Show ContentsBremner History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The German surname Bremner 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. The name Bremner, which is a local surname, reveals that the original bearer of the name once lived, held land, or was born in this beautiful region of Lower Saxony.

Early Origins of the Bremner family

The surname Bremner was first found in the county of Oldenburg, where the name became noted for its many branches with the region, each house acquiring a status and influence which was envied by the princes of the region. In their later history the family became a power unto themselves and were elevated to the ranks of nobility as they grew into this most influential family. The name Bremen was applied to people who originated from the Free City of Bremen, first chosen as a residence by the bishop Willehad in 787.

Early History of the Bremner family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bremner research. Another 83 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1707, 1801, 1830 and 1865 are included under the topic Early Bremner History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bremner Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Bremer, Bremmer, Bremerr, Bremert, Bremen, Bremener, Bremner and many more.

Early Notables of the Bremner family

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

Bremner Ranking

In the United States, the name Bremner is the 18,319th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1 However, in New Zealand, the name Bremner is ranked the 857th most popular surname with an estimated 856 people with that name. 2


United States Bremner migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Bremner Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • William Bremner, who settled in Savannah Georgia in 1775
  • William Bremner, aged 21, who arrived in Savanna(h), Georgia in 1775 3
Bremner Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John Bremner, who settled in Philadelphia in 1813
  • John Bremner, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1841 3

Canada Bremner migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Bremner Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Geo Bremner, who landed in Canada in 1821
  • George Bremner, who arrived in Quebec in 1821
  • Alexander Bremner who settled in Catalina, Newfoundland, in 1822 4

Australia Bremner migration to Australia +

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

Bremner Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Robert Bremner, English convict who was convicted in Manchester, Greater Manchester, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Clyde" on 11th March 1863, arriving in Western Australia, Australia 5

New Zealand Bremner 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:

Bremner Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Bremner, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Gipsey" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 25th October 1854, en-route to Nelson 6
  • Mr. Andrew Bremner, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Palmyra" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 19th February 1858 7
  • Mrs. Bremner, British settler travelling from London with 5 children aboard the ship "Palmyra" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 19th February 1858 7
  • Mr. Alexander Bremner, British settler travelling from London with 6 children aboard the ship "Palmyra" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 19th February 1858 7
  • Mr. Alexander Bremner, (b. 1841), aged 23, Scottish farm labourer from Banffshire travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "William Miles" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 22nd October 1864 7
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Bremner (post 1700) +

  • Robert Gunn Bremner (1874-1914), American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New Jersey, 1912; U.S. Representative from New Jersey 7th District, 1913-14 8
  • Robert Bremner (d. 1789), Scottish music publisher 9
  • Mr. Kenneth William Bremner M.B.E., British Chief Executive for South Tyneside and City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Foundation Trusts, was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire on 8th June 2018, for services to NHS Leadership 10
  • T. Hutton Bremner (1912-1969), Scottish footballer who played from 1929 to 1947, including once for the Scottish League XI National Team in 1934
  • Roderick "Rory" Keith Ogilvy Bremner FKC (b. 1961), Scottish impressionist and comedian, noted for his work in political satire
  • Kyla Bremner (b. 1977), Canadian-born, Australian physician and freestyle wrestler at the 2008 Olympics
  • Gordon Hutton Bremner (b. 1917), Scottish professional footballer who played from 1937 to 1951 including two Scotland National Teams 1941 and 1942
  • William "Billy" Bremner (1872-1957), Australian rules footballer who played with Melbourne (1903-1904)
  • Janice Bremner (b. 1974), Canadian Olympic silver medalist synchronized swimmer at the 1996 Summer Olympics
  • James Bremner (1784-1856), Scottish naval architect, harbour builder and ship raiser who raised or rescued over 236 ships, awarded the Telford Medal in 1833
  • ... (Another 5 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Halifax Explosion
  • Mrs. Rachel  Bremner (1896-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who survived the Halifax Explosion (1917) but later died due to injuries 11


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  3. 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)
  4. Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
  5. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th February 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/clyde
  6. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  7. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  8. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, February 1) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  9. Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 5 Feb. 2019
  10. "Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62507, 28 December 2018 | London Gazette, The Gazette, Dec. 2018, www.thegazette.co.uk/honours-lists
  11. 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


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