Show ContentsBrash History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Brash family

The surname Brash was first found in Hamburg, where the name contributed greatly to the development of an emerging nation which would later play a large role in the tribal and national conflicts of the area. In later years the name branched into many houses, each playing a significant role in the local social and political affairs. Brask is also connected to several place names in the Holstein region.

Early History of the Brash family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Brash research. Another 89 words (6 lines of text) covering the year 1750 is included under the topic Early Brash History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Brash Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Brask, Braske, Brasch, Brasck, Brasker, Brassac, Brasken, Braskmann and many more.

Early Notables of the Brash family

More information is included under the topic Early Brash Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Brash migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Brash Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Bartholome Brash, who arrived in New York in 1831
  • Charles Brash, who arrived in Mississippi in 1889 1

Canada Brash migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Brash Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Finlay Brash, who settled in Ontario in 1815
  • John Brash, who landed in Canada in 1815
  • John Brash, aged 34, a ploughman, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Atlas" in 1815
  • Catherine Brash, aged 27, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Atlas" in 1815
  • John Brash, aged 7, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Atlas" in 1815
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Brash migration to Australia +

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

Brash Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Hugh Brash, (b. 1794), aged 43, Scottish sawyer who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for 7 years for attempted murder, transported aboard the "Blenheim" on 11th March 1837, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1872 2
  • Mr. William Brash who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for 10 years, transported aboard the "David Malcolm" on 13th May 1845, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) and Norfolk Island 3
  • John Brash, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Stebonheath" in 1849 4

New Zealand Brash migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Brash Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • William Brash, aged 39, a labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bengal Merchant" in 1840 5
  • John Brash, aged 1, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bengal Merchant" in 1840 5
  • W Brash, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1842
  • Mr. William Brash, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Three Bells" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 13th July 1858 5
  • Mrs. Brash, Scottish settler with 3 children including William Jr. travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Three Bells" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 13th July 1858 5
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Brash (post 1700) +

  • Marion Brash (1931-2022), German-born, American actress known for her work in television and cinema, known for Tom Corbett, Space Cadet (1950), Man Against Crime (1949) and Slaughter (1972)
  • Donald Thomas Brash (b. 1940), Governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand from 1988 to 2002
  • Alan Anderson Brash OBE (1913-2002), Former leading minister of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand, and of the worldwide ecumenical movement
  • Sir Thomas Brash Morison (1868-1945), Scottish politician and judge, Solicitor General for Scotland (1913-1920)

HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. John Thomas Brash, British Ordnance Telegrahist, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 6


  1. 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)
  2. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 15th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/blenheim
  3. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 21st June 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/david-malcolm
  4. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) STEBONHEATH 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Stebonheath.htm
  5. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  6. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html


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