Browder
An English occupational surname referring to a person who makes ale or beer, derived from the Middle English "browder."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 7,266 Americans carry the last name Browder. That puts it at #5,563 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 2.12 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 47,172 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Browder surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
7.3K
1 in 47,172
Census rank
#5,563
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
2.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
6.2K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 6,249 bearers of the surname Browder in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 2.12 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 5563rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Browder, the largest self-reported group is White at 68.4%. The next largest groups are Black (26.8%) and Hispanic (1.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Browder
The surname BROWDER is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "broc" meaning a brook or stream, and "deor" meaning a deer. It likely originated as a descriptive name for someone who lived near a brook frequented by deer.
The earliest recorded spelling of the name is found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1275, where it appears as William Brockdere. Other early spellings include Brockedere, Brokedere, and Brokdere.
In the Domesday Book of 1086, there are several references to places containing the word "broc", such as Brochamtone in Warwickshire and Brocsop in Nottinghamshire, which may have been the origin of some variants of the name.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname was John Browdere, born around 1420 in Gloucestershire. He was a landowner and served as a member of the local parish council.
Sir Thomas Browder (1490-1558) was a prominent figure during the reign of King Henry VIII. He served as a member of the Privy Council and was granted lands in Hertfordshire.
During the English Civil War, Captain Richard Browder (1610-1685) fought for the Parliamentarian forces under Oliver Cromwell. He later settled in Essex and became a successful merchant.
In the 18th century, William Browder (1725-1790) was a respected author and poet, known for his works on English literature and philosophy.
Another notable individual was Emily Browder (1820-1892), an English philanthropist and social reformer. She founded several charities and worked tirelessly to improve the living conditions of the poor in London's East End.
Throughout its history, the BROWDER surname has been associated with various regions of England, particularly the counties of Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, and Hertfordshire, where it has its earliest documented origins.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Browder
Among Census respondents with the surname Browder, the largest self-reported group is White at 68.4%. The next largest groups are Black (26.8%) and Hispanic (1.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Browder bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Browder surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White68.4%
- Black or African American26.8%
- Hispanic or Latino1.9%
- Two or more races1.8%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.5%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.5%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Browder surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #5,563 | #5,563 | 0.0% |
| Count | 6,249 | 6,249 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 2.12 | 2.12 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Browder bearers went from 6,249 to 6,249 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #5,563 to #5,563.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Browder
FAQ
Browder surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Browder?
The surname Browder holds position #5,563 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 7,266 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 2.12 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Browder surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Browder, the largest self-reported group is White at 68.4%. The next largest groups are Black (26.8%) and Hispanic (1.9%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.