Brown Coat of Arms, Family Crest and Brown Family History

Brown Family History

The family history of the ancient name Brown was found in the irishsurnames.com archives.

Surnames developed a wide number of variants over the centuries. Many different spelling variations of the same name can be traced back to a single original root. Also, when a bearer of a name emigrated from Ireland it was not uncommon that their original name would be incorrectly transcribed in the record books upon arrival at their new location. Some names have dozens of spelling variations. Some Surnames were also altered over the years based on how they sounded phonetically, by their sound, and depending on the prevailing political conditions it may have been advantageous to change a name from one language to another. This was especially so in Ireland where most Gaelic names were 'anglicized' at some stage.

Variants of the name Brown include Browne, Brewin, Brownson and Broun. This is a nickname meaning 'dark reddish complexion'. This name is of Anglo-Norman descent spreading to the Celtic countries of Ireland, Scotland and Wales in early times and is found in many mediaeval manuscripts throughout these countries. Examples of such are a Gamel Brun who was recorded in the ancient register 'Valor Ecclesiasticus', England, and in Scotland a William Brun witnessed a charter of Donald, Earl of Mar, of lands of Dronlaw, in the year 1279. A Stephen Brunson and Jane Boulton were married in Saint George, Hanover Square, in the year 1776 and a Robert Broun, County Somerset, was recorded in 'Kirby's quest', in the reign of Edward III. The Browns of Ireland were one of the tribes of Galway and descended from the Norman 'le Brun' at the time of the Anglo-Norman invasion. They were one of the four Norman septs who took over the territory of Tirawley from the Fiachrach.The Brown family crest (or coat of arms) came into existence many centuries ago. The process of creating these coats of arms began as early as the eleventh century although a form of Proto-Heraldry may have existed in some countries prior to this, including Ireland. The new more formalized art of Heraldry made it possible for families and even individual family members to have their very own family crest, coat of arms, including Brown descendants.