Show ContentsBresnahand History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancient Bresnahand surname is derived from the Irish Gaelic "ó Brosnacháin," which may be derived from the place name Brosna in Kerry. [1]

Early Origins of the Bresnahand family

The surname Bresnahand was first found in Kerry (Irish: Ciarraí) part of the former County Desmond (14th-17th centuries), located in Southwestern Ireland, in Munster province, where they held a family seat as Chiefs and kin to both the Dunns and the Dempseys. Irish history, after the Norman Conquest of England, was strongly influenced by the invasion of Strongbow in 1172, almost equal to the enormous Irish cultural impact on England Scotland, Wales and the whole of Europe before the Norman Conquest from the 1st to 7th centuries. Many Irish clanns, sept names were intermixed and family groupings became almost indistinguishable.

Early History of the Bresnahand family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bresnahand research. Another 78 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bresnahand History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bresnahand Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Brosnan, Brosnahan, O'Brosnan, Brosnochain, Bresnahan, Bresnan, Brosna, Brosnihan and many more.

Early Notables of the Bresnahand family (pre 1700)

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

Migration of the Bresnahand family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: John Bresnan, who arrived in New York in 1647; Daniel Brosnan, who arrived at Philadelphia in 1828; Alice Brosnan, who was on record in Connecticut in 1858.



  1. MacLysaght, Edward, Irish Families Their Names, Arms and Origins 4th Edition. Dublin: Irish Academic, 1982. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2364-7)


Houseofnames.com on Facebook