Brown History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Brown

What does the name Brown mean?

The Brown family name is thought to be of Norman origins. It comes from an early member of the family who was a person who has brown hair or brown eyes, or dresses habitually in brown. 1

The name springs from similar roots in Old English, Old English, Old Norse, Old French, Old German. It is also possible that a given instance of the name is derived from a short form of an Old English personal name such as Brunwine or Brungar.

Early Origins of the Brown family

The surname Brown was first found in Cumberland, where the Brown family held a family seat and claim descent from Le Brun in Normandy, who was granted many estates there soon after the Conquest. However, many of the family remained in Normandy where Gilbert and William le Brun were listed in 1185 according to the Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae. 2

“This ancient and wide-spreading name, which occurs in early writings in a great variety of forms, as Le Brun, de Bron, Broun, Brune, Brunn, &c., stands 50th on the Battle Roll, and has the peculiar distinction of having produced twenty-one different families in the United Kingdom, who have received from the Sovereign hereditary titles of Nobility.” 3

“As Le Brun or Brunnus, it frequently occurs in the Norman Exchequer Rolls of the twelfth century, and is several times written in Domesday Book. William le Brun held in Suffolk; and Bruno (perhaps the same) in Warwickshire: besides “Brun Presbyter” in Oxfordshire. 4

“Of these, the most considerable-that of the Viscounts Montague-was an offset of the great Norman house of La Ferte, who held the barony of La Ferte (now La Ferte Fresnel) near Evreux. Hugh de la Ferte is mentioned by Wace at Hastings. Richard de la Ferte accompanied Robert of Normandy to Palestine in 1096, and his youngest son, Gamel, surnamed Le Brun (according to family tradition to distinguish him from a brother called Le Blond), settled in Cumberland, where he had baronial grants from Waldeve FitzGospatric, and his descendants long flourished, the name gradually changing to Broyne, Broun, or Browne.” 4

Some of the family were found at early times at Tacolneston in Norfolk where they held estates. “The Hall, a fine brick mansion, is a good specimen of the domestic style prevalent in the 17th century; it is said to have been built in 1670, by the Browne family, who then held the estate.” 5

Another branch was found in the parish of Thrigby, again in Norfolk. “The principal part [of Thrigby] belongs to Thomas Browne, Esq., who resides at the Hall, a neat mansion of white brick.” 5

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 eludes to the use of the name in a variety of early spelling and as a forename and surname: Brun Ednth, Salop; Matilda relicta Brun, Oxfordshire; and Brune relicta Johannis, Cambridgeshire; Hugh le Brun, Suffolk; Robert le Brun, Buckinghamshire; and Johanna la Brune, Oxfordshire. 6

Up north in Scotland, the family are generally though to have migrated there from Cumberland. “Gamel, son of Brun came into possession of Bothel (now Boode) in the time of Henry I (1100-1135). Gilchrist, son of Bruun witnessed a charter by R. son of Dunegal to the Hospital of S. Peter of York c. 1136, Patric Brun witnessed resignation of land of Weremundebi (Warmanbie in Annandale) and Anant between 1194-1214. Ricardus Brun witnessed a charter by Ebrardus de Penkathleht (Pencaitland near Edinburgh) to the church of S. Cuthbert of Durham in the reign of William the Lion. Several individuals of this name are recorded in the thirteenth century, but what connection, if any, existed between them is not known.” 7

Early History of the Brown family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Brown research. Another 99 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1317, 1339, 1439, 1443, 1506, 1598, 1605, 1610, 1616, 1626, 1634, 1641, 1642, 1659, 1660, 1661, 1668, 1669, 1682, 1684, 1685, 1688, 1690, 1702, 1721, 1735 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Brown History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Brown Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Brown, Broun, Brun and others.

Early Notables of the Brown family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

• Sir Anthony Browne (1443-1506), during the reign of King Henry VII, he was Standard Bearer of England, Governor of Queenborough Castle, and Constable of Calais
• Sir Richard Browne, 1st Baronet (ca. 1610-1669), English Major-General in the English Parliamentary Army during the English Civil War and later Lord Mayor of London
• Sir Thomas Browne (1605-1682), an English author
• Francis Browne, 3rd Viscount Montagu (1610-1682)
• Sir Richard Browne, 1st Baronet of Deptford (ca. 1605-1682), an English ambassador to the court of France at Paris from 1641 to 1660
• Sir Richard Browne, 2nd Baronet (ca.1634-1684), English barrister and politician, Member of Parliament for Wycombe (1660-1661)
• James Browne or Brown (1616-1685), an English theologian
• Anthony Brown, Lord Mayor of London
• Sir Ambrose Browne, 1st Baronet (died 1661), an English politician
• Sir Adam Browne, 2nd Baronet of Betchworth Castle (c. 1626-1690), an English politician
• Ambrose Browne (1659-1688), an English politician
• Samuel Browne (c. 1598-1668), of Arlesey, Bedfordshire, Member of Parliament during the English Civil War and the First Commonwealth who supported the Parliamentary cause

Brown World Ranking

In the United Kingdom, the name Brown is the 3^rd most popular surname with an estimated 272,112 people with that name. 8 However, in Australia, the name Brown is ranked the 4^th most popular surname with an estimated 105,078 people with that name. 9 And in New Zealand, the name Brown is the 4^th popular surname with an estimated 8,365 people with that name. 10 Canada ranks Brown as 2^nd with 108,859 people. 11 Quebec, Canada ranks Brown as 350^th. 12 Newfoundland, Canada ranks Brown as 8^th with 1,140 people. 13 The United States ranks Brown as 5^th with 1,544,427 people. 14 France ranks Brown as 1,837^th with 3,343 people. 15 South Africa ranks Brown as 189^th with 34,381 people. 16