Explore the Family Name Brereton
The meaning of Brereton
English: habitational name from any of the places called Brereton, in Cheshire and Staffordshire, and sometimes from Brearton in Yorkshire or Brierton in Durham. Brereton in Staffordshire is named with Old English brǣr, brēr ‘briar’ + Old English dūn ‘hill’ as its final element; the others are named with Old English brǣr, brēr ‘briar’ + tūn ‘enclosure, settlement’.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Brereton in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Brereton experienced a slight dip in popularity in the United States over the decade between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Brereton was ranked at 19,537 but by 2010, it had dropped to a rank of 20,010, representing a decrease of 2.42%. Nonetheless, the actual count of individuals with this surname increased from 1,278 to 1,338, indicating a rise of 4.69%. However, when considering the proportion per 100,000 people, the prevalence of the Brereton surname decreased by 4.26%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #19,537 | #20,010 | -2.42% |
| Count | 1,278 | 1,338 | 4.69% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.47 | 0.45 | -4.26% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Brereton
The Decennial U.S. Census data also provides insight into the ethnic identity associated with the Brereton surname. In 2000, approximately 80.28% of those with the Brereton surname identified as White, however, this percentage declined to 76.31% by 2010. The percentage of Asian/Pacific Islanders and those identifying with two or more races saw minimal increases. Interestingly, the proportion of individuals identifying as Hispanic more than doubled, increasing by 79.20%, while the Black population increased marginally from 16.28% to 18.31%. The American Indian and Alaskan Native category remained unchanged.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 80.28% | 76.31% | -4.95% |
| Black | 16.28% | 18.31% | 12.47% |
| Hispanic | 1.25% | 2.24% | 79.2% |
| Two or More Races | 1.33% | 1.79% | 34.59% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 1.35% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |