Bruce History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  England 
  Scotland 
  Ireland 


The origins of the great Scottish surname Bruce actually lie off of the British Isles, as Bruce (or Brus) was a name carried to England in the great wave of migration from Normandy following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Bruce family originally lived in Normandy. The exact location of the place from which the family name is derived is under dispute, as one may expect of such a prominent name. The traditional interpretation is that the name is derived from the place-name Brix, in La Manche. It is argued, however, that there is no real evidence in support of this, and that the name is actually derived from the place-name Le Brus, in Calvados. 1

Early Origins of the Bruce family

The surname Bruce was first found in Yorkshire where Robert de Bruis was granted ninety-four manors. His son Robert de Bruys traveled north with Earl David of Huntingdon who later became King of Scotland and was granted large estates in Annandale, Scotland about 1150. Robert de Bruys had two sons: Robert and William. Robert, who became known as Robert the Bruce, would later claim the crown of Scotland and unite Scotland against the English. He defeated the English army soundly in the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. "Robert, 'the Bruce of Bannockburn,' was arguably the most illustrious monarch that ever swayed the Scottish sceptre." 2 As a result of this battle Scotland gained its independence from England as declared in the Treaty of Northampton (1328).

King Robert the Bruce died the next year at Cardross. Although he had instructed to one of his most trusted followers to bury his heart in the Holy Land, they were stopped in Spain and therefore returned to Scotland. His heart is buried at Melrose in Dunfermeline. The Earls of Elgin are descended from the Bruces of Clackmannan.

Early History of the Bruce family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bruce research. Another 128 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1274, 1318, 1329, 1548, 1550, 1599, 1611, 1625, 1629, 1663, 1669, 1679, 1681, 1686, 1688, 1700, 1735 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Bruce History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bruce Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Brywiss, Broyse, Bruce, Bruice, Bruise, Brus, Broys, Brywass, Brues, Brywess, Bruwes, Bruys, Bruze, Brwze, Brywes, Bruse, Braose, Bruis, Browse and many more.

Early Notables of the Bruce family

Notable among the family at this time was

Bruce World Ranking

In the United States, the name Bruce is the 541st most popular surname with an estimated 54,714 people with that name. 3 However, in Canada, the name Bruce is ranked the 474th most popular surname with an estimated 10,129 people with that name. 4 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Bruce is the 462nd popular surname with an estimated 102 people with that name. 5 Australia ranks Bruce as 347th with 10,456 people. 6 New Zealand ranks Bruce as 260th with 2,358 people. 7 The United Kingdom ranks Bruce as 324th with 19,008 people. 8

Migration of the Bruce family to Ireland

Some of the Bruce family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 50 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Bruce migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Bruce Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Bruce Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Bruce Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Bruce migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Bruce Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
Bruce Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Bruce migration to Australia +

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

Bruce Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century
Bruce Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Bruce 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:

Bruce Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Bruce (post 1700) +


The Bruce Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Fuimus
Motto Translation: We have been


Suggested Readings for the name Bruce +
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