Explore the Family Name Brighton
The meaning of Brighton
English: 1. habitational name from Breighton in East Yorkshire, on the river Derwent. This place is named with Old English beorht ‘bright’ or an unattested personal name Beohta + tūn ‘enclosure, settlement’. The surname is unlikely to derive from Brighton in Sussex, which was known as Brighthelmestone until the end of the 18th century. 2. in East Anglia, a nickname from Middle English bright + eien ‘bright eyes’.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Brighton in the United States?
Based on data from the Decennial U.S. Census, Brighton is not a very common surname in the United States. In 2000, it was ranked 19,007 in popularity and increased slightly to 19,416 in 2010, showing a minimal decrease of 2.15% in rank. The number of people bearing the Brighton name, however, increased by nearly 5%, from 1,326 in 2000 to 1,392 in 2010. Despite this increase, its proportion in relation to all surnames dropped slightly, from 0.49 per 100,000 people in 2000 to 0.47 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #19,007 | #19,416 | -2.15% |
| Count | 1,326 | 1,392 | 4.98% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.49 | 0.47 | -4.08% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Brighton
The ethnic identity associated with the Brighton surname saw some changes between 2000 and 2010 according to the Decennial U.S. Census. People identifying as White accounted for the vast majority of Brightons, at 89.44% in 2000 and increasing slightly to 90.45% in 2010. Those who identified as Black made up the next largest group but saw a significant decrease from 8.30% to 5.75%. The percentage of Brightons identifying as Hispanic saw an increase from 0.90% to 1.29%. Additionally, there was a notable increase in individuals identifying as two or more races, rising from 0.98% to 1.80%. No Brighton individuals identified as Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 89.44% | 90.45% | 1.13% |
| Black | 8.3% | 5.75% | -30.72% |
| Two or More Races | 0.98% | 1.8% | 83.67% |
| Hispanic | 0.9% | 1.29% | 43.33% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |