Explore the Family Name Bristol
The meaning of Bristol
English: 1. variant of Bristow, respelled to conform to the spelling of the modern placename. 2. possibly also a variant of Burstall.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Bristol in the United States?
The surname Bristol, based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, exhibited a slight decrease in popularity between the years 2000 and 2010. In 2000, the surname was ranked 4473 and it slipped to the 4611th position in 2010, a drop of 3.09%. However, the total count of individuals bearing the surname increased from 7296 in 2000 to 7694 in 2010, marking an increase of 5.46%. The proportion per 100,000 people of this surname decreased by 3.33%, from 2.7 in 2000 to 2.61 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #4,473 | #4,611 | -3.09% |
| Count | 7,296 | 7,694 | 5.46% |
| Proportion per 100k | 2.7 | 2.61 | -3.33% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Bristol
Regarding ethnic identity, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows some shifts for those with the Bristol surname from 2000 to 2010. Those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander increased from 1.07% to 1.18% over the decade, while those acknowledging two or more races rose from 2.26% to 2.59%. The largest portion of Bristols identified as White, although this percentage dropped from 76.73% in 2000 to 73.07% in 2010. The Hispanic ethnic identity experienced the most significant growth, from 3.10% in 2000 to 4.38% in 2010 – an increase of 41.29%. There was also a rise in Bristols identifying as Black, from 16.34% to 18.39%. On the other hand, those identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native diminished by 23.53%, from 0.51% in 2000 to 0.39% in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 76.73% | 73.07% | -4.77% |
| Black | 16.34% | 18.39% | 12.55% |
| Hispanic | 3.1% | 4.38% | 41.29% |
| Two or More Races | 2.26% | 2.59% | 14.6% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 1.07% | 1.18% | 10.28% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.51% | 0.39% | -23.53% |
Bristol ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Bristol is British & Irish, which comprises 47.1% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (24.6%) and Scandinavian (4.9%). Additional ancestries include Eastern European, Nigerian, Ghanaian, Liberian & Sierra Leonean, Ashkenazi Jewish, and Spanish & Portuguese.
Ready to learn more about your ancestry? Get the most comprehensive ancestry breakdown on the market by taking our DNA test. Shop 23andMe
| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 47.1% |
| French & German | 24.6% |
| Scandinavian | 4.9% |
| Other | 23.4% |
Possible origins of the surname Bristol
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Bristol have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 84.80% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 84.10% |
| Lancashire, United Kingdom | 84.10% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 83.50% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 83.50% |
What Bristol haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Bristol is R-Z2186, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-Z2186 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-L21 and E-M180, which are predominantly found among people with European and Sub-Saharan African ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Lessard, Mcinerney, Trahan, Herring, Ireland, Holland, Black, Evans, Bush, Martin.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Bristol surname are: H1, J1c, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Bristol have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Bristol" Surname 48.6%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Bristol" Surname 23.0%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Bristol" Surname 30.9%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Bristol" Surname 16.6%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Bristol?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Bristol are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition