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

Brown, 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 Brown surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Brown in America

Brown is the 4th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Brown surname appeared 1,437,026 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 487 people would have the surname Brown.

We can also compare 2010 data for Brown 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 Brown

The surname BROWN is an English name that originated in the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English word "brun," which means "brown" or "dark-haired." The name likely referred to someone with a dark complexion or brown hair, distinguishing them from those with lighter features.

BROWN is among the most common surnames in the English-speaking world, reflecting its early and widespread adoption. The earliest known record of the name dates back to the late 12th century, appearing in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1195 as "Willelmus Brune."

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "le Brun," "le Brone," and "le Brune," reflecting its French influence. It was also recorded in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a census-like survey conducted during the reign of King Edward I.

The name BROWN gained further prominence in the 14th century, with notable figures like John Brown, a 14th-century English writer and Augustinian friar from Suffolk. Another notable bearer was Sir Thomas Brown, a 15th-century English knight and landowner from Norfolk, who lived from around 1400 to 1460.

In the 16th century, the surname was well-established across England, as evidenced by its appearance in parish records and historical documents. One notable bearer was William Brown, a 16th-century English churchman and theologian who served as the Dean of Windsor from 1559 to 1584.

The 17th century saw the rise of several prominent individuals with the surname BROWN. Robert Brown, an English botanist and paleobotanist born in 1773, made significant contributions to plant taxonomy and the study of plant cells. His discoveries include documenting the nucleus and naming it, as well as coining the term "Brownian motion."

Another notable figure was Charles Brockden Brown, an American novelist and historian born in 1771. He is considered one of the earliest professional authors in the United States and is often credited as the founder of the American Gothic literary movement.

In the 19th century, John Brown, an American abolitionist born in 1800, gained notoriety for his radical efforts to abolish slavery. His raid on the federal armory at Harpers Ferry, Virginia, in 1859, was a pivotal event leading to the American Civil War.

The surname BROWN has persisted as a prominent name throughout history, reflecting its deep roots in English society and its widespread adoption across the English-speaking world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Brown

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

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

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

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