Brun History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:

England

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

(224)

Soon after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, the name Brun was recognized on the island as a name for a person who has "brown hair" or "brown eyes," or "dresses habitually in brown." The name springs from similar roots in Old English, Old English, Old Norse, Old French, Old German. It is also possible that a given instance of the name is derived from a short form of an Old English personal name such as "Brunwine" or "Brungar."

Early Origins of the Brun family

The surname Brun was first found in Middlesex at Spitalfields, a parish, in the union of Whitechapel, Tower division of the hundred of Ossulstone. " The present name of the parish is derived from a priory of canons of the Augustine order, and an hospital for poor brethren, entitled 'the New Hospital of our Lady without Bishopsgate,' founded in the year 1197, by Walter Brune, citizen, and afterwards sheriff, of London, and Roesia his wife." 1

Early History of the Brun family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Brun research. Another 91 words (6 lines of text) covering the year 1390 is included under the topic Early Brun History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Brun Spelling Variations

Norman surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are largely due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England, as well as the official court languages of Latin and French, also had pronounced influences on the spelling of surnames. Since medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings. The name has been spelled Brune, Brun and others.

Early Notables of the Brun family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Sir William Brune, Chamberlain of England

Brun Ranking

In the United States, the name Brun is the 14,972^nd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 2 However, in France, the name Brun is ranked the 75^th most popular surname with an estimated 34,023 people with that name. 3

Brun migration to the United States +

Many English families emigrated to North American colonies in order to escape the political chaos in Britain. Unfortunately, many English families made the trip to the New World under extremely harsh conditions. Overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the stormy Atlantic. Despite these hardships, many of the families prospered and went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the United States and Canada. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Brun or a variant listed above:

Brun Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Jacob Brun, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1750 4
Etienne Brun, who arrived in America in 1752 4
Johan Peter Brun, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1753 4
Charles Brun, who arrived in South Carolina in 1755 4
Joseph Brun, who arrived in Connecticut in 1763 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Brun Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Greta Lisa Brun, aged 30, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1848 4
Henry Brun, who arrived in St Clair County, III in 1855 4
Daniel Brun, who landed in St Clair County, Illinois in 1859 4
Stephen Brun, who arrived in Iowa in 1883 4
Albert L Brun, who arrived in Hancock County, Miss in 1890 4

Brun Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Frank Brun, who landed in Arkansas in 1906 4

Brun migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Brun Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century

Sébastien Brun, son of Vincent and Renée, who married Huguette Bourg, daughter of Antoine and Antoinette, in Port-Royal, Quebec in 1678 5

Brun Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Jean Brun, son of Sébastien and Huguette, who married Anne Gautrot, daughter of Claude and Marie, in Port-Royal, Quebec on 2nd October 1708 5
Claude Brun, son of Sébastien and Huguette, who married Cécile Dugas, daughter of Claude and Françoise, in Port-Royal, Quebec on 27th November 1709 5
Pierre Brun, son of George and Marie, who married Marie-Madeleine Paré, daughter of Etienne and Agnès, in Sainte-Anne, Quebec on 6th February 1758 5

Contemporary Notables of the name Brun (post 1700) +

Leo Brun, American politician, Candidate for Mayor of Erlanger, Kentucky, 1973 6
Louis Bertrand Pierre Brun de Villeret, French Divisional General during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars from 1789 to 1815 7
Jean Antoine Brun, French Brigadier General during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars from 1789 to 1815 8
Jacques François Brun, French Brigadier General during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars from 1789 to 1815 9
Claude Louis Brun, French Brigadier General during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars from 1789 to 1815 10