeared in historical records around the 13th century, often spelled as "Brothersone" or "Brothersone."

One of the earliest recorded instances of this surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, a census-like document compiled in 1273. The name "Willelmus Broθersone" is listed among the residents of the county. This Old English spelling highlights the name's origins as a descriptive term.

During the 14th century, the name spread across various regions of England, particularly in the counties of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire. In the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1332, the name appears as "Johanne Bruthersone" in Yorkshire and "Robertus Brothersone" in Lincolnshire.

The Brotherson surname has a rich history, with several notable individuals bearing this name throughout the centuries. One of the earliest recorded was William Brotherson, a farmer from Nottinghamshire, who was mentioned in a land deed dated 1392.

In the 16th century, John Brotherson (c. 1510-1580) was a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of London. He served as the Master of the Worshipful Company of Mercers in 1558 and played a significant role in the city's trade and governance.

During the English Civil War, Captain Thomas Brotherson (1615-1678) fought for the Parliamentarian forces under Oliver Cromwell. He participated in several major battles, including the Battle of Naseby in 1645, and later served as a member of the Rump Parliament.

In the 18th century, the Brotherson name gained recognition through the works of the poet and playwright William Brotherson (1735-1804). He was born in Yorkshire and is best known for his satirical plays and verses that critiqued the social and political issues of his time.

Another notable figure was Sir James Brotherson (1820-1892), a prominent Scottish industrialist and philanthropist. He made his fortune in the textile industry and founded several charitable organizations, including the Brotherson Orphanage in Glasgow.

While these historical examples provide insight into the Brotherson surname's origins and significance, it is important to note that the name has evolved over time, with various spellings and regional variations emerging across different parts of the English-speaking world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Brotherson

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

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

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

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