Bronwyn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Wales
Scotland

The name Bronwyn is from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of the Britain and comes from a "baptismal name, usually written Bruning. The appellation originally referred to complexion." 1 Another source has a slightly different understanding. "This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Brunwin.' It is curious to note how frequently 'w' and 'm' are interchangeable. Brunwin is sometimes found as Brumwin. In the Modern Domesday Book for Essex there are four Brunwins and two Bramwins." 2

Early Origins of the Bronwyn family

The surname Bronwyn was first found in Suffolk, where the family dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 when the early Latin form of the name was Brunwinus or Brunnuinus. 3

Years later, Laurence Brunwyn was recorded in the Assize Rolls for Bedfordshire in 1247 and Richard Brunwyn was found in Lincolnshire in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1276. Later again, William Brounwyne and Geoffrey Bronwyne was entered into the Subsidy Rolls for Suffolk in 1327. 4

Looking again at the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, we found: Henry Brunwyne, Staffordshire; John Brunwyn, Suffolk; and Richard Brunwyn, Lincolnshire. 2

Up in Scotland, "John Brwnyng was one of the 'burgenses rure manentes' of Aberdeen, 1317, and Sir John Browning was sheriff there in 1328. Willelmus Bronnyng in the parish of Fyvy was excommunicated in 1382." 5

Early History of the Bronwyn family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bronwyn research. Another 145 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1066, 1247, 1276, 1327, 1647, 1667, 1682 and 1801 are included under the topic Early Bronwyn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bronwyn Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Bronwyn has been spelled many different ways, including Brunwin, Brunswin, Brunwinus, Brunwyn, Brounwyne and many more.

Early Notables of the Bronwyn family

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

Migration of the Bronwyn family

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Bronwyns to arrive in North America: a number of settlers who arrived by the 19th century.

Contemporary Notables of the name Bronwyn (post 1700) +

Gladys Bronwyn Stern (1890-1973), English author
Bronwyn May Gillanders (b. 1963), Australian marine scientist, President of the Australian Society for Fish Biology from 2012 to 2013
Bronwyn Nutley (b. 1983), Australian footballer
Bronwyn Roye (b. 1970), Australian rower
Bronwyn Bancroft (b. 1958), Aboriginal Australian artist
Bronwyn Lea (b. 1969), contemporary Australian poet, academic and editor

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)