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Bruen Family History

Bruen Surname Meaning

Irish: variant of Breen.

North German (Brün): from Middle Low German brūn ‘brown’ hence probably a nickname for someone with brown hair or a dark complexion or for someone who habitually wore brown clothes.

Compare Braun and Brun.

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


Similar surnames: 

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Bruen family from?

You can see how Bruen families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Bruen family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Bruen families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 22 Bruen families living in London. This was about 32% of all the recorded Bruen's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Bruen families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Bruen surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Bruen ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Builders Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Bruen. 50% of Bruen men worked as a Builders Labourer and 85% of Bruen women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Bruen were Boot Repairer and Private Means.

View Census Data for Bruen | 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 1939

  • Builders Labourer
    50%
  • Boot Repairer
    50%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    85%
  • Private Means
    16%

What Bruen family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 10,000 census records available for the last name Bruen. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Bruen census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Bruen

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Bruen. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Bruen immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Bruen. For the veterans among your Bruen ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Bruen military records

You've only scratched the surface of Bruen family history

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What is the average Bruen lifespan?

Between 1948 and 2004, in the United States, Bruen life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1948, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Bruen in 1948 was 39, and 86 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Bruen

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Bruen ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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