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Brian History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Brian History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
France
Ireland-Alt
Ireland

The name Brian is of Norman origin, derived from the personal name Brian which was popular in France and Norman England before it came to Ireland. It has sometimes been used as a synonym for O'Brien, though it is of different origin.

Brian (926-1014), was King of Ireland, known in Irish writings as Brian Boroimhe, Boroma most commonly in earlier books as Brian Mac Cennedigh (Book of Leinster), and in English writings as Bryan Mac Kennedy and Brian Boru, He was a native of the northern part of Munster, and was of the royal descent of Thomond, of the family known as Dal Cais. Brian, who was born in 926, was the youngest of three sons. 1

Early Origins of the Brian family

The surname Brian was first found in County Kilkenny (Irish: Cill Chainnigh), the former Kingdom of Osraige (Ossory), located in Southeastern Ireland in the province of Leinster, where bearers of the surname settled in the 13th century.

Early History of the Brian family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Brian research. More information is included under the topic Early Brian History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Brian Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Bryan, Brian, OBryan, McBryan, O'Bryant and others.

Early Notables of the Brian family

Another 29 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Brian Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Brian Ranking

In the United States, the name Brian is the 6,239^th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 2

Brian migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Brian Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

William Brian, who was aboard the ship "Sea Venture" who wrecked in Bermudas in 1609, they managed to build a new ship to continue to Jamestown in 1610. 3
Robert Brian, aged 27, who landed in Virginia in 1635 3
Walter Brian, who arrived in Maryland in 1655 3
Margaret Brian, who landed in Maryland in 1665 3

Brian Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Darby Brian, who arrived in Virginia in 1706 3
Alain Brian, aged 22, who arrived in Louisiana in 1719 3
Timothy Brian, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1746 3
Archibald Brian, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1772 3
Archd Brian, aged 24, who arrived in Virginia in 1773 3

Brian Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Michael Brian, aged 32, who arrived in New York in 1812 3
John Brian, who landed in Tippecanoe County, Ind in 1843 3
Edmund Brian, who arrived in Maryland in 1847 3
James Brian, who arrived in Mississippi in 1847 3
Catherine Brian, aged 22, who landed in New York in 1854 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Brian migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Brian Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

John Brian, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1827
Eleanor Brian, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1827

Brian migration to Australia +

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

Brian Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Miss Caroline Brian who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Edward" on 23rd April 1834, arriving in Tasmania, (Van Diemen's Land) 4
Mr. Patrick Brian, (Duncan, Campbell), (b. 1807), aged 28, Scottish solider born in Perth, Scotland who was convicted in Galway, Ireland for life for stealing, transported aboard the "Blackwell" on 29th September 1835, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 5
John Brian, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Hooghly" in 1846 6
Miss Sarah Brian who was convicted in Manchester, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Cadet" on 4th September 1847, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 7
Judy Brian, aged 16, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Elgin" 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Brian (post 1700) +

Frank Sands Brian (1923-2017), American professional basketball player
Walter Leslie Brian (1918-2004), nicknamed "Salty Brine", an American well-known broadcaster in Rhode Island
Morgan Paige Brian (b. 1993), American soccer player for the Houston Dash
Mary Brian (1906-2002), born Louise Byrdie Dantzler, an American actress and movie star, nicknamed "The Sweetest Girl in Pictures," awarded a Star on the Walk of Fame
Donald Brian (1877-1948), Newfoundland actor, Broadway dancer and singer who taught Frank Sinatra to dance and entertained American troops in England with Bob Hope
Denis Brian (b. 1923), Welsh journalist and author, best known for his 1996 biography Einstein: a life
Havergal Brian (1876-1972), born William Brian, an English composer and writer
Prime Minister Martin Brian Mulroney PC, CC, GOQ, (1939-2024), Canadian politician and businessman, 18th Prime Minister of Canada from 1984-1993, Leader of the Opposition (1983-1984), Member of Parliament for Central Nova (1983-1984)
Merrick Brian Garland (b. 1952), American lawyer, jurist, 86th United States Attorney General
Peter Brian Gabriel (b. 1950), British singer, musician, and songwriter, original lead singer of the progressive rock band Genesis, perhaps best known for his solo "Solsbury Hill," recipient of numerous awards including six Grammy Awards, thirteen MTV Video Music Awards, the first Pioneer Award at the BT Digital Music Awards, the Q magazine Lifetime Achievement, the Ivor Novello Award for Lifetime Achievement, and the Polar Music Prize and the Man of Peace award from the Nobel Peace Prize laureates in 2006, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Genesis in 2010

Citations +

Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th January 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/edward
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/blackwell
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) HOOGHLY 1846. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1846Hooghly.htm
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/cadet/
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) ELGIN 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Elgin.htm