Show ContentsBraun History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The German surname Braun emerged in the lands that formed the modern state of Lower Saxony, which is presently bordered by the North Sea, the Hartz mountains and the Elbe and Ems Rivers. Lower Saxony was previously a medieval Saxon dukedom. In the Middle Ages, many of the Saxon lands were a part of the Holy Roman Empire, which was characterized by the feudal system.

Early Origins of the Braun family

The surname Braun was first found in Baden, 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.

Early History of the Braun family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Braun research. Another 95 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1684, 1738, 1770 and 1801 are included under the topic Early Braun History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Braun Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Braun, Braunn, Braune, Braunne, Bronn, Bronne and others.

Early Notables of the Braun family

Notables with the surname Braun during this period were

  • August Wilhelm von Braun (d. 1770), who was a lieutenant general and commander of one of the famous fusilier regiments of the Prussian army

Braun World Ranking

In the United States, the name Braun is the 1,149th most popular surname with an estimated 27,357 people with that name. [1] However, in Canada, the name Braun is ranked the 566th most popular surname with an estimated 8,726 people with that name. [2] And in France, the name Braun is the 957th popular surname with an estimated 5,482 people with that name. [3]


United States Braun migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Braun Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Hans Braun, who landed in New Netherland(s) in 1662 [4]
  • Marritje Hendricks Braun, who landed in New Netherland(s) in 1662 [4]
  • Samuel Braun, who arrived in Maryland in 1679 [4]
Braun Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Johannes Braun, who landed in America in 1708 [4]
  • Johan Jurg Braun, who arrived in New York in 1709 [4]
  • Johan Niklaas Braun, who arrived in New York in 1709 [4]
  • Paulus Braun, who landed in New Jersey in 1709 [4]
  • Jost Braun, who arrived in New York in 1709-1710 [4]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Braun Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • William Braun, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1805 [4]
  • Francisco Braun, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1813 [4]
  • Elle Braun, who landed in North America in 1832-1849 [4]
  • Sebest Braun, who landed in North America in 1832-1849 [4]
  • E Braun, who landed in Baltimore, Maryland in 1834 [4]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Braun Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Baltasar Braun, who arrived in New York, NY in 1902 [4]
  • Helena Braun, aged 7, who landed in New York, NY in 1902 [4]
  • Max Braun, aged 36, who landed in New York, NY in 1902 [4]
  • John Richard Braun, who arrived in Alabama in 1917 [4]

Canada Braun migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Braun Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Joseph Braun, who arrived in Quebec in 1851
  • Jacob Braun, who landed in Manitoba in 1874
  • John Braun, who arrived in Manitoba in 1875
  • Abraham Braun, who arrived in Manitoba in 1875
  • Peter Braun, who landed in Manitoba in 1875
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Braun 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:

Braun Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Braun, (b. 1837), aged 23, British schoolmaster travelling from London aboard the ship "Gananoque" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 9th May 1860 [5]
  • Wilhelm Braun, aged 28, a labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Steinwarder" in 1864
  • Henrietta Braun, aged 29, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Steinwarder" in 1864
  • Anna Braun, aged 3, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Steinwarder" in 1864
  • Louis Braun, aged 3 mths., who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Steinwarder" in 1864

Contemporary Notables of the name Braun (post 1700) +

  • Steven James "Steve" Braun (1959-2022), American businessman and politician, Commissioner of the Indiana Department of Workforce Development (2014-2017), Member of the Indiana House of Representatives (2012-2014)
  • Brigadier-General Gustav J. Jr. Braun (1895-1945), American Assistant Commanding General 34th Division (1944-1945) [6]
  • Lilian Jackson Braun (1913-2011), American mystery writer
  • Richard L. Braun, American fighter pilot and flying ace in the U.S. Marine Corps, during World War II, credited with 5 aerial victories
  • Carol Moseley Braun (b. 1947), American Democratic Party politician, Member of Illinois State House of Representatives, 1979-88; U.S. Senator from Illinois, 1993-99; Defeated, 1998; Candidate for Mayor of Chicago, Illinois, 2011 [7]
  • Egidius Braun (1925-2022), German sports administrator, 8th President of the German Football Association from 1992 to 2001, awarded the Grand Cross with Star and Sash of the Bundesverdienstkreuz in 1985
  • Hermann Braun (1918-1945), American-born, German motion-picture actor, and the son of chamber singer Carl Braun
  • Carl Braun (1886-1960), famous German opera singer
  • Heinrich Friedrich Wilhelm Braun (1862-1934), German surgeon remembered for his work in the field of anaesthesiology
  • Volker Braun (b. 1939), German playwright and director
  • ... (Another 6 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


Suggested Readings for the name Braun +

  • The Ancestors and Descendants of Abraham (Braum) Brown, the Miller: The Ancestors and Descendants of Jacob (Braun) Brown, the Wagonmaker by John Burgess Fisher.
  • Footprints in the Sands of Time by Karen M. Gomez.

  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  3. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  4. 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)
  5. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  6. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, November 3) Gustav Braun. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Braun/Gustav_J._Jr./USA.html
  7. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 1) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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