Show ContentsBrabyn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancient roots of the Brabyn family name are in the Anglo-Saxon culture. The name Brabyn comes from when the family lived in Brabant in Flanders, which was formerly a province of France and is now part of the Netherlands.

Early Origins of the Brabyn family

The surname Brabyn was first found in Lancashire where they held a family seat from very ancient times before the advent of the Norman Conquest of England by Duke William of Normandy in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Brabyn family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Brabyn research. Another 76 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Brabyn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Brabyn Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Brabyn has appeared include Brabyn, Brabyne, Brabine, Brabines, Brabant, Brabent and many more.

Early Notables of the Brabyn family

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


United States Brabyn migration to the United States +

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Brabyn arrived in North America very early:

Brabyn Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Mr. Joseph Brabyn, (b. 1878), aged 25, Cornish coach builder travelling aboard the ship "St Louis" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 17th October 1903 en route to Flint, Michigan, USA 1
  • Mr. John Brabyn, (b. 1861), aged 44, Cornish shipwright, from Torpoint, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Campania" arriving at Ellis Island, New York in 1905 en route to Brooklyn, New York, USA 1

Australia Brabyn migration to Australia +

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

Brabyn Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Brabyn, (b. 1862), aged 22, Cornish carpenter travelling aboard the ship "SS Abergeldie" arriving in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia on 6th July 1884 2

New Zealand Brabyn 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:

Brabyn Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Jane Brabyn, aged 30, a servant, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bebington" in 1872
  • Catherine Brabyn, aged 21, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bebington" in 1872
  • Mary Brabyn, aged 9, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bebington" in 1872
  • Miss Jane Brabyn, (b. 1842), aged 30, Cornish servant departing on 28th June 1872 aboard the ship "Bebington" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 25th October 1872 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Brabyn (post 1700) +

  • David Brabyn, British/French freelance photojournalist based in New York city
  • John Brabyn (1759-1835), Australian military officer and settler


  1. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retreived 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
  2. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 19). Emigrants to Australia NSW 1860 -88 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/nsw_passenger_lists_1860_88.pdf
  3. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to Wellington 1872-1880 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_nz_wellington.pdf


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