Brown Surname - Brown Family History, Meaning, Origin, Famous People

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Brown Surname - Brown Family History, Meaning, Origin, Famous People

Meaning : The Brown surname generally means a description of a person's brown hair, eyes, complexion, or color choice in regards to clothing.

Variations : Browne, Brunger, Brunwine, MacMillan, Donn, Brehon

Origins : Scottland, England, Ireland

Brief History : The Brown surname originates many different dialects that eventually translated to the English word, Brown. As an interesting brown surname fact, the Dutch word for Brown is bruin. The German variation is braun, while the Old Norse variation is brunn. All close variations relate back to how different dialects describe the color, brown.

In Ireland, the Brehons were Druids who studied law to become local judges. Many historians theorize that the Brehons took on this surname and variated it to Brown as a way to blend in with the masses.

Folk lure connects the surname Brown as a surname with the MacMillan clan in Scotland. In general, the term Brown was often used as a nickname to replace a person's personal name. The English form of Brown replaced the Gaelic terms that run closely with that descriptive name.

One of the earliest known Brown was Sir David Le Brun who witnessed the foundation charter of Holyrood Abby in 1128. Le Brun traces his lineage back to the King of France. Le Brun settled in England after being rewarded land by William the Conqueror after his efforts during the famed Battle of Hastings.

Earliest European Record of the Johnson Surname :

Waltrus Brown - church in Glasgow in 1116

Sir David Le Brun - signed as witness to foundation charter of Holyrood Abby

Richard de Brown - Signed Rigman Roll in 1296 that swore his allegiance to Scotland.

The Country Origins of the Brown Surname

As a catchy descriptive nickname that became a surname, Brown, is very popular in every English speaking country. Brown is the second most popular surname in Scotland, but is also very popular in England and Ireland, where many Scottish Browns emmigrated to before sailing to America primarily in search of religious freedoms.

Scotland : Many fables revolve around the history of the Brown surname in Scotland. Many historians believe that the Brown clan branched off from the MacMillan clan. One story states that bandits attempted to steal the cattle, owned by the MacMillan clan of Carradale Glenn. The father and his four sons fought the bandits off. Once the bandits retreated, one of the sons followed them and returned with all of their heads as a present to his father. From that day, the father referred to this gallant son as his Brown son. Another theory suggests that the Brown clan were a poor sect of the MacMillan clan.

England : This history of the Brown family in England starts with Sir David Le Brun, a descendant to the King of France. As a reward for his valor during the Battle of Hastings, William the Conqueror rewarded him with land in England.

Ireland : Many of the Scottish Browns made their way into the town of Ulster. The surname Donn has the same meaning as Brun or Brown. Thus, many Donn families replaced their Gaelic names with the surname, Brown.

Personal Brown Surname Websites

Brown DNA website

Browns of Ohio

Thomas Munroe Brown

Make My Family Tree Guide

The People with the Brown surname to Migrate to America

The Browns were traditionally members of protestant churches, therefore many Browns sailed from Europe to America in search of religious freedom. In the United States, the Brown surname primarily saturates such states as Pennsylvania, New York, Illinois, Texas, and Georgia.

James Brown - 1649 - Settled in Maryland, entered America as a servant.

Abigail Brown - 1668 - Settled in Maryland, entered America as a servant.

James and William Brown - Late 1670s - Brothers who sailed to America together entering at Port of Willmington in Pennsylvania and settled in the Quaker settlement in Philadelphia and took part of the Burlington Monthly Meeting.

Hugh and Margory Brown - 1775 - Sailed from Scotland to Pennylvania

Famous and Notable People with the Brown Surname

James Brown
Birth :	May 3, 1933 in Barnwell, South Carolina
Death :	December 25, 2006
Parents :	Susie (nee Schilings) and Joseph (Joe) Gardner
James Brown led a rough early life being born in a one room shack, then his mother leaving the family, and finally landing in prison after stealing a car. While in prison, he started a choir and made the right contacts to start his victorious musical career when he was released. He proudly carried the nickname, Godfather of Soul.

Angeline "Angie" (nee Brown) Dickenson
Birth :	September 30, 1931 in Kulm, North Carolina
Parents :	Frederica and Leo H. Brown
American actress of the 1950s and 1960 who won golden globe awards for television and film credits.

John Brown
Birth :	May 9, 1800 in Torrington, CT
Death :	December 2, 1859 at Harpers Ferry
Parents :	Ruth Mills and Owen Brown
A white American abolitionist, who chose violent tactic, such as slave uprisings to eradicate America from slavery. His personal quest to end slavery ended at Harpers Ferry after he already went bankrupt and lost all four of his children to dysentery.

Interesting Facts About the Brown Surname

Ever since Charles M. Schultz printed the first cartoon strip of, Peanuts, in October 2, 1950, the lovable yellow shirted character has always been referred by other characters as his full name, Charlie Brown.

Founded as Rhode Island University in 1764, it was later named Brown University in honor of Nicholas Brown, Jr, 1786 graduate, generous benefactor, and a descendant of many Brown family members who aided in the development of the ivy league university.

The landmark United States Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education started with a young Linda Brown wishing to attend a school in Topeka, Kansas previously only allowing white children under the false notion of "separate but equal".

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