Show ContentsBrunston History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Brunston family

The surname Brunston was first found in East Lothian, at Brunton, "a village, in the parish of Creich, district of Cupar. This village, which is pleasantly situated, is inhabited chiefly by persons employed in agriculture, and in hand-loom weaving for the linen manufacturers of Cupar. " [1] [2]

One of the first records of the family was Walter of Burntoun who held part of Luffness in the reign of Robert III. [3] Further to the south in England, Adam de Brunton was listed in Shropshire, 20 Edward I (in the twentieth year's reign on Edward I.) [4]

Robert de Brunton was found in Cheshire c. 1160-74 and later Edmund de Brunton was listed in the Feet of Fines for Suffolk in 1234. [5]

East Brunton is a township, in the parish of Gosforth, union and W. division of Castle ward, S. division of Northumberland. Nearby we find High and Low Brunton and West Brunton. Collectively they date back to 1242 when they were known as Burneton and literally meant "farmstead by a stream," from the Old English "burna" + "tun. [6]

Early History of the Brunston family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Brunston research. Another 123 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1000, 1140, 1200, 1585, 1844 and 1916 are included under the topic Early Brunston History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Brunston Spelling Variations

In Medieval times, spelling and translation were not nearly so highly developed as today. They were generally carried out according to the sound and intuition of the bearer. For that reason spelling variations are extremely common among early Scottish names. Brunston has been spelled Brunton, Brunten, Bruntin and others.

Early Notables of the Brunston family

Notable amongst the family at this time was George Brunton, a writer in Edinburgh; Professor Alexander Brunton, a Professor of Oriental Languages at the University of Edinburgh; and David Brunton represented Lanarkshire in Scottish Parliament in 1585. Many years later Sir Thomas...
Another 41 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Brunston Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Brunston family

Unrest, poverty, and persecution caused thousands to look for opportunity and freedom in the North American colonies. The crossing was long, overcrowded, and unsanitary, though, and came only at great expense. Many Strathclyde families settled on the east coast of North America in communities that would form the backbone of what would become the great nations of the United States and Canada. The American War of Independence caused those who remained loyal to England to move north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. In the 20th century, Strathclyde and other Scottish families across North America began to recover their collective heritage through highland games and Clan societies. Among them: Grozel Brunton, who came to Salem, Massachusetts in 1745; and James Brunton who settled in Philadelphia in 1840.



The Brunston Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Fax mentis incendium gloriae
Motto Translation: The torch of glory inflames the mind.


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
  3. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  4. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  5. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  6. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)


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