Briant History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Irish immigrants began to leave the English-controlled Ireland in sizable numbers during the late 18th century. Many of these Irish immigrated to British North America or the United States in the hopes of gaining their own tract of farmland. This pattern of migration grew steadily until the 1840s when the Great Potato Famine caused a great exodus of immigrants to North America. These immigrants differed from their predecessors in that they were desperately fleeing the disease and starvation that plagued their homeland, and many were entirely destitute when they arrived in North America. Although these penniless immigrants were not warmly welcomed when they arrived, they were critical to the rapid development of the United States and what would become known as Canada. Many went to populate the western frontiers and others provided the cheap labor the new manufacturing sector and the building of bridges, roads, railways, and canals required. A thorough examination of immigration and passenger lists has revealed some of the earliest people to arrive in North America with name Briant or one of its variants:

Briant Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• John Briant, who arrived in Maryland in 1633-1634 2
• Darby Briant, who landed in Maryland in 1678 2
• William Briant, who landed in Maryland in 1679 2

Briant Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Patrick Briant, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1769 2

Briant Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Louis Briant, who landed in New York in 1822 2
• Mr. Briant, aged 30, who arrived in Mobile, Ala in 1850 2
• E G Briant, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 2

Briant Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

• Miss Mary Briant, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years , transported aboard the "Britannia III" on 18th July 1798, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 3

Briant Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Mr. William Briant, British convict who was convicted in Hertford, Hertfordshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Calcutta" in February 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, the settlement was listed as abandoned and most of the convicts transported to Tasmania on the "Queen" in 1804 4
• Mr. John Briant, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Baring" in April 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 5
• Mr. Stephen Briant, British Convict who was convicted in Kent, England for life, transported aboard the "Batavia" in October 1817, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 6
• Mr. James Briant, English convict who was convicted in Surrey, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Canada" on 23rd April 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 7
• Mr. John Briant, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Aurora" on 3rd November 1833, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 8
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Briant Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• Mr. Charles Henry Briant, (b. 1843), aged 22, British shepherd travelling from London aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 1st January 1866 9

• Shane Briant (1946-2021), English-born, Australian actor and novelist, best known for his roles in Demons of the Mind, Straight on Till Morning, Captain Kronos-Vampire Hunter, and Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell
• Vincent Briant (b. 1986), French professional football player
• Gavin Aubrey Briant (b. 1969), former Zimbabwean cricketer
• Frank Briant (1863-1934), British Liberal politician
• Michael E. Briant (b. 1942), British television director from Bournemouth, Hampshire