Tracing the Brainerd Family Name

People named Brainerd share an English surname with a long history. The usual explanation, from Elsdon Smith, is “descendant of Brandhard (sword, hard)”.

Brainerd coat of arms

There is no single Brainerd family crest for all bearers; the honest first step is to find out which Brainerd line, if any, bore arms.

Researching the origin

Like many surnames, it grew out of a personal name. Smith also lists Brainard.

The Census Bureau's 2010 surname file lists Brainerd with 1,414 bearers, at rank 19,200. It sits within the 25,000 most common last names in the country. Research your Brainerd family history with a full surname report and painted coat of arms.