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

Brugger, 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 Brugger surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Brugger in America

Brugger is the 12821st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Brugger surname appeared 2,405 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 Brugger.

We can also compare 2010 data for Brugger 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 Brugger

The surname BRUGGER originates from the German language and has its roots in the Middle Ages. The name is believed to have originated in the region of Bavaria and Austria, where it was likely derived from the Middle High German word "brugger," meaning "bridge builder" or "bridge keeper."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the BRUGGER surname can be found in the Codex Traditionum Corbeiensium, a medieval manuscript from the Benedictine abbey in Corvey, Germany. This document, dating back to the 9th century, mentions a person named "Bruggero" in connection with the construction of a bridge over the River Weser.

The BRUGGER name is also associated with various place names in Germany and Austria, such as Bruggen, Brugger, and Bruggerau. These place names likely refer to settlements or areas located near bridges or known for their bridge construction activities.

Notable individuals with the surname BRUGGER throughout history include:

1. Johann Brugger (c. 1490-1559), a German Catholic priest and theologian from Bavaria, known for his contributions to religious reforms during the Reformation period.

2. Theodor Brugger (1801-1878), an Austrian architect and civil engineer who designed several notable buildings and bridges in Vienna and other parts of Austria.

3. Matthias Brugger (1864-1936), a Swiss politician and lawyer who served as the President of the Swiss Confederation in 1913.

4. Erwin Brugger (1886-1968), an Austrian-American engineer and inventor who developed several significant innovations in the field of aircraft design and aerodynamics.

5. Ingeborg Brugger (1923-2009), an Austrian-born German writer and novelist, known for her works exploring themes of identity, culture, and the experiences of women in post-war Germany.

While the BRUGGER surname has its origins in central Europe, it has since spread to various parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. However, the early history and etymology of the name remain deeply rooted in the German-speaking regions of Europe, particularly in the context of bridge construction and related occupations.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Brugger

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

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

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

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