Brazier
A surname most often taken from the trade of working in brass.
The #9,961 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 95,292 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Brazier is usually an occupational surname for someone who worked in brass or made brass goods. The word is tied to Middle English forms like 'brasier' and ultimately to Old French words for brass-working, from 'brass' itself. Some older dictionaries also mention spelling variation such as Brasier, Brashier, and Brasher.
History
The name appears in English records from the 16th century and is part of the broad class of trade surnames that became hereditary over time. Historical surname books sometimes note that some similar-looking forms may also have been influenced by place-names in France, but the occupational explanation is the standard one for Brazier in English use.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Trade surnames like Brazier often began as job labels before they hardened into family names.
From the historical record
“BRAZIER. The occupation. Some- times varied to Brasier, Brashier, and Brasher. Le Brazur, H.R. BREADCUTT. INfost likely a corruption of Bradcote; so Notcutt from Northcote, De Bredecote, H.R. BREADS. BREEDS. Brid, an A-Sax. name. BREAD Y. Parishes in co. Dorset.”
— Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom