Show ContentsBrew History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Brew can have three possible origins. It can be a Manx name, from MacVriew, or an Irish name, from Ó Brugha or Ó Brughadha. 1 Or the name could be of Norman descent, from the names de Berewa and de Bruth. Burrough and Burrowes are related to these Norman names, as their English derivatives meaning "dweller at a bower-house."

Early Origins of the Brew family

The surname Brew was first found in Queen's County and Kilkenny, where the Norman surnames de Berewa and de Burgh appear as early as 1190. In County Kildare, one Geoffrey Broy was outlawed as a robber in 1297.

Early History of the Brew family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Brew research. Another 42 words (3 lines of text) covering the years 1753 and 1841 are included under the topic Early Brew History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Brew Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Brew, Broe, Broy, Burrough, Burrowes and others.

Early Notables of the Brew family

Another 30 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Brew Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Brew Ranking

In the United States, the name Brew is the 10,655th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 2


United States Brew migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Brew Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Sackfield Brew who settled in Virginia in 1652
Brew Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • William Brew, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1851
  • Frances Brew, aged 35, who landed in America from Dublin, in 1897
  • Francis Brew, aged 35, who landed in America from Dublin, in 1897
  • Ellie Brew, aged 22, who landed in America from Kilrush, in 1899
Brew Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Emily Brew, aged 4, who immigrated to America from Isle of Man, in 1901
  • Charlotte Brew, aged 32, who immigrated to the United States from Isle of Man, in 1901
  • Annie Brew, aged 21, who immigrated to America from Milltownalley, in 1903
  • Arthur Brew, aged 15, who landed in America, in 1904
  • Allen Henry Brew, who was naturalized in Montana in 1904
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Brew migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Brew Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • William Brew, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1749-1752
  • William Brew, who settled in Halifax Nova Scotia between 1749 and 1752
Brew Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Francis Brew, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1852

Australia Brew migration to Australia +

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

Brew Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Brew (post 1700) +

  • Derrick Brew (b. 1977), American gold and bronze medalist at the 2004 Olympics
  • Thomas F. Brew, American politician, First Selectman of Newtown, Connecticut, 1926-27 5
  • John T. Brew, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Presidential Elector for Pennsylvania, 1900; Postmaster at Erie, Pennsylvania, 1914-17 5
  • Frank Brew (1927-2020), Australian rules footballer who played with South Melbourne (1947-1953)
  • Nathan Brew (b. 1982), Welsh international rugby union player
  • Chartres Brew (1815-1870), Irish-born Chief Constable and judge in the Colony of British Columbia, eponym of three locations of Mount Brew, British Columbia
  • Aled Brew (b. 1986), Wales international rugby union player
  • Thaddeus Brew McClain (1876-1935), American track and field athlete at the 1900 Summer Olympics


The Brew 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: Audaces fortuna juvat
Motto Translation: Fortune favours the bold.


  1. MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)
  2. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  3. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 27th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Boyd
  4. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2015, January 8) Anson voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1843 with 499 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/anson/1843
  5. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 25) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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