Brownlow History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Ireland

A family of Strathclyde-Briton were the first to use the name Brownlow. They lived in either of two settlements called Brownlee in the counties of Ayrshire and Lanarkshire.

Early Origins of the Brownlow family

The surname Brownlow was first found in Scotland where "Wedow" Brounlees was tenant on lands under Newbotle Abbey in 1563. Later, "Gavin Brwnelie was heir to James Brwnelie in Kinpuntmyln, 1608 and Issobell Brounleis was tenant on lands of Kelso Abbey in 1567. Janet Brownlee or Brownlees is recorded in Ersiltoune, 1653, John Brounllyes in Chappell, 1659, and James Brounleyis there in 1661. Nathaniel Brounlie in Mauldslie, 1685, and John Brounlie in Toun of Belsraine, parish of Carluke, 1624, and five more are recorded in Lanark Commissariot Record. " 1

In England, Robert de Browlegh was listed in the Assize Rolls for Staffordshire in 1310 and later, Cuthbert Brownles was a Freeman of York in 1485. This branch is from Brownlee, in Scotland, meaning "'dweller at the brown clearing" 2

Early History of the Brownlow family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Brownlow research. Another 129 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1553, 1560, 1567, 1583, 1591, 1606, 1637, 1638, 1886 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Brownlow History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Brownlow Spelling Variations

In the era before dictionaries, there were no rules governing the spelling or translation of names or any other words. Consequently, there are an enormous number of spelling variations in Medieval Scottish names. Brownlow has appeared as Brownlee, Brownlea, Brownlie, Brownlees, Brownley, Brownlow, Brownless, Brownlee, Brunlee, Brunlees, Brownleis, Brounley and many more.

Early Notables of the Brownlow family

Notable among the family at this time was

Richard Brownlow (1553-1638), chief prothonotary of the court of common pleas, the son of John Brownlow of High Holborn, by a daughter of Sir John Zouch of Stoughton Grange, Leicestershire...
1638 by his two sons, John and William Brownlow, who were both created baronets, the latter being the ancestor of John Brownlow, Viscount Tyrconnel, whose sister married Sir Richard Cust, bart...
, the ancestor of the present Earl Brownlow...

Brownlow Ranking

In the United States, the name Brownlow is the 11,587^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 3

Migration of the Brownlow family to Ireland

Some of the Brownlow family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 74 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Brownlow migration to Australia +

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

Brownlow Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

James Brownlow, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Anglia" in 1851 4
Catherine Brownlow, aged 25, a farm servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Admiral Boxer"
John Henry Brownlow, aged 22, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship "Nabob"
John Brownlow, aged 20, a farm labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1857 aboard the ship "Carnatic"
Bridget Brownlow, aged 16, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1857 aboard the ship "Carnatic"

Brownlow 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:

Brownlow Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mrs. Mary Brownlow, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Harkaway" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 2nd June 1857 5
Miss Florence Brownlow, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Harkaway" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 2nd June 1857 5
Charlotte Brownlow, aged 20, a servant, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Rakaia" in 1878
Mr. Brownlow, South African settler travelling from London via Cape ports aboard the ship "Pembroke Castle" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 5th November 1889 6

Contemporary Notables of the name Brownlow (post 1700) +

Louis Brownlow (1879-1963), American author, political scientist, and consultant in the area of public administration
William George Edward Brownlow (1902-1984), English politician, 4th Baron Brownlow
Mr. David Ellis Brownlow C.V.O., D.L., British former Chairman for the Prince's Foundation for Building Community, was appointed the Commander of the Royal Victorian Order on 8th June 2018 7
Kevin Brownlow (b. 1938), English filmmaker, film historian, television documentary-maker, and author
Charles Brownlow (1795-1847), Irish politician, created 1st Baron Lurgan of Lurgan, County Armagh, in 1893
Joan Brownlow Hanham (b. 1939), Baroness Hanham CBE is a Conservative member of the British House of Lords
Mr. Brownlow Eggington, British sheriff, held the joint position of Sheriff of Nottingham, England from 1653 to 1654
Brownlow R. Wyatt (d. 1953), American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Tennessee, 1944 (alternate), 1952; Candidate for Tennessee State Senate 9th District, 1946 8

Citations +

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)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) ANGLIA 1851. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851Anglia.gif
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
"Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62310, 4 July 2019 | London Gazette, The Gazette, June 2018, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/62310/supplement/B1
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 17) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html