Browne History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

The Browne family name is thought to be of Norman origins. It comes from an early member of the family who was a person who has brown hair or brown eyes, or dresses habitually in brown. 1

The name springs from similar roots in Old English, Old English, Old Norse, Old French, Old German. It is also possible that a given instance of the name is derived from a short form of an Old English personal name such as Brunwine or Brungar.

Early Origins of the Browne family

The surname Browne was first found in Cumberland, where the Browne family held a family seat and claim descent from Le Brun in Normandy, who was granted many estates there soon after the Conquest. However, many of the family remained in Normandy where Gilbert and William le Brun were listed in 1185 according to the Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae. 2

"This ancient and wide-spreading name, which occurs in early writings in a great variety of forms, as Le Brun, de Bron, Broun, Brune, Brunn, &c., stands 50th on the Battle Roll, and has the peculiar distinction of having produced twenty-one different families in the United Kingdom, who have received from the Sovereign hereditary titles of Nobility." 3

"As Le Brun or Brunnus, it frequently occurs in the Norman Exchequer Rolls of the twelfth century, and is several times written in Domesday Book. William le Brun held in Suffolk; and Bruno (perhaps the same) in Warwickshire: besides "Brun Presbyter" in Oxfordshire. 4

"Of these, the most considerable-that of the Viscounts Montague-was an offset of the great Norman house of La Ferte, who held the barony of La Ferte (now La Ferte Fresnel) near Evreux. Hugh de la Ferte is mentioned by Wace at Hastings. Richard de la Ferte accompanied Robert of Normandy to Palestine in 1096, and his youngest son, Gamel, surnamed Le Brun (according to family tradition to distinguish him from a brother called Le Blond), settled in Cumberland, where he had baronial grants from Waldeve FitzGospatric, and his descendants long flourished, the name gradually changing to Broyne, Broun, or Browne." 4

Some of the family were found at early times at Tacolneston in Norfolk where they held estates. "The Hall, a fine brick mansion, is a good specimen of the domestic style prevalent in the 17th century; it is said to have been built in 1670, by the Browne family, who then held the estate." 5

Another branch was found in the parish of Thrigby, again in Norfolk. "The principal part [of Thrigby] belongs to Thomas Browne, Esq., who resides at the Hall, a neat mansion of white brick." 5

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 eludes to the use of the name in a variety of early spelling and as a forename and surname: Brun Ednth, Salop; Matilda relicta Brun, Oxfordshire; and Brune relicta Johannis, Cambridgeshire; Hugh le Brun, Suffolk; Robert le Brun, Buckinghamshire; and Johanna la Brune, Oxfordshire. 6

Up north in Scotland, the family are generally though to have migrated there from Cumberland. "Gamel, son of Brun came into possession of Bothel (now Boode) in the time of Henry I (1100-1135). Gilchrist, son of Bruun witnessed a charter by R. son of Dunegal to the Hospital of S. Peter of York c. 1136, Patric Brun witnessed resignation of land of Weremundebi (Warmanbie in Annandale) and Anant between 1194-1214. Ricardus Brun witnessed a charter by Ebrardus de Penkathleht (Pencaitland near Edinburgh) to the church of S. Cuthbert of Durham in the reign of William the Lion. Several individuals of this name are recorded in the thirteenth century, but what connection, if any, existed between them is not known." 7

Early History of the Browne family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Browne research. Another 99 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1317, 1339, 1439, 1443, 1506, 1598, 1605, 1610, 1616, 1626, 1634, 1641, 1642, 1659, 1660, 1661, 1668, 1669, 1682, 1684, 1685, 1688, 1690, 1702, 1721, 1735 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Browne History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Browne Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Brown, Broun, Brun and others.

Early Notables of the Browne family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Sir Anthony Browne (1443-1506), during the reign of King Henry VII, he was Standard Bearer of England, Governor of Queenborough Castle, and Constable of Calais
Sir Richard Browne, 1st Baronet (ca. 1610-1669), English Major-General in the English Parliamentary Army during the English Civil War and later Lord Mayor of London
Sir Thomas Browne (1605-1682), an English author
Francis Browne, 3rd Viscount Montagu (1610-1682)
Sir Richard Browne, 1st Baronet of Deptford (ca. 1605-1682), an English ambassador to the court of France at Paris from 1641 to 1660
Sir Richard Browne, 2nd Baronet (ca.1634-1684), English barrister and politician, Member of Parliament for Wycombe (1660-1661)
James Browne or Brown (1616-1685), an English theologian
Sir Ambrose Browne, 1st Baronet (died 1661), an English politician
Sir Adam Browne, 2nd Baronet of Betchworth Castle (c. 1626-1690), an English politician
Ambrose Browne (1659-1688), an English politician
Samuel Browne (c. 1598-1668), of Arlesey, Bedfordshire, Member of Parliament during the English Civil War and the First Commonwealth who supported the Parliamentary cause

Browne World Ranking

In the United States, the name Browne is the 1,607^th most popular surname with an estimated 19,896 people with that name. 8 However, in Australia, the name Browne is ranked the 323^rd most popular surname with an estimated 10,984 people with that name. 9 And in New Zealand, the name Browne is the 243^rd popular surname with an estimated 2,449 people with that name. 10 The United Kingdom ranks Browne as 460^th with 14,062 people. 11

Migration of the Browne family to Ireland

Some of the Browne family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 68 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Browne migration to the United States +

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Browne or a variant listed above:

Browne Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Robert Browne, who arrived in Virginia in 1618 aboard the ship "Mary Gold" 12
Peter Browne, (1594/5 - 1633), who landed in Virginia in 1620 aboard the "Mayflower" from Surrey, England 12
Christopher Browne, aged 18, who arrived in Virginia in 1620 aboard the ship "Dutie" 12
John Browne, aged 28, who arrived in Virginia in 1621 aboard the "Bona Nova" 12
Mr. Nicholas Browne, aged 18, who arrived in Virginia in 1621 aboard the ship "Charles" 13
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Browne Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Ducksell Browne, who landed in Virginia in 1703 12
Benjamin Browne, who arrived in Salem, Massachusetts in 1712 12
Marke Browne, who landed in Virginia in 1716 12
Francis Browne, who arrived in Virginia in 1723 12
Martin Browne, aged 34, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1738 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Browne Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Charles Browne, aged 35, who landed in New York in 1801 12
John Browne, aged 24, who arrived in New York, NY in 1803 12
Margaret Browne, aged 26, who arrived in New York, NY in 1803 12
William Browne, aged 34, who arrived in New York, NY in 1803 12
Thomas Browne, who landed in America in 1806 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Browne Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Edmond Browne, who arrived in Colorado in 1907 12

Browne migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Browne Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Thomas Browne, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
Jer Browne, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1760
Mr. Henry Browne U.E. who settled in New Brunswick c. 1783 member of Cape Ann Association 14
Abram Browne, who landed in Quebec in 1784
Alex Browne, who arrived in Quebec in 1784

Browne Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Michael Browne, aged 24, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1837 aboard the barque "Robert Watt" from Cork, Ireland
John Browne, aged 26, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1837 aboard the barque "Robert Watt" from Cork, Ireland
Johanna Browne, aged 29, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1837 aboard the barque "Robert Watt" from Cork, Ireland
Johanah Browne, aged 24, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1837 aboard the barque "Robert Watt" from Cork, Ireland
Peggy Browne, aged 30, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1837 aboard the barque "Robert Watt" from Cork, Ireland

Browne Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

Miss M E Browne, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1907

Browne migration to Australia +

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

Browne Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. William Browne, British Convict who was convicted in Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Batavia" in October 1817, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 15
Miss Anne Browne, (b. 1785), aged 33, Irish servant who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" on 26th July 1818, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 16
Miss Mary Ann Browne, (b. 1778), aged 40, Irish servant who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" on 26th July 1818, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 16
Mr. Ephraim Browne, English convict who was convicted in Chester, Cheshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Canada" on 23rd April 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 17
George Browne, a painter, who arrived in New South Wales, Australia sometime between 1825 and 1832
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Browne 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:

Browne Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

G Browne, who landed in Mercury Bay, New Zealand in 1830
Thomas Browne, aged 20, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Martha Ridgeway" in 1840
Annie Browne, aged 21, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Martha Ridgeway" in 1840
Mr. Thomas Browne, (b. 1820), aged 20, British agricultural labourer and carpenter travelling from England aboard the ship "Martha Ridgway" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 14th November 1840 18
Mrs. Annie Browne, (b. 1819), aged 21, British settler travelling from England aboard the ship "Martha Ridgway" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 14th November 1840 18
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Browne migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 19

Browne Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Mr. Edward Browne, (b. 1610), aged 24, British settler travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "Hopewell" arriving in Barbados on 17th February 1634 12
Mr. Thomas Browne, aged 21, British settler travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "Hopewell" arriving in Barbados on 17th February 1634 12
Mr. Thomas Browne, (b. 1617), aged 18, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Alexander" arriving in Barbados in 1635 20
Jo Browne, aged 20, who arrived in Barbados in 1635 aboard the ship "Falcon" 12
Mr. John Browne, aged 33 who arrived in St. Kitts (St Christopher) aboard the ship "Amity" in 1635 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Browne (post 1700) +

Don Browne (1943-2023), American media executive, President of Telemundo
Christopher K. "Chris" Browne (1952-2023), American comic strip artist and cartoonist who drew the comic strip Hägar the Horrible, son of cartoonist Dik Browne and brother of cartoonist Chance Browne
Joy Browne (1944-2016), known as Dr. Joy, an American talk show host
Malcolm Browne (1931-2012), American journalist and photographer, recipient of the 1964 Pulitzer Prize
Brigadier-General Frederick William Browne (1875-1960), American Assistant Budget Officer War Department (1939-1944) 21
Olin Douglas Browne (b. 1959), American professional golfer
Dik Browne (1917-1989), American popular cartoonist, best known for writing and drawing Hägar the Horrible and for drawing Hi and Lois
Charles Farrar Browne (1834-1867), American humorist
Jackson Browne (b. 1948), American rock music singer, songwriter, guitarist, and pianist
Lady Moyra Blanche Madeleine Browne DBE, GCStJ (b. 1918), née Ponsonby, English nursing administrator
... (Another 28 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Browne family +

Halifax Explosion

Mrs. Rose Sarah Browne (1867-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 22

HMS Hood

Mr. Robert H P Browne (b. 1909), English Lieutenant (S) serving for the Royal Navy from Suffolk, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 23

RMS Lusitania

Mr. E. Bennett Browne, English First Waiter from England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 24

SS Atlantic

Miss Bridget Mary Browne, who was traveling aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking

USS Arizona

Mr. Harry Lamont Browne, American Chief Machinist's Mate from California, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 25

The Browne 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: Floreat majestas
Motto Translation: Let majesty flourish

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 1 of 3
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
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)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
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)
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/batavia
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/canada
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's retrieved 28th September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, November 3) Frederick Browne. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Browne/Frederick_William/USA.html
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html