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

Brotton, 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 Brotton surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Brotton in America

Brotton is the 100663rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Brotton surname appeared 166 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Brotton.

The history of the last name Brotton

The surname Brotton finds its origins in England, specifically from the northeastern county of North Yorkshire. Historical references to the name date back to the medieval period, though the precise century is somewhat elusive due to varying records. The name is thought to be locational, derived from the village of Brotton near the town of Saltburn-by-the-Sea. Originally, the name likely referred to someone who lived in or near this village or came from this area.

The name Brotton appears to be derived from Old English elements. The first part of the name, "brot", may have evolved from the Old English word "broc", meaning badger, though it could also relate to "brōc", meaning brook or stream. The suffix "ton" is common in English place names and derived from "tūn", meaning an enclosure, farmstead, or settlement. Therefore, Brotton could be interpreted to mean "badger enclosure" or "brook farmstead".

Historical records provide glimpses into the surname's use in medieval England. One of the earliest mentions of the name is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where the village of Brotton is listed as "Brotune". Various manuscripts and legal documents from the 12th and 13th centuries record similar spellings, including "Broctun" and "Broghton", showing the name's evolution over time.

The earliest documented individual with the surname Brotton appears in a late 13th-century tax record. John de Brotton is listed in the Yorkshire Subsidy Rolls of 1297, indicating that he was a person of some standing in his community. Subsequent records from the 14th and 15th centuries show the name Brotton in various legal and land documents, particularly in the North Riding of Yorkshire.

Several notable individuals carried the surname Brotton through history. Thomas Brotton, born in 1350 and recorded in the Poll Tax of 1379, was a yeoman in North Yorkshire, contributing to local governance. William Brotton, born circa 1420, is documented in a land grant in 1456, highlighting his role in local land transactions. In the 16th century, Richard Brotton, born in 1495, served as a juror in various court cases, indicating his involvement in legal affairs.

Another significant figure is Robert Brotton, born in 1530, who was recorded as a merchant in the bustling port city of Hull. His participation in overseas trade sheds light on the economic activities of the period. Lastly, Edward Brotton, born in 1610, is mentioned in early 17th-century probate records in York, denoting his status as a landowner and farmer. These historical figures collectively reflect the surname's longstanding association with Yorkshire and its gradual dissemination over time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Brotton

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Brotton 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 Brotton was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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