Brunson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Early Origins of the Brunson family
The surname Brunson was first found in East Lothian, at Brunton, "a village, in the parish of Creich, district of Cupar. This village, which is pleasantly situated, is inhabited chiefly by persons employed in agriculture, and in hand-loom weaving for the linen manufacturers of Cupar. " 1 2
One of the first records of the family was Walter of Burntoun who held part of Luffness in the reign of Robert III. 3 Further to the south in England, Adam de Brunton was listed in Shropshire, 20 Edward I (in the twentieth year's reign on Edward I.) 4
Robert de Brunton was found in Cheshire c. 1160-74 and later Edmund de Brunton was listed in the Feet of Fines for Suffolk in 1234. 5
East Brunton is a township, in the parish of Gosforth, union and W. division of Castle ward, S. division of Northumberland. Nearby we find High and Low Brunton and West Brunton. Collectively they date back to 1242 when they were known as Burneton and literally meant "farmstead by a stream," from the Old English "burna" + "tun. 6
Early History of the Brunson family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Brunson research. Another 123 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1000, 1140, 1200, 1585, 1844 and 1916 are included under the topic Early Brunson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Brunson Spelling Variations
The many spelling variations in Medieval Scottish names result from the fact that scribes in that era spelled words according to sound. Translation too, was an undeveloped science, and many names were altered into complete obscurity. Over the years Brunson has been spelled Brunton, Brunten, Bruntin and others.
Early Notables of the Brunson family
Notable amongst the family at this time was George Brunton, a writer in Edinburgh; Professor Alexander Brunton, a Professor of Oriental Languages at the University of Edinburgh; and David Brunton represented Lanarkshire in Scottish Parliament in 1585. Many years later Sir Thomas...
Another 41 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Brunson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Brunson Ranking
In the United States, the name Brunson is the 1,519th most popular surname with an estimated 19,896 people with that name. 7
Brunson migration to the United States +
To escape the uncertainties and discrimination faced in Scotland, many decided to head out for North America. Once they arrived, many Scots fought with relish in the American War of Independence; some went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. Many ancestors of these Scots have recovered their lost national heritage in the 20th century through Clan organizations and Scottish historical societies. Among the settlers to North America were:
Brunson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- R Brunson, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1850 8
- J. Brunson, who immigrated to the United States from Glasgow, in 1894
Brunson Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
- George M. Brunson, aged 30, who landed in America, in 1908
- Emilie Brunson, aged 60, who immigrated to America, in 1909
- Arthur Brunson, aged 27, who immigrated to the United States from Martham, England, in 1909
- Martin Brunson, aged 64, who settled in America, in 1909
- Senda Brunson, aged 41, who settled in America, in 1909
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Brunson migration to Canada +
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
Brunson Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
- Ensign Daniel Brunson U.E. (b. 1757) born in Kent, Litchfield County, Connecticut, USA who settled in Saint Mary's Parish, York County, New Brunswick c. 1783 he served as part of the Prince of Wales American Regiment married to Eleanor Northcot they had 6 children he relocated in 1799 to Quebec 9
- General Samuel Brunson U.E. who settled in Fredericksburgh, Cataraqui township, [Greater Napanee], Ontario c. 1783 9
- Mr. Samuel Brunson U.E. who settled in Fredericksburgh, Cataraqui township, [Greater Napanee], Ontario c. 1783 9
Contemporary Notables of the name Brunson (post 1700) +
- Doyle F. Brunson (1933-2023), American poker player who played professionally for over 50 years, a two-time World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event champion, a Poker Hall of Fame inductee
- Quinta Brunson (b. 1989), American Golden Globe Award winning, three-time Primetime Emmy Award nominated writer, producer, actress, and comedian, known for her self-produced Instagram series Girl Who Has Never Been on a Nice Date
- Dorothy Edwards Brunson (1939-2011), American broadcaster
- Donald McCall "Mac" Brunson (b. 1957), American Baptist senior pastor of the First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida
- Tyrone Brunson (b. 1985), American middleweight boxer
- Rebekkah Brunson (b. 1981), American basketball player
- Todd Brunson (b. 1969), American poker player, son of Doyle Brunson
- Eric "Rick" Brunson (b. 1972), American retired NBA basketball player
- Cindy Brunson, American sports anchor
- Michael Brunson OBE (b. 1940), British political journalist
The Brunson 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: Fax mentis incendium gloriae
Motto Translation: The torch of glory inflames the mind.
Citations +
- Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
- Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
- Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
- Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X