| ![Show Contents]() Brennen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Ireland Many variations of the name Brennen have evolved since the time of its initial creation. In Gaelic it appeared as "O Braondin," from the word "braon," which has several meanings, possibly meaning "sorrow" in this case. Saint Brendan or Brenainn (490?-573), of Birr, "which was so called from the abundance of wells there (birr, birra, water), now Parsonstown, in the King's County. He was son of Neman, a poet, and Mansenna, and belonged to the race of Corb Aulam, great-grandson of Rudhraighe, from whom were the Clanna Rudhraighe. " 1 Another Saint Brendan or Brenainn (484-577), of Clonfert, was born in 484, at Littus li, or Stagnum li, now Tralee, co. Kerry. "He is termed son of Finnloga, to distinguish him from his contemporary, St. Brendan of Birr. " 1 Early Origins of the Brennen familyThe surname Brennen was first found in County Kilkenny (Irish: Cill Chainnigh), the former Kingdom of Osraige (Ossory), located in Southeastern Ireland in the province of Leinster, where the family claim descent from Braonan, an Irish Prince, brother of Ceallach, 17th King of Ossory. Braonan later became the King of Ossory, and also King of the Danes of Dublin, and was known as the Prince of Idough. His son, Conglach, in a dispute over the throne of Ossory, was killed near Three Castles, County Kilkenny. At this point in time, the Brennans were in conflict with Brian Boru (1014), and most historians believe that the family was on the wrong side as allies of the Danish King. After Clontarf, they retained only the principality of Idough, but Anne, daughter of Guidhelgedh, three generations later, married the King of Ossory (Donogh), and the title was still extant even after the Anglo Norman invasion of 1172. Early History of the Brennen familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Brennen research. Another 124 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1395, 1520, 1600, 1625, 1693, 1768, 1794, 1830 and 1832 are included under the topic Early Brennen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Brennen Spelling VariationsMany spelling variations of the surname Brennen can be found in the archives. One reason for these variations is that ancient scribes and church officials recorded names as they were pronounced, often resulting in a single person being recorded under several different spellings. The different spellings that were found include Brennan, McBrennan, Brannon, Brannan, Brannen, Brannin, Brennyn, Brannyn, MacBrennan, Brenan, Branon, Branan, Branen and many more. Early Notables of the Brennen familyNotable among the family name at this time was Sir Art O'Brennan of Castlecomer Castle; Most Rev. John Brennan (1625-1693), Bishop of Waterford and Archbishop of Cashel; John Brennan (1768-1830)...
Another 29 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Brennen Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Brennen RankingIn the United States, the name Brennen is the 16,616th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 2
 Brennen migration to the United States | + |
Irish families left their homeland in astonishing numbers during the 19th century in search of a better life. Although individual reasons vary, most of these Irish families suffered from extreme poverty, lack of work opportunities, and exorbitant rents in their homeland. Many decided to travel to Australia or North America in the hopes of finding greater opportunities and land. The Irish immigrants that came to North America initially settled on the East Coast, often in major centers such as Boston or New York. But like the many other cultures to settle in North America, the Irish traveled to almost any region they felt held greater promise; as a result, many Irish with gold fever moved all the way out to the Pacific coast. Others before that time left for land along the St. Lawrence River and the Niagara Peninsula, or the Maritimes as United Empire Loyalists, for many Irish did choose to side with the English during the American War of Independence. The earliest wave of Irish migration, however, occurred during the Great Potato Famine of the 1840s. An examination of early immigration and passenger lists has revealed many people bearing the Brennen name:
Brennen Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- Johan Peter Brennen, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1748 3
Brennen Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- John Brennen, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1838 3
- Thomas Brennen, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1846 3
- Andrew Brennen, who landed in New York in 1848 3
- Patrick Brennen, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1878 3
| Contemporary Notables of the name Brennen (post 1700) | + |
- Robert H. Brennen, American Republican politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly from Bronx County 8th District, 1936, 1937; Candidate for U.S. Representative from New York 23rd District, 1938 4
- Owen E. Brennen, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Massachusetts State House of Representatives Fourteenth Middlesex District, 1923-24 4
- Martin J. Brennen, American politician, Candidate for Presidential Elector for Pennsylvania, 1908 4
- John F. Brennen, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from New York County 17th District, 1898-99 4
- Joseph Brennen Barksdale (b. 1989), American football offensive tackle for the Oakland Raiders
| Historic Events for the Brennen family | + |
- Mr. Horatio H. Brennen (1872-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 5
- Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- 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)
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 20) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.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
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Brennen migration to the United States 
