2000
#134,037
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 116
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Brungs
An English surname likely derived from a place name in Germany.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 123 Americans carry the last name Brungs. That puts it at #151,639 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,786,621 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Brungs surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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
123
1 in 2,786,621
Census rank
#151,639
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
107
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 107 bearers of the surname Brungs in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 151639th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Brungs, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.6%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (7.5%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Brungs
The surname "BRUNGS" is of German origin, originating in the northern regions of Germany during the medieval period, around the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old German word "brunno," which means "a stream" or "a well," indicating that the name may have been associated with individuals who lived near a water source or resided in a location with a notable stream or well.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "BRUNGS" can be found in the Stadtbücher (city books) of Lübeck, a historical town in northern Germany. These records, dating back to the late 13th century, mention individuals with variations of the name, such as "Brunnen" and "Brunninge."
In the 15th century, the surname "BRUNGS" appears in various historical documents from the region of Lower Saxony, particularly in the town of Celle. This suggests that the name may have been prominent in this area during that time period.
One notable historical figure bearing the surname "BRUNGS" was Johann Brungs (1589-1662), a German Lutheran theologian and academic who served as the rector of the University of Rostock in the mid-17th century. His contributions to theological discourse and academic administration during the turbulent times of the Thirty Years' War have been documented in various historical records.
Another individual of significance was Hans Brungs (1685-1753), a skilled craftsman and woodcarver from the town of Braunschweig. His intricate woodcarvings can still be found adorning the interiors of several churches and buildings in the region, showcasing the artistic talent associated with the "BRUNGS" name.
In the 18th century, the name "BRUNGS" gained prominence in the city of Hamburg, where a family of merchants and traders bearing this surname established themselves as prominent figures in the local business community. One notable member was Heinrich Brungs (1722-1798), whose successful trading ventures and philanthropic contributions left a lasting impact on the city's economic and social landscape.
The surname "BRUNGS" also made its way to other parts of Europe, including the Netherlands and Sweden, where variations of the name, such as "Brons" and "Bruns," can be found in historical records from the 17th and 18th centuries.
While the surname "BRUNGS" may not be as common today as it once was, its rich history and origins in northern Germany serve as a testament to the cultural and linguistic diversity that has shaped the region over the centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Brungs
Among Census respondents with the surname Brungs, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.6%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (7.5%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Brungs bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Brungs surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White91.6% · 98
- Two or more races7.5% · 8
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Brungs
Brungs appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#140,157
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 119
+3 bearers (+2.6%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 6,120 places
2020
#151,639
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 107
-12 bearers (-10.1%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 11,482 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #134,037 | 116 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #140,157 | 119 | 0.04 | +3 bearers (+2.6%) | Down 6,120 places |
| 2020 | #151,639 | 107 | 0.04 | -12 bearers (-10.1%) | Down 11,482 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Brungs surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #140,157 | #151,639 | -8.2% |
| Count | 119 | 107 | -10.1% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -10.5% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Brungs bearers went from 119 to 107 (-10.1% change). The surname moved down 11,482 positions in the national ranking, going from #140,157 to #151,639.
FAQ
Brungs surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Brungs?
Name Census estimates that about 123 living Americans carry the surname Brungs. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,786,621 residents.
How common is Brungs?
Brungs ranks #151,639 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 107 people with the surname Brungs. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (123), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Brungs.
Has Brungs become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Brungs went from 119 recorded bearers to 107. That is a decrease of 12 (-10.1%). In the national ranking it fell from #140,157 to #151,639.
What does the Census say about the background of Brungs?
Among Census respondents with the surname Brungs, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.6%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (7.5%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.9%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Brungs in the 2020 Census, accounting for 91.6% (98 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Brungs appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (91.6%), Two or More Races (7.5%), Asian/Pacific Islander (0.9%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Brungs (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Brungs mean?
An English surname likely derived from a place name in Germany. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Brungs (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How common is the surname Brungs?
Our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers how common the surname Brungs is at a glance, with the living-bearer count up front.