Explore the Family Name Bras
The meaning of Bras
1. Dutch: from Middle Dutch bras ‘arm’. This was probably a descriptive nickname for someone with some peculiarity of the arm, but the word was also used as a measure of length, and may also have denoted a surveyor (compare 3 below). 2. Spanish; Portuguese (Brás): from a vernacular form of the personal name Blasius, popularized through the cult of the 4th-century Christian martyr. Compare Portuguese Braz. 3. French: from Old French bras ‘arm’, a term used as a measure of length, hence a metonymic occupational name for a surveyor. 4. Breton (mainly Le Bras): nickname for a corpulent man, from bras ‘big’. 5. Polish (Braś): unexplained. Some characteristic forenames: Spanish Rafael, Armando, Cesar, Gilberto, Jorge, Jose, Juaquin, Julio. French Andre, Francois, Thierry. Portuguese Joao.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Bras in the United States?
The surname Bras, according to the Decennial U.S. Census data, has seen a slight decrease in popularity in the decade between 2000 and 2010. Ranked 55,849th in 2000, it dropped to the 58,042nd spot by 2010, a change of -3.93%. The count, however, increased marginally from 343 in 2000 to 350 in 2010, a growth of 2.04%. Nevertheless, the proportion per 100,000 individuals decreased by 7.69%, indicating that while the number of people with the surname grew, their share within the total population slightly fell.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #55,849 | #58,042 | -3.93% |
| Count | 343 | 350 | 2.04% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.13 | 0.12 | -7.69% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Bras
When it comes to ethnic identity associated with the Bras surname, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows some interesting trends. The largest group identifying as Bras remains those of White ethnicity, with a modest growth from 77.55% in 2000 to 77.71% in 2010. Hispanic representation also saw a small increase from 9.33% to 9.43%. Notably, the Black community experienced a significant surge from 3.21% in 2000 to 5.71% in 2010, reflecting a 77.88% change. On the other hand, individuals identifying as belonging to two or more races declined by 34.64%. There were no identified Bras individuals from Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native ethnicities in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 77.55% | 77.71% | 0.21% |
| Hispanic | 9.33% | 9.43% | 1.07% |
| Black | 3.21% | 5.71% | 77.88% |
| Two or More Races | 6.12% | 4% | -34.64% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |