Brunhus History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsIt was among those Anglo-Saxon tribes that once ruled over Britain that the name Brunhus was formed. The name was derived from the baptismal name Brun. "The name suggests connexion with Dutch bruin ‘bear’, but it may simply show attempts to indicate the pronunciation of French brun ‘brown’." 1 Two other sources agree with this assumptive origin. 2 3 Another source presumes the name was originally Bregwin, pronounced Brewin. Early Origins of the Brunhus familyThe surname Brunhus was first found in Norfolk, where William Bruin was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1209. Later, Patrick le Bruin was found in the Assize Rolls for Northumberland in 1269 and William Bruyn was recorded in Wiltshire in 1330. Maurice Bruyn was listed in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1425. 1 A branch of the family hailed from Bruen Stapleford in Cheshire where there "had been a succession from the middle of the thirteenth century." 4 Early History of the Brunhus familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Brunhus research. Another 160 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1538, 1560, 1570, 1577, 1616, 1625, 1656, 1682, 1695 and 1833 are included under the topic Early Brunhus History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Brunhus Spelling VariationsUntil the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Brunhus include Brewin, Brewne, Brewn, Bruin, Brunhus and others. Early Notables of the Brunhus familyNotables of the family at this time include Abraham de Bruyn (born 1538), a Flemish engraver, established himself at Cologne about the year 1577, ranked among the Little Masters; Nicolaes de Bruyn (1570-1656), the son of Abraham De Bruyn.Daniel Brevint or Brevin (1616-1695), born in Saint John, Jersey, Channel Islands, became Dean of... Migration of the Brunhus familyThousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Brunhus were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: William and Thomas Brewin who landed in Philadelphia, Pa. in 1840; Obadiah Bruen landed in Massachusetts in 1640; Patrick Bruen landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1838.
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