Show ContentsBracken History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Irish name Bracken was originally written in a Gaelic form as O Breacain, from the word breac, which means speckled.

Early Origins of the Bracken family

The surname Bracken was first found in Dublin (Irish: Áth Cliath) located on the east coast of Ireland in the province of Leinster, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the Bracken family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bracken research. Another 92 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1014, 1697 and 1764 are included under the topic Early Bracken History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bracken Spelling Variations

Just like the English language, the Gaelic language of Ireland was not standardized in the Middle Ages. Therefore, one's name was often recorded under several different spellings during the life of its bearer. Spelling variations revealed in the search for the origins of the Bracken family name include Bracken, Braken and others.

Early Notables of the Bracken family

Prominent amongst the family at this time was

  • Henry Bracken (1697-1764), writer on farriery, son of Henry Bracken of Lancaster and was baptised there 31 Oct...

Bracken Ranking

In the United States, the name Bracken is the 4,653rd most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. [1]


United States Bracken migration to the United States +

Death and immigration greatly reduced Ireland's population in the 19th century. For the native Irish people poverty, hunger, and racial prejudice was common. Therefore, thousands left their homeland to seek opportunity in North America. Those who survived the journey and the quarantine camps to which they arrived, were instrumental towards building the strong developing nations of the United States and the future Canada. By far, the largest influx of Irish settlers occurred with Great Potato Famine during the late 1840s. These were employed as construction or factory workers. An examination of passenger and immigration lists has shown early immigrants bearing the name Bracken:

Bracken Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John Bracken, who settled in New England in 1806
  • James Bracken, who arrived in America in 1806 [2]
  • John Bracken, who landed in America in 1806 [2]
  • Margaret Bracken, who landed in America in 1806 [2]
  • Robert Bracken, who landed in America in 1806 [2]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Bracken Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Miles W. Bracken, aged 37, who immigrated to the United States from Westmorland, in 1903
  • Martin Bracken, aged 24, who landed in America from Tullamore, in 1904
  • Margaret Bracken, aged 60, who immigrated to the United States from Tullamore, in 1904
  • Kate Bracken, aged 18, who immigrated to America from Naas, Ireland, in 1904
  • F. B. Bracken, who settled in America, in 1905
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Bracken migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Bracken Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
  • Harry Bracken, aged 28, who settled in Grand Mera, Canada, in 1917
  • George Robert Bracken, aged 38, who immigrated to Toronto, Canada, in 1921

Australia Bracken migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Bracken Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Andrew Bracken, (Brackin), (b. 1802), aged 24, Irish farm labourer who was convicted in Westmeath, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Boyne" on 28th October 1826, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [3]
  • Catherine Bracken, aged 20, a farm servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "Epaminondas" [4]
  • Richard Bracken, aged 29, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Flora" [5]
  • Eliza Bracken, aged 27, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship "Fitzjames"
  • Mary Bracken, aged 18, a cook, who arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship "Nimroud"
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Bracken (post 1700) +

  • Thomas Bracken (1843-1898), Irish poet, sent to Australia at age 12, moved to New Zealand where he wrote the New Zealand National Anthem entitled "God Defend New Zealand"
  • Don Bracken (1962-2014), American NFL football punter for the Green Bay Packers and the Los Angeles Rams from 1985 to 1993
  • Eddie Bracken (1920-2002), American comedic actor
  • Brendan Rendall Bracken (1901-1958), Irish born journalist and politician, made Viscount Bracken, of Christchurch, County Southampton, in 1952
  • John Bracken, Canadian political leader, premier of Manitoba (1922–42) and member of the Canadian House of Commons
  • Clara Bracken McMillen (1898-1982), American biologist, contributor to the Kinsey Reports, wife of Alfred Charles Kinsey
  • Major-General Philip Bracken Fleming (1887-1955), American Under-Secretary of Commerce (1950-1951) [6]
  • Bracken Kearns (b. 1981), Canadian professional NHL ice hockey player

HMS Repulse
  • Mr. Richard Bracken, British Engine Room Artificer 4th Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking [7]
RMS Titanic
  • Mr. James H. Bracken (d. 1912), aged 29, American Second Class passenger from Lake Arthur, New Mexico who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking [8]


Suggested Readings for the name Bracken +

  • The Brackin Family in the Southeastern United States by Henry B. Brackin.

  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  3. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 27th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Boyne
  4. South Australian Register Tuesday 3 February 1852. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) EPAMINONDAS 1852. Retrieved www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/epaminondas1852.shtml
  5. South Australian Register Monday 9th April 1855. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Flora 1855. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/flora1855.shtml
  6. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, February 29) Philip Fleming. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Fleming/Philip_Bracken/USA.html
  7. HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
  8. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html


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