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

Brough, 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 Brough surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Brough in America

Brough is the 9698th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Brough surname appeared 3,345 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 Brough.

We can also compare 2010 data for Brough 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 Brough

The surname Brough is of English origin, and it is believed to have originated in the medieval period, specifically around the 13th century. The name is derived from the Old English word "burg" or "burh," which means a fortified dwelling or a village. It is closely related to the modern English word "borough."

The name Brough is primarily associated with the northern counties of England, particularly Yorkshire and Northumberland. It is thought to have originated as a topographic name, referring to someone who lived near a fortified town or settlement. Alternatively, it could also be a habitational name, indicating a person who hailed from a place called Brough.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Brough can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it appears as "de Burgh." This reference suggests that the name was already in use during the 13th century. Additionally, the Domesday Book of 1086 mentions several places with names similar to Brough, such as Burg, Burghe, and Burgo.

The name Brough has been associated with various places in England, including Brough in Westmorland (now part of Cumbria), Brough in Yorkshire, and Brough in Nottinghamshire. These place names are derived from the same Old English root, indicating the presence of fortified settlements or villages in those areas.

Among the notable individuals bearing the surname Brough are:

1. Robert Brough (1828-1860), an English playwright and songwriter.
2. William Brough (1826-1870), an English playwright and novelist, brother of Robert Brough.
3. Lionel Brough (1836-1909), an English actor and playwright.
4. Mary Brough (1786-1849), an English writer and translator.
5. John Crichton-Stuart, 3rd Marquess of Bute (1847-1900), a wealthy Scottish nobleman and antiquarian.

The surname Brough has a rich history deeply rooted in the northern regions of England, reflecting the presence of fortified settlements and villages during the medieval period. Its origins can be traced back to the Old English language, and it has been associated with various places and individuals throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Brough

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

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

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

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