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

Brune, 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 Brune surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Brune in America

Brune is the 11062nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Brune surname appeared 2,872 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 Brune.

We can also compare 2010 data for Brune 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 Brune

The surname Brune originated in France, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old French word "brun," meaning "brown" or "dark-haired." This name may have been initially given as a nickname to someone with a dark complexion or dark hair.

During the Middle Ages, surnames were often derived from physical characteristics, occupations, or place names. The name Brune likely arose as a descriptive surname, distinguishing individuals within a community by their appearance.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Brune can be found in the "Cartulaire de l'Abbaye de Saint-Père de Chartres," a medieval cartulary from the Abbey of Saint-Père in Chartres, France. This document, dated around 1150, mentions a person named "Robertus Brunus" (Robert the Brown).

In the 13th century, the name Brune appeared in various records across different regions of France. For instance, a charter from the Benedictine Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés in Paris, dated 1259, mentions a "Guillelmus dictus Brune" (William called Brune).

One notable individual with the surname Brune was Walter Brune (c. 1350-1420), a French theologian and philosopher who served as the chancellor of the University of Paris. He was a prominent figure in the intellectual circles of his time and contributed to the discussions on the concept of free will.

Another historical figure bearing the name Brune was Antoine Brune (1599-1654), a French mathematician and astronomer. He is renowned for his work on celestial mechanics and his contributions to the development of the theory of elliptical orbits.

In England, the surname Brune can be traced back to the 13th century, likely brought over by Norman settlers after the Norman Conquest in 1066. One early example is William Brune, who was mentioned in the Curia Regis Rolls of Bedfordshire in 1206.

During the 16th century, the surname Brune was associated with several notable individuals, including Guillaume Brune (1515-1567), a French Protestant reformer and theologian who played a significant role in the Reformation movement in France.

Another prominent figure was Étienne Brune (1592-1654), a French lawyer and author who served as the royal prosecutor in Paris. He is best known for his work "Le Palais de l'Honneur," which discussed the concept of honor and its importance in society.

While the surname Brune has its roots in France, it has since spread to other parts of Europe and beyond. Over the centuries, it has been borne by individuals from various backgrounds, contributing to the rich tapestry of human history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Brune

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

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

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

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