Bruce

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Bruce

Gender: Masculine
Language: English, Scots
Etymology:
Bruce is a Scottish-Norman surname that means “Forest.” It actually comes from a Norman French family, and probably originated from Braose, Normandy.

History:
Bruce was the surname of an aristocratic Norman family. Robert de Brus was a follower of William the Conqueror in 1066. His family eventually settled in Scotland, becoming quite prominent. The most famous member of the family was the Scottish hero, King Robert the Bruce (1274-1329).

Bruce as a first name originated in the 19th century, between 1830 and 1850. Its use was either in honor of King Robert I the Bruce, or in honor of James Bruce (1730-1794) a famous African explorer whose biography, Life of Bruce (by Major Head) appeared in 1830. Originally, it was probably favored by parents wishing to honor their Scotch ancestry.

In any case, the name Bruce quickly grew in popularity throughout the late 19th century, especially in Australia and the United States. By the mid-20th century it was a popular name. Today, it is less so, but still common.

Pronunciation: broos.

Diminutives: Brucie, Brucey.

Alternates: Brus.

Famous Bearers:
Artists and Authors:
Bruce Bairnsfather (1888-1959)
British cartoonist.
Bruce Frederick Cummins (Wilhelm Nero Pilate Barbellion) (1889-1919)
British writer.
Bruce Beaver (1928-)
Australian poet.
Bruce Jay Friedman (1930-)
American writer.
Bruce Davidson (1933-)
American photographer.
Bruce Chatwin (1940-)
British writer.
Bruce Sterling (1954-)
American writer.

Educators, Scholars, and Social Workers:
Bruce Catton (1899-1978)
American historian.
Bruce Baumgartner (1962-)
American Olympic wrestler.

Fictional Characters:
Bruce Wayne
Otherwise known as Batman.

Miscellaneous:
Bruce Rogers (1870-1957)
American book designer.
Bruce Austin Fraser, Baron Fraser (1888-1981)
British admiral.
Bruce McLaren (1937-1970)
New Zealand automobile racer.
Bruce Jenner (1949-)
American Olympic athlete.

Scientists:
Bruce Merrifield (1921-)
American biochemist. Winner of the 1984 Nobel Prize for Chemistry.
Bruce Alberts (1938-)
American president of the National Academy of Sciences.

Singers and Entertainers:
Bruce Springsteen (1949-)
American singer.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.263 % of males named Bruce

Popularity of Bruce:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1850: 481st most popular.
1875: 269th most popular.
1880: 241st most popular.
1881: 268th most popular.
1882: 193rd most popular.
1883: 215th most popular.
1884: 269th most popular.
1885: 213th most popular.
1886: 228th most popular.
1887: 241st most popular.
1888: 262nd most popular.
1889: 205th most popular.
1890: 216th most popular.
1891: 227th most popular.
1892: 223rd most popular.
1893: 212th most popular.
1894: 211th most popular.
1895: 212th most popular.
1896: 216th most popular.
1897: 219th most popular.
1898: 219th most popular.
1899: 200th most popular.
1900: 211th most popular.
1901: 211th most popular.
1902: 233rd most popular.
1903: 219th most popular.
1904: 198th most popular.
1905: 206th most popular.
1906: 224th most popular.
1907: 213th most popular.
1908: 204th most popular.
1909: 183rd most popular.
1910: 238th most popular.
1911: 197th most popular.
1912: 178th most popular.
1913: 175th most popular.
1914: 169th most popular.
1915: 171st most popular.
1916: 162nd most popular.
1917: 157th most popular.
1918: 146th most popular.
1919: 150th most popular.
1920: 149th most popular.
1921: 146th most popular.
1922: 142nd most popular.
1923: 135th most popular.
1924: 133rd most popular.
1925: 130th most popular.
1926: 127th most popular.
1927: 123rd most popular.
1928: 113th most popular.
1929: 112th most popular.
1930: 109th most popular.
1931: 101st most popular.
1932: 98th most popular.
1933: 91st most popular.
1934: 78th most popular.
1935: 77th most popular.
1936: 73rd most popular.
1937: 70th most popular.
1938: 66th most popular.
1939: 64th most popular.
1940: 55th most popular.
1941: 51st most popular.
1942: 50th most popular.
1943: 51st most popular.
1944: 51st most popular.
1945: 48th most popular.
1946: 32nd most popular.
1947: 29th most popular.
1948: 28th most popular.
1949: 26th most popular.
1950: 26th most popular.
1951: 26th most popular.
1952: 25th most popular.
1953: 28th most popular.
1954: 30th most popular.
1955: 32nd most popular.
1956: 33rd most popular.
1957: 34th most popular.
1958: 36th most popular.
1959: 38th most popular.
1960: 39th most popular.
1961: 40th most popular.
1962: 41st most popular.
1963: 43rd most popular.
1964: 46th most popular.
1965: 50th most popular.
1966: 53rd most popular.
1967: 55th most popular.
1968: 61st most popular.
1969: 71st most popular.
1970: 94th most popular.
1971: 108th most popular.
1972: 122nd most popular.
1973: 134th most popular.
1974: 136th most popular.
1975: 140th most popular.
1976: 148th most popular.
1977: 148th most popular.
1978: 151st most popular.
1979: 153rd most popular.
1980: 157th most popular.
1981: 164th most popular.
1982: 170th most popular.
1983: 178th most popular.
1984: 175th most popular.
1985: 183rd most popular.
1986: 189th most popular.
1987: 198th most popular.
1988: 205th most popular.
1989: 222nd most popular.
1990: 248th most popular.
1991: 269th most popular.
1992: 303rd most popular.
1992: 303rd most popular.
1993: 330th most popular.
1994: 338th most popular.
1995: 376th most popular.
1996: 367th most popular.
1997: 392nd most popular.
1998: 387th most popular.
1999: 411th most popular.
2000: 435th most popular.
2001: 426th most popular.
2002: 471st most popular.
2003: 493rd most popular.
2004: 479th most popular.

In Australia...
1950: 28th most popular.

Selected Sources:
The Wordsworth Dictionary of First Names, Mcleod and Freedman, 1995
The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names, Withycombe, 1977, 3rd ed.
A Dictionary of First Names, Hanks and Hodges, 1990
The Penguin Dictionary of First Names, Pickering, 1999
A Dictionary of English Surnames, Reaney and Wilson, 1990
American Surnames, Smith, 1994

The Social Security Administration Actuarial Note 139 (www.ssa.gov) - For popularity stats 1880-Present
The 1880 U.S. Census- For popularity stats 1850-1880, and other information (it is available on-line at www.familysearch.org)
Baby Names (www.babynames.com.au) - for Australian stats.