Show ContentsO'Brick History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The original Gaelic versions of today's Irish names demonstrate a proud, ancient past. The original Gaelic form of the name O'Brick is Ó Bruic, from the word broc, which means badger. 1

Early Origins of the O'Brick family

The surname O'Brick was first found in Munster, where they held a family seat from very ancient times.

Early History of the O'Brick family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our O'Brick research. Another 157 words (11 lines of text) covering the year 1845 is included under the topic Early O'Brick History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

O'Brick Spelling Variations

Before widespread literacy came to Ireland, a name was often recorded under several different variations during the life of its bearer. Accordingly, numerous spelling variations were revealed in the search for the origin of the name O'Brick family name. Variations found include Brick, O'Brick, Bricke, Bricks, O'Bric, O'Bruik, Bruic and many more.

Early Notables of the O'Brick family

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

Migration of the O'Brick family

To escape the religious and political discrimination they experienced primarily at the hands of the English, thousands of Irish left their homeland in the 19th century. These migrants typically settled in communities throughout the East Coast of North America, but also joined the wagon trains moving out to the Midwest. Ironically, when the American War of Independence began, many Irish settlers took the side of England, and at the war's conclusion moved north to Canada. These United Empire Loyalists, were granted land along the St. Lawrence River and the Niagara Peninsula. Other Irish immigrants settled in Newfoundland, the Ottawa Valley, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The greatest influx of Irish immigrants, however, came to North America during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Thousands left Ireland at this time for North America and Australia. Many of those numbers, however, did not live through the long sea passage. These Irish settlers to North America were immediately put to work building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. Irish settlers made an inestimable contribution to the building of the New World. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the Irish name O'Brick or a variant listed above, including: Francis Brick who settled in Virginia in 1638; followed by Richard in Maryland in 1716; Edward Bricke settled in Virginia in 1623; they also settled in Pennsylvania and New York between 1773 and 1822..



  1. MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)


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