Brisland History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

The Irish surname Brisland is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic patronymic name Ó Breisláin, or "descendant of Breisleán."

Early Origins of the Brisland family

The surname Brisland was first found in Donegal (Irish: Dún na nGall), northwest Ireland in the province of Ulster, sometimes referred to as County Tyrconnel where the O'Breislein Sept, branch of the Cenél Enda held the district of Fanad, located in the Barony of Kilmacrenan. They were one of the principal Brehon families of Ireland, mentioned frequently by the Four Masters. Brehons served as judges, ambassadors and negotiators, brokering deals and treaties, and settling disputes between the feudal lords of medieval Ireland. They were the interpreters of Brehon law.

Early History of the Brisland family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Brisland research. Another 97 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1260, 1306, 1307 and 1659 are included under the topic Early Brisland History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Brisland Spelling Variations

Within the archives researched, many different spelling variations of the surname Brisland were found. These included One reason for the many variations is that scribes and church officials often spelled an individual's name as it sounded. This imprecise method often led to many versions. O'Breislein, O'Berislein, O'Breslin, Breslin and others.

Early Notables of the Brisland family

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

Brisland migration to the United States +

During the 19th century thousands of impoverished Irish families made the long journey to British North America and the United States. These people were leaving a land that had become beset with poverty, lack of opportunity, and hunger. In North America, they hoped to find land, work, and political and religious freedoms. Although the majority of the immigrants that survived the long sea passage did make these discoveries, it was not without much perseverance and hard work: by the mid-19th century land suitable for agriculture was short supply, especially in British North America, in the east; the work available was generally low paying and physically taxing construction or factory work; and the English stereotypes concerning the Irish, although less frequent and vehement, were, nevertheless, present in the land of freedom, liberty, and equality for all men. The largest influx of Irish settlers occurred with Great Potato Famine during the late 1840s. Research into passenger and immigration lists has brought forth evidence of the early members of the Brisland family in North America:

Brisland Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

James Brisland, aged 26, who landed in New York, NY in 1804 1
Thomas Brisland, who arrived in Indiana in 1852 1

Brisland migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Brisland Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Ann Brisland, aged 20, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Perseus" in 1834
Henry Brisland, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Eleanor" in 1834
Daniel Brisland, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Eleanor" in 1834
John Brisland, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Eleanor" in 1834
Eleanor Brisland, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Eleanor" in 1834
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

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)