Show ContentsBrewen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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  • England
Brewen Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Brewen

What does the name Brewen mean?

The Anglo-Saxon name Brewen comes from the baptismal name Brun. "The name suggests connexion with Dutch bruin ‘bear’, but it may simply show attempts to indicate the pronunciation of French brun ‘brown’." 1 Two other sources agree with this assumptive origin. 2 3 Another source presumes the name was originally Bregwin, pronounced Brewin.

Early Origins of the Brewen family

The surname Brewen was first found in Norfolk, where William Bruin was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1209. Later, Patrick le Bruin was found in the Assize Rolls for Northumberland in 1269 and William Bruyn was recorded in Wiltshire in 1330. Maurice Bruyn was listed in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1425. 1

A branch of the family hailed from Bruen Stapleford in Cheshire where there "had been a succession from the middle of the thirteenth century." 4

Early History of the Brewen family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Brewen research. Another 160 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1538, 1560, 1570, 1577, 1616, 1625, 1656, 1682, 1695 and 1833 are included under the topic Early Brewen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Brewen Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Brewen has appeared include Brewin, Brewne, Brewn, Bruin, Brunhus and others.

Early Notables of the Brewen family

Abraham de Bruyn (born 1538), a Flemish engraver, established himself at Cologne about the year 1577, ranked among the Little Masters; Nicolaes de Bruyn (1570-1656), the son of Abraham De Bruyn. Daniel Brevint or Brevin (1616-1695), born in Saint John, Jersey, Channel Islands, became Dean of Lincoln from 1682 to 1695. His father was...
Another 53 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Brewen Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Brewen migration to Australia +

Brewen Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Frederick Brewen, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Anna Maria" in 1849 5
  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  4. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  5. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The ANNA MARIA 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849AnnaMaria.htm

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