| ![Show Contents]() Brownsburger History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Germany Those lands along the southeast coast of the Baltic sea were the birthplace of the great Prussian name Brownsburger. A single name was, at one time, all that people needed. However, increasing ease of travel and the burgeoning populations forced people to adopt a hereditary surname to set themselves apart from others. A common form of surname found in Prussia was the local name, a name taken on from an existing place-name. The surname Brownsburger was first used by someone who lived on or near a mountain. There are also numerous places in Germany named Braunsberg or Braunberg. Brownsburger is a topographic surname, which is a local surname that was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree.The name was derived from the Old German words berc, or burg, which meant mountain. and the word brun, which meant brown. Early Origins of the Brownsburger familyThe surname Brownsburger was first found in the kingdo of Prussia at the town of Braunsberg. The castle of Braunsberg was built by the Teutonic Knights in 1241, and the town was founded ten years later. Destroyed by the Prussians in 1262, it was restored in 1279. 1 The earliest record of the family was Bruno II of Isenburg-Braunsberg was the Count of Isenburg-Braunsberg from 1210 until 1255. Later, Bruno III of Isenburg-Braunsberg, was Count of Isenburg-Braunsberg from 1255 until 1278 and William I of Isenburg-Braunsberg, was Count of Isenburg-Braunsberg from 1327 until 1383. In 1338 William was raised to an Imperial Count. Isenburg-Braunsberg was the name of a state of the Holy Roman Empire, based near the hill Braunsberg (near Anhausen in modern Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany). Braunsberg is a 346 m high limestone massif in Hainburg an der Donau, Austria, on the shore of the Danube. Early History of the Brownsburger familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Brownsburger research. Another 69 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Brownsburger History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Brownsburger Spelling VariationsIn the medieval era, many different cultural groups lived in the German states. There are thus many regional variations of German surnames from that era. Westphalians spoke Low German, which is similar to modern Dutch. Many German names carry suffixes that identify where they came from. Others have phrases attached that identify something about the original bearer. Other variations in German names resulted from the fact that medieval scribes worked without the aid of any spelling rules. The spelling variations of the name Brownsburger include Braunsberg, Braunsbergg, Braunsberge, Braunsbergh, Braunsburg, Braunsburgg, Braunsburgh, Brownsberg, Brownsbergg, Brownsberge, Brownsburg, Brownsburgg, Brownsburger, Brownsberger, Brownsburgger, Brownsbergger, Brawnsberg, Brawnsbergg, Brawnsberger, Brawnsburg and many more. Early Notables of the Brownsburger familyMore information is included under the topic Early Brownsburger Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Brownsburger familyPrussia played an extremely influential role in shaping modern German history. It remained a part of Germany until after the Second World War. Prussia was divided among the Soviet Union, Poland, East Germany and West Germany. Many Prussians became residents of these new countries after the War, and many migrated to other parts of Germany or Europe, as well as to North America. In the United States, the majority of settlers landed in Philadelphia, and moved on to Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. Many German settlers also migrated to Canada, particularly to Ontario and the Prairies. Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name Brownsburger were Johann Georg Braunsberg, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1750 and other individuals who arrived on the eastern seaboard of the United States in the 18th and 19th centuries..
- Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
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