Bryner last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Bryner

An occupational surname referring to a person who makes or works with armor or chain mail.

Bryner, 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 Bryner surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bryner in America

Bryner is the 12965th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bryner surname appeared 2,369 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 Bryner.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bryner 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 12965 13036 -0.55%
Count 2,369 2,156 9.41%
Proportion per 100k 0.80 0.80 0.00%

The history of the last name Bryner

The surname Bryner is of German origin, with its earliest roots traced back to the 13th century in the region of Bavaria. The name is derived from the medieval German word "brunnen," meaning "well" or "spring," suggesting that the initial bearers of this surname may have lived near a notable well or spring.

In its earliest forms, the surname was recorded as "Brunner" or "BrĂ¼nner," with the spelling gradually evolving to "Bryner" over time. This name variation is believed to have emerged as a result of regional dialect influences and changes in pronunciation.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Bryner can be found in a historical document from the city of Augsburg, dated 1327. This document mentions a certain "Heinrich Bryner," who was a local landowner and influential figure in the community.

During the 16th century, the surname Bryner gained prominence in the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, where a family of prominent merchants and tradesmen bore this name. Among them was Hans Bryner (1512-1579), a successful merchant who played a significant role in the town's economic development.

In the 17th century, the Bryner family established itself in the region of Franconia, where they were known for their expertise in agriculture and winemaking. One notable figure from this era was Johann Bryner (1638-1712), a renowned vintner whose wines were highly sought after throughout the region.

As the Bryner family spread across various parts of Germany and beyond, the surname encountered various spelling variations, including Bruner, Briner, and Bryner. One influential individual bearing this name was Friedrich Bryner (1805-1879), a German-born philosopher and educator who made significant contributions to the field of ethics and moral philosophy.

In the 20th century, the Bryner surname gained international recognition through the work of the German-American artist and sculptor, Walter Bryner (1892-1976). Born in Bavaria, Bryner immigrated to the United States in the early 1900s and became renowned for his intricate wood carvings and sculptures, many of which are displayed in prestigious museums and galleries.

Throughout its rich history, the surname Bryner has been borne by numerous individuals of note, spanning various fields and professions. While the origin of the name can be traced back to the medieval era in Germany, its legacy has transcended geographical boundaries, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural and historical tapestry of many nations.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bryner

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

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 Bryner was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 95.31% 2,258
Non-Hispanic Black Only 0.80% 19
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.55% 13
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.34% 8
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 1.56% 37
Hispanic Origin 1.44% 34

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 Bryner has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 95.31% 95.73% -0.44%
Black 0.80% 0.83% -3.68%
Asian and Pacific Islander 0.55% 0.56% -1.80%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.34% 0.46% -30.00%
Two or More Races 1.56% 1.39% 11.53%
Hispanic 1.44% 1.02% 34.15%

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

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

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"Bryner last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on August 14, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/bryner-surname-popularity/.

"Bryner last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/bryner-surname-popularity/. Accessed 14 August, 2025

Bryner last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/bryner-surname-popularity/.

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