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

Bruss, 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 Bruss surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bruss in America

Bruss is the 16748th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bruss surname appeared 1,707 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 Bruss.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bruss 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 Bruss

The surname "BRUSS" is of French origin, with its roots dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have emerged from the northern regions of France, particularly in areas like Normandy and Brittany.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "BRUSS" can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and property ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This historical document mentions individuals bearing variations of the name, such as "Brus" and "Brusse."

The name "BRUSS" is thought to be derived from the Old French word "brusc," which means "brushwood" or "thicket." This suggests that the surname may have been initially used to identify individuals who lived near or worked in areas surrounded by dense vegetation or woodlands.

In the 13th century, records show a notable figure named Robert de Brus, also known as Robert the Bruce, who played a significant role in the Scottish Wars of Independence. Born in 1274, he became King of Scots in 1306 and is celebrated for his leadership and military prowess against the English forces.

Another prominent individual with the surname "BRUSS" was Jacques de Bruss, a French explorer and navigator who lived in the late 16th century. He is credited with mapping and exploring parts of the Caribbean and the eastern coast of North America.

During the late 17th century, a Dutch-born military engineer named Cornelis de Brusse made significant contributions to the fortifications and defense systems of several European cities, including Amsterdam and Antwerp.

In the realm of literature, one cannot overlook the influential work of the French writer and philosopher, Charles de Brosses, who lived from 1709 to 1777. He is best known for his theories on language evolution and his influential book, "Du Culte des Dieux Fétiches" (On the Cult of the Fetish Gods).

As the centuries progressed, the surname "BRUSS" continued to spread across various regions, with families bearing the name settling in diverse parts of Europe and eventually migrating to other continents, including North America and Australia.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bruss

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

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

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

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