Explore the Family Name Britton
The meaning of Britton
English (of Norman origin): variant of Breton, and ethnic name for a Breton, from Old French Breton, the oblique case form of Old French Bret; compare Brittain and Brett.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Britton in the United States?
Based on data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Britton has slightly decreased over time. In 2000, it was ranked as the 1147th most popular surname in the United States, with a count of 28,001 and a proportion per 100k of 10.38. By 2010, however, its rank had slipped to 1217th, even though the count increased to 29,040, indicating that other surnames had experienced more significant increases. The proportion per 100k also decreased to 9.84, reflecting a -5.2% change.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,147 | #1,217 | -6.1% |
| Count | 28,001 | 29,040 | 3.71% |
| Proportion per 100k | 10.38 | 9.84 | -5.2% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Britton
In terms of ethnic identity, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows some shifts between 2000 and 2010 for individuals with the Britton surname. While over 73.97% identified as White in 2010 (down from 76.31% in 2000), there were notable increases within other ethnicities. The Hispanic population grew by 51.41%, while those identifying as two or more races increased by 42.58%. The Asian/Pacific Islander community also saw an increase of 28.21%. Meanwhile, the percentage of those identifying as Black rose modestly by 3.06%, and the American Indian and Alaskan Native population grew by 9.72%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 76.31% | 73.97% | -3.07% |
| Black | 19.26% | 19.85% | 3.06% |
| Hispanic | 1.77% | 2.68% | 51.41% |
| Two or More Races | 1.55% | 2.21% | 42.58% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.72% | 0.79% | 9.72% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.39% | 0.5% | 28.21% |
Britton 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 Britton is British & Irish, which comprises 51.8% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (21.9%) and Eastern European (4.2%). Additional ancestries include Italian, Scandinavian, Nigerian, Spanish & Portuguese, and Ashkenazi Jewish.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 51.8% |
| French & German | 21.9% |
| Eastern European | 4.2% |
| Other | 22.1% |
Possible origins of the surname Britton
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 Britton have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 85.80% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 85.70% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 85.50% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 85.50% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 85.20% |
What Britton 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 Britton is R-L20, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-L20 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-CTS241 and R-P311, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Waldron, Hearn, Love, Mercier, Dexter, Whitlock, Coons, Brittain, Jean, Whiting.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Britton surname are: H1, T2b, 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 Britton 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.
"Britton" Surname 51.1%
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.
"Britton" Surname 27.7%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Britton" Surname 22.1%
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.
"Britton" Surname 16.2%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Britton?
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 Britton are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition