Brunell
An English occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of brown bread or a baker.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,296 Americans carry the last name Brunell. That puts it at #14,950 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.67 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 149,283 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Brunell 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
2.3K
1 in 149,283
Census rank
#14,950
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.7
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.0K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,978 bearers of the surname Brunell in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.67 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 14950th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Brunell, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.1%) and Black (1.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Brunell
The surname Brunell has its origins in medieval England, originating from the Old English words "brun" meaning brown and "hyll" meaning hill or slope. It was likely a name given to someone who lived near a brown-colored hill or slope.
The name can be traced back to the 13th century, with one of the earliest recorded instances being Robertus de Brunhull in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1212. Other early spellings include Brunhill, Brounhull, and Brownhill.
In the Domesday Book of 1086, there are several place names that may have contributed to the development of the surname, such as Brunhill in Oxfordshire and Brunhull in Wiltshire. These place names suggest the presence of people associated with brown hills or slopes in those areas.
Notably, a Sir Thomas Brunell (c.1370-1438) was a prominent figure during the Hundred Years' War, serving as the Lord Treasurer of England under King Henry V. He was also a notable diplomat and played a crucial role in negotiating the Treaty of Troyes in 1420.
Another individual bearing the name was John Brunell (c.1550-1610), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge from 1602 to 1603.
In the 16th century, a family of Brunells from Somerset, England, were known for their involvement in the wool trade. One member, Richard Brunell (c.1520-1585), was a successful merchant and landowner.
During the English Civil War in the 17th century, Captain Thomas Brunell (c.1610-1670) fought for the Parliamentarian forces and was instrumental in the siege of Bristol in 1645.
The name Brunell also has connections to the engineering and architectural fields. Isambard Kingdom Brunell (1806-1859) was a renowned English civil engineer responsible for designing notable structures such as the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol and the Great Western Railway.
These examples demonstrate the long-standing presence of the surname Brunell in various regions of England, spanning several centuries and encompassing individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Brunell
Among Census respondents with the surname Brunell, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.1%) and Black (1.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Brunell 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 Brunell surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White93.4%
- Hispanic or Latino3.1%
- Black or African American1.2%
- Two or more races1.1%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Brunell 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 | #14,950 | #14,950 | 0.0% |
| Count | 1,978 | 1,978 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.67 | 0.67 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Brunell bearers went from 1,978 to 1,978 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #14,950 to #14,950.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Brunell
FAQ
Brunell surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Brunell?
The surname Brunell holds position #14,950 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 2,296 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.67 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Brunell surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Brunell, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.1%) and Black (1.2%). 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.