The Bryant surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 192,773 people carried this name — #128 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 1,530 people counted. That is up 5% from 183,761 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Bryant surname

A surname from Irish [in turn originating as a patronymic] derived from Brian.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Bryant» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a baptismal name, from a given name: ‘the son of Bryan’.

An early record he cites: Colin Briant, London, 1269 — Chronicles of the Mayors and Sheriffs of London, 1188–1274.

His entry covers Bryan, Bryant, Brien, Brian and Briant.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 142 · public domain.

In France’s civil register

France’s register of deaths holds 47 people named Bryant.

Most of them — 29 — were born outside France. Those born in France came from 8 départements, most often Nord.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born

Born outside France 29
Nord 6
Bouches-du-Rhône 3
Orne 3
French Polynesia 2
Loire-Atlantique 1
Pas-de-Calais 1
Paris 1
Wallis and Futuna 1

Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.

In Argentina’s national register

At least 24 people named Bryant live in Argentina.

RENAPER only publishes a name in a province when more than ten people there share it, so the real number is higher. Most of them live in Buenos Aires Province.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Buenos Aires Province 24

RENAPER (National Registry of Persons, Argentina), surnames of residents by province, December 2021 — CC BY 4.0.

In the Nordic population registers

88 people named Bryant are counted in Sweden and Finland.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published. Finland counts its citizens, at home or abroad.

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 67
Finland (2026) 21

Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown) · Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV), Finland, surname statistics, August 2026 — CC BY 4.0.

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Bryant was found among the farmers of 6 counties.

It was most frequent in Somerset: 27 in every 10,000 farmers there — about 1 in 370. Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Somerset 27
Wiltshire 22
Dorset 15
Suffolk 14
Gloucestershire 12
Cornwall 8

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.

In Scotland’s registers today

Bryant was recorded 24 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 1003rd most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 11. Each birth counts the child’s surname, each marriage both partners’ and each death the surname of the person who died — a yearly count of registrations, not of the people who live in Scotland.

National Records of Scotland, «Most Common Surnames, 2025» (published 26 May 2026): every surname recorded 10 or more times in the 2025 registers, and the series from 1975 · different spellings are counted separately — © Crown copyright 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

296 families named Bryant, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 1,581 people lived in those households, 5.3 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 5 other spellings. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

Massachusetts 86
North Carolina 55
Virginia 40
Maine 29
New Hampshire 27
South Carolina 23
Connecticut 13
New York 12
Vermont 8
Pennsylvania 3

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 231 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Bryant in American newspapers,
1910–1926.

Newspaper page from The Montgomery Advertiser carrying the name Bryant
The Montgomery Advertiser 1926-01-03
Newspaper page from East St. Louis Daily Journal carrying the name Bryant
East St. Louis Daily Journal 1925-10-11
Newspaper page from Goodwin's Weekly : A Thinking Paper For Thinking People carrying the name Bryant
Goodwin's Weekly : A Thinking Paper For Thinking People 1910-02-19

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 662,953 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Bryant in Australian newspapers,
1810s–2010s.

141,981 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Bryant. The most, 20,318, date from the 1910s. New South Wales has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in the Australian Capital Territory, at 1.4 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 49,648
Victoria 39,476
Queensland 20,944
Western Australia 10,708
South Australia 10,104
Tasmania 7,480
ACT (Canberra) 3,130
Northern Territory 141

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Bryant.

Who carried it

People named Bryant,
with a public archive behind them.

  • James Bryant d. 1755 · cricketer
  • Charles Bryant d. 1799 · naturalist
  • Willie Bryant d. 2012 · basketball player
  • Douglas W. Bryant d. 1994
  • Frances Lee Bryant d. 1937
  • F. J. Bryant d. 1907

Wikidata (CC0) · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Bryant,
in the records of 9 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States11,051 records

11,051 records of the Bryant name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 5,769
  • U.S. veterans' cemetery records, burials to 2001 2,512
  • Other U.S. records 2,770
  1. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Roscoe Edward Bryant

    Born 1947; from Baltimore, Maryland. U.S. Army, indirect fire infantryman; killed in action 1968 in Gia Dinh, South Vietnam. Buried at Baltimore National Cemetery, Maryland.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Rhoda J. Bryant

    Born 1909 in Texas. Enlisted 1945 in the Women's Army Corps at Temple; stenographer. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1996, buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, Texas.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Fred Bryant

    Arrived at New York in 1885 aboard the City of Montreal from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 24; laborer. From Liverpool, England; bound for New York.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 11,051 records for Bryant in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · City of Asheville (public domain, PDDL) · Ramsey County, Minnesota (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia3,797 records

3,797 records of the Bryant name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 1,800
  • Tasmanian Names Index 777
  • Other Australian records 1,220
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Henry Bryant

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Susan, sailing from Plymouth in 1842. Native of Kenn, Devon. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1847.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record James Bryant

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the John, sailing from London in 1830. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1838.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record William Thos Benjn Bryant

    Married 1894 in Launceston, Tasmania, aged 26. Died 1896 in Launceston, Tasmania, aged 28. Will registered in Tasmania in 1896.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 3,797 records for Bryant in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · City of Ballarat, Avenue of Honour Plaques (CC BY 3.0 AU). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

Canada259 records

259 records of the Bryant name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 95
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 48
  • Other Canadian records 116
  1. A Canadian First World War grave register card for a soldier who died of wounds in 1917
    Example: Canadian war grave register, 1917
    War record Charles Henry Bryant

    Served in the No. 2 Construction Battalion in the First World War, private; of Hamilton, Ontario.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record James Bryant

    Came to Ontario in 1874 aboard the Ont, bound for Galt, Ontario; England.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Charles Ernest Bryant

    Buried in 1969 at Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, Nova Scotia, aged 84.

    Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax.

Showing 3 of 259 records for Bryant in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · Contains information provided by the City of Waterloo under licence. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Canadian First World War circumstances-of-death register (scan by Scottgraham87 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

United Kingdom130 records

130 records of the Bryant name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 90
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 30
  • Other British records 10
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Helen Bryant

    Buried in 1936 at Ballengeich Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland, aged 30.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record George Webber Bryant

    Will proved in 1925; of Swansea, Glamorgan.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Mary Bryant

    Buried in 1810 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 39.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Showing 3 of 130 records for Bryant in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0) · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

New Zealand77 records

77 records of the Bryant name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 53
  • Marlborough District cemetery records 11
  • Other New Zealand records 13
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Bridget Bryant

    Buried in 1875 at Shortland Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato, aged 29.

    Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Mary Euthenta Bryant

    Died 1977, aged 69; buried at Ruru Lawn, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record William Sydney Bryant

    Died 1959, aged 79; buried at Havelock Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 77 records for Bryant in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

France19 records

19 records of the Bryant name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Robin Sydney Bryant

    Born 1933 in Great Britain; died 1997 in Thonon-les-Bains (Haute-Savoie).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Camille Eugenie Bryant

    Born 1908 in Maurois; died 1998 in Le Cateau-Cambrésis (Nord).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 2 of 19 records for Bryant in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Netherlands12 records

12 records of the Bryant name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch population registers 6
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 5
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 1
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Stanley Woolgrove Bryant

    Married in 1938 in Amsterdam; office clerk.

    Open Archives, Noord-Hollands Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Bernetta Bryant

    Died 1959 in Rotterdam, aged 29.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 2 of 12 records for Bryant in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

Belgium1 record

1 record of the Bryant name in Belgium Belgian civil registers (births, marriages, deaths)
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Birth record Gertrude Bryant

    Born 1902 in Gent.

    Open Archives, Archief Gent (CC BY 4.0)

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

Norway1 record

1 record of the Bryant name in Norway Norway's 1910 census
  1. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Census record Jessi Bryant

    Census of 1910: Vinsord, Hvaler; born 1883 in England.

    Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO)

Counts: Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Bryant.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Bryant is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

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