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

Bruhn, 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 Bruhn surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bruhn in America

Bruhn is the 11183rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bruhn surname appeared 2,828 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 Bruhn.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bruhn 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 Bruhn

The surname Bruhn has its origins in the German language and can be traced back to the 14th century. It is believed to have originated from the Low German word "brun," meaning "brown" or "dark-haired." This suggests that the name was initially used as a descriptive nickname for someone with a dark complexion or hair color.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Bruhn can be found in the town records of Lübeck, a city in northern Germany, dating back to the late 1300s. During this period, the surname was often spelled variations such as "Brun," "Brunne," or "Brune."

In the 16th century, the name Bruhn appeared in various historical documents across northern Germany, particularly in the regions of Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg. One notable figure bearing this surname was Johann Bruhn, a merchant and council member in the city of Lübeck, who lived in the early 1500s.

As the name spread throughout Germany, it also found its way into other European countries. In the 17th century, records show instances of the Bruhn surname in Denmark, where it was likely introduced by German immigrants or traders.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Bruhn was Hans Bruhn, a Danish merchant and ship owner who lived in the late 16th century. He was involved in the lucrative trade between Denmark and the Netherlands.

In the 18th century, the Bruhn name gained prominence in the literary world with the birth of Johan Nordahl Brun (1745-1816), a Norwegian poet and playwright who is considered one of the founders of Norwegian national literature.

Another notable figure was Gustav Bruhn (1805-1891), a German painter and engraver who was highly regarded for his portraits and historical scenes. His works can be found in various museums across Germany and Europe.

As the 19th century progressed, the Bruhn surname continued to spread across Europe, with individuals bearing this name making contributions in various fields. One such person was Johann Bruhn (1826-1900), a German chess master and author who wrote several influential books on chess theory and strategy.

Throughout its history, the surname Bruhn has been associated with various professions, including merchants, artisans, academics, and artists. While its origins can be traced back to northern Germany, the name has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and cultural exchange.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bruhn

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

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

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

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