Brown Family Crest, Coat of Arms & Brown Name Origin

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Origin of the Name Brown

The origin of the name Brown was found in the allfamilycrests.com archives. 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.