O'Brien Coat of Arms, Family Crest and O'Brien Family History

O'Brien Family History

The ancient origin of the name O'Brien 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 O'Brien include O'Bryan, O'Bryen, Brian, Bryan, Bryant, Brien, Briant and Bryans. Most O'Briens are derived from the Dalcassian sept of O'Briain who were a famous and powerful Irish sept, taking their name from the tenth century King, Brian Boru, who defeated the Vikings at the Battle of Clontarf in the year 1014. Some Breton bearers of this name were among the Normans who invaded England in 1066, and then went on to invade Ireland where they settled. Their history fills volumes beginning with the saga of their contentions with the Normans and Tudors. They held many titles of nobility as Earls of Thomond, Viscounts of Clare and Earls of Inchiquin. The sixth Earl of Thomond sided with the ravaging Cromwellians but often more constructive Earls of Thomond built Abbeys and fine Castles. In the Battle of the Boyne they were active on both sides, the losing O'Briens fleeing to France, where they founded Clare's Dragoons.The O'Brien 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 O'Brien descendants.