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

Brunner, 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 Brunner surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Brunner in America

Brunner is the 2337th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Brunner surname appeared 15,593 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 5 people would have the surname Brunner.

We can also compare 2010 data for Brunner 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 Brunner

The surname Brunner has its origins in Germany, where it first emerged in the Middle Ages, around the 12th or 13th century. The name is derived from the German word "brunnen," which means "well" or "spring." This suggests that the name was likely given to someone who lived near a well or spring, or perhaps worked as a well-digger or water carrier.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Brunner can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus, a collection of historical documents from the 12th century, where a "Cunradus Brunner" is mentioned. The name also appears in various other medieval records, such as the Weinsbuch, a wine register from the 14th century, which lists a "Hainrich Brunner" as a winemaker.

In the 15th century, the name Brunner can be found in the town records of Nuremberg, where a "Hanns Brunner" is listed as a citizen. During this period, variations of the name such as "Bruner" and "Brunner" were common, reflecting the regional dialects and spelling conventions of the time.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname Brunner was Katharina Brunner (1472-1536), a German botanist and herbalist who wrote one of the first books on medicinal plants in the German language. Another notable figure was Johann Brunner (1612-1662), a Swiss theologian and writer who authored several works on theology and philosophy.

In the 18th century, the name Brunner gained prominence with the birth of Johann Gottfried Brunner (1706-1783), a Swiss physician and anatomist who made significant contributions to the study of the digestive system. His discoveries included the description of the duodenal glands, now known as Brunner's glands.

Another famous bearer of the name was Arnold Brunner (1857-1925), a Swiss architect and urban planner who designed several notable buildings in Zurich and other Swiss cities. His work was influential in shaping the urban landscape of Switzerland in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

In the 20th century, the surname Brunner continued to be associated with notable figures, such as the German novelist and playwright Albin Brunner (1893-1965), whose works explored themes of love, betrayal, and social commentary.

Overall, the surname Brunner has a rich history that spans centuries and is deeply rooted in the German-speaking regions of Europe. Its origins can be traced back to the Middle Ages, and it has been borne by a diverse array of individuals, from botanists and theologians to architects and writers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Brunner

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

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

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

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