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Bryant Family History

Bryant Surname Meaning

English (of Norman origin): from the Celtic personal name Brian (from brigo- ‘high’ + the suffix -ant-) with excrescent -t. Breton bearers of this name were among the Normans who invaded England in 1066. They went on to settle in Ireland in the 12th century where the name mingled with the native Irish form Briain (see O'Brien ). The latter had also been borrowed as Brján by the Vikings who introduced it independently into northwestern England before the Norman Conquest. This surname is also common among African Americans. Breton: very rare variant of Briant (see Briand ) and in North America (also) an altered form of this.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Bryans, Briant, Bryan, Brant, Brian, Brians, Brand, Bryon, Ryant

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Bryant family from?

You can see how Bryant families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Bryant family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Bryant families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 182 Bryant families living in Massachusetts. This was about 10% of all the recorded Bryant's in USA. Massachusetts had the highest population of Bryant families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Bryant surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1840
  • 1880
  • 1920
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What did your Bryant ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Maid were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Bryant. 21% of Bryant men worked as a Laborer and 10% of Bryant women worked as a Maid. Some less common occupations for Americans named Bryant were Salesman and Laborer. .

View Census Data for Bryant | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    21%
  • Farmer
    19%
  • Truck Driver
    3%
  • Salesman
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Maid
    10%
  • Cook
    7%
  • Housekeeper
    6%
  • Laborer
    6%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Bryant family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 878,000 census records available for the last name Bryant. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Bryant census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

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Passenger Lists

There are 51,000 immigration records available for the last name Bryant. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

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Draft Cards

There are 155,000 military records available for the last name Bryant. For the veterans among your Bryant ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Bryant lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Bryant life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 2000. The average life expectancy for Bryant in 1940 was 39, and 71 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Bryant

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