Show ContentsBrown History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Brown Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Brown

What does the name Brown mean?

In most instances, the Brown family name came to England with the Norman Conquest of England of 1066. Deriving from the Old French, Middle English "brun," it was originally a nickname for someone who may have had brown hair, brown eyes, or perhaps even dressed habitually in brown. It is also possible that some instances of the name in Britain derived from a short form of an Old English personal name of Germanic roots, such as Brunwine or Brungar.

Early Origins of the Brown family

The surname Brown was first found in Cumberland, where "a family of this name were the possessors of several estates in Cumberland shortly after the Norman Conquest. Gamel, son of Brun came into possession of Bothel (now Boode) in the time of Henry I (1100-1135). Gilchrist, son of Bruun witnessed a charter by R. son of Dunegal to the Hospital of S. Peter of York c. 1136, Patric Brun witnessed resignation of land of Weremundebi (Warmanbie in Annandale) and Anant between 1194-1214. 1

"Gualterus le Brun, Baron of Colstoun, appears, on the parchment roll of the See of Glasgow, as one of the witnesses to the inquisition made by Prince David, in 1116, the oldest Scottish document extant." 2

Ricardus Brun witnessed a charter by Ebrardus de Penkathleht (Pencaitland near Edinburgh) to the church of S. Cuthbert of Durham in the reign of William the Lion. Several individuals of this name are recorded in the thirteenth century, but what connection, if any, existed between them is not known. Robert Brune witnessed a gift of land to the Hospital of Soltre c. 1250-1266. Richard Broun, witness in Irvine, 1260, and another Richard Brun was an assizer in Elgin, of which place he was an inhabitant in 1261. William Brun, who witnessed a charter of Donald, earl of Mar, of the lands of Dorlaw or Dronlaw c. 1279-1294 is probably William Brun, witness in Dundee, 1281." 1

Early History of the Brown family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Brown research. Another 272 words (19 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1331, 1332, 1395, 1405, 1426, 1627, 1630, 1685, 1688, 1771, 1800, 1810, 1859 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Brown History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Brown Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Brown, Broun, Brun and others.

Early Notables of the Brown family

  • John Brown (1627-1685), known as the Christian Carrier, he was a Protestant Covenanter from Priesthill, Ayrshire
  • Charles Brockden Brown (1771-1810), an American novelist and editor
  • John Brown "of Ossawatomie" (1800-59), hero of Harper's Ferry and martyr to the Abolitionists, who in inciting Negro slaves to rebellion in 1859 struck the note of alarm which resulted in the Civil Wa...

Brown World Ranking

the United States, the name Brown is the 5th most popular surname with an estimated 1,544,427 people with that name. 3 However, in Canada, the name Brown is ranked the 2nd most popular surname with an estimated 108,859 people with that name. 4 And in Quebec, Canada, the name Brown is the 350th popular surname. 5 Newfoundland, Canada ranks Brown as 8th with 1,140 people. 6 France ranks Brown as 1,837th with 3,343 people. 7 Australia ranks Brown as 4th with 105,078 people. 8 New Zealand ranks Brown as 4th with 8,365 people. 9 The United Kingdom ranks Brown as 3rd with 272,112 people. 10 South Africa ranks Brown as 189th with 34,381 people. 11

Migration of the Brown family to Ireland

Some of the Brown family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 60 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Brown migration to the United States +



Brown Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Abraham Brown, who arrived in Watertown, Massachusetts in 1630 13
  • Mr. John Brown, British settler, from London who sailed from Isle of Wight arriving in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship "Talbot" as part of the Winthrop Fleet 14
  • Mr. Samuel Brown, British settler, from London who sailed from Isle of Wight arriving in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship "Talbot" as part of the Winthrop Fleet 14
  • Edward Brown, who arrived in Salem, Massachusetts in 1635 13
  • Edmund Brown, who arrived in New England in 1637 13
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Brown Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Ellinor Brown, who arrived in Virginia in 1700 13
  • Duksell Brown, who landed in Virginia in 1701 13
  • Bridgett Brown, who landed in Virginia in 1713 13
  • Ellen Brown, who arrived in Virginia in 1714 13
  • Christ Brown, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1729 13
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Brown Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Godlip Brown, who landed in New York in 1801 13
  • Biddy Brown, aged 38, who landed in America in 1803 13
  • Barbara Brown, aged 18, who landed in New York, NY in 1804 13
  • Widow Brown, aged 60, who arrived in New York, NY in 1804 13
  • Easter Brown, aged 20, who landed in New York, NY in 1804 13
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Brown Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Mr. Richard Brown, (b. 1865), aged 35, Cornish quarryman travelling aboard the ship "Servia" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 12th September 1900 en route to Bangor, Pennsylvania, USA 15
  • Mr. William Brown, (b. 1897), aged 3, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "St Louis" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 8th September 1900 en route to New York, USA 15
  • Mr. David Brown, (b. 1867), aged 33, Cornish labourer travelling aboard the ship "St Louis" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 8th September 1900 en route to New York, USA 15
  • Miss Annie Brown, (b. 1896), aged 4, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "St Louis" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 8th September 1900 en route to New York, USA 15
  • Mr. Louis Brown, (b. 1895), aged 5, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "St Louis" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 8th September 1900 en route to New York, USA 15
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Brown migration to Canada +

Brown Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Geo Brown, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749
  • William Brown, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749
  • Danl Brown, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
  • David Brown, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
  • Francis Brown, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Brown Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • William Brown, aged 20, who arrived in Canada in 1811
  • James Brown, aged 63, Scottish mason who landed in Pictou, Nova Scotia in 1815-1816 13
  • William Brown, who arrived in Canada in 1820
  • Andrew Brown, who arrived in Canada in 1821
  • William Brown, aged 16, who arrived in Canada in 1823
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Brown Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
  • H Brown, who landed in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1907

Brown migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia included the First Fleet, Second Fleet and Third Fleet of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

First Fleet
  • Miss Kezia Brown, (1771 - 1854), aged 17, British convict convicted in Gloucestershire, England in 1788, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Neptune" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 12
  • Mr. James Brown, British settler convicted in Middlesex, England in 1788, sentenced to 7 years for theft, transported aboard the ship "Neptune, Scarborough or Surprize" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 13
  • Mr. John Brown, (1760 - 1835), aged 29, British settler convicted in Cambridgeshire, England in 1788, sentenced to 14 years for theft, transported aboard the ship "Surprize" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 13
  • Mr. John Brown, (b. 1764), aged 25, British settler convicted in London, England in 1788, sentenced to Life for theft, transported aboard the ship "Surprize" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 13
  • Miss Martha Brown, British settler convicted in Essex, England in 1788, sentenced to 7 years for theft, transported aboard the ship "Neptune, Scarborough or Surprize" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 13
Second Fleet
  • Mr. Charles Brown, British settler convicted in Warwickshire, England in 1789, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Admiral Barrington" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 13
  • Mr. George Brown, British settler convicted in Northumberland, England in 1789, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Third Fleet" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 13
  • Mr. John Brown, (1741 - 1821), aged 49, British settler convicted in Shrewsbury (Salop), England in 1787, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Matilda" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 13
  • Mr. John Brown, British settler convicted in Yorkshire, England in 1789, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Matilda" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 13
  • Mr. John Brown, British settler convicted in Kent, England in 1787, sentenced to 7 years for petty larceny, transported aboard the ship "Albermarle" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 13
Third Fleet
  • Mr. James Brown, (b. 1762), aged 25, English labourer convicted in Hertford, Hertfordshire on 2nd March 1785, sentenced for 7 years for stealing animals, transported aboard the ship "Alexander" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788 13
  • Mr. William French Brown, (b. 1757), aged 30, English settler convicted in Southwark, London on 10th January 1786, sentenced for 7 years for stealing food, transported aboard the ship "Alexander" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788 13
  • Mr. Richard Brown, (b. 1751), aged 36, English settler convicted in Abingdon, Oxfordshire on 15th July 1783, sentenced for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Alexander" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788 13
  • Mr. Thomas Brown, (b. 1764), aged 23, English settler convicted in London on 24th May 1784, sentenced for 7 years for theft, transported aboard the ship "Scarborough" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788 13
  • Mr. Thomas Brown, (b. 1762), aged 25, English settler convicted in Exeter, Devon on 10th September 1783, sentenced for 7 years for returning from transport, transported aboard the ship "Charlotte" leaving on 13th May 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 22nd January 1788 13
Following the First, Second and Third Fleets, other convicts and early settlers arriving in Australia include:

Brown Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century
Brown Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Brown, (b. 1778), aged 22, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life for breaking and entering, transported aboard the "Earl Cornwallis" in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1828 18
  • Mr. Joseph Brown, (John), British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life, transported aboard the "Earl Cornwallis" in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 18
  • Mr. John Brown, Irish convict who was convicted in Limerick, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 29th November 1801, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 19
  • Mr. Thomas Brown, Irish convict who was convicted in Limerick, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 29th November 1801, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, believed to have died on board 19
  • Mr. William Brown, Irish convict who was convicted in Ireland, Wexford for life, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 29th November 1801, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 19
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Brown migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Brown Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Brown, Australian settler travelling from Hobart, Tasmania, Australia aboard the ship "Bee" arriving in New Zealand in 1833 20
  • Alfred N Brown, who landed in Bay of Islands, New Zealand in 1836
  • Mr. Brown, Australian settler travelling from Sydney aboard the ship "Bee" arriving in New Zealand in 1838 20
  • Mr. Brown, Australian settler travelling from Sydney aboard the ship "Dublin Packet" arriving in Cloudy Bay, South Island, New Zealand in 1838 20
  • Samuel Brown, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Brown (post 1700) +

  • Millie Bobby Brown (b. 2004), British Primetime Emmy Award nominated actress and producer, known for playing Eleven in the Netflix science fiction series Stranger Things (2016-), and the Netflix mystery films Enola Holmes (2020 and 2022)
  • Irving Brown (1911-1989), American trade-unionist, member of the American Federation of Labor, co-founder of the American Institute for Free Labor Development in 1962, recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
  • John Brown "of Ossawatomie" (1800-1859), American hero of Harper's Ferry and martyr to the Abolitionists, who in inciting Negro slaves to rebellion in 1859 struck the note of alarm which resulted in the Civil War
  • Herbert Charles Brown (b. 1912), American chemist and Nobel Prize in Chemistry laureate for his work with organoboranes
  • Lester Raymond "Les" Brown (1912-2001), American jazz musician who led the big band Les Brown and His Band of Renown for nearly seven decades from 1938 to 2000, renowned for "Sentimental Journey" with Doris Day, and "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm", the Band of Renown performed with Bob Hope on radio, stage and television for almost fifty years and did 18 USO Tours
  • Gerald Michael Brown (1942-2025), American gaming regulator in New Jersey, became a lawyer for the gaming industry, and chief executive officer of Foxwoods Resort Casino
  • Elizabeth Brown Miller (1966-2025), American ice hockey player, won a gold medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics
  • Thomas William "Tom" Brown (1940-2025), American professional football and baseball player who won two Super Bowls with the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL)
  • Kathan Brown (1935-2025), American multiple award winning master printmaker, writer, lecturer, and entrepreneur who founded Crown Point Press, a fine art print shop specializing in etching in 1962
  • ... (Another 199 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Arrow Air Flight 1285
  • Mr. Johnny L Brown (1965-1985), American Private 1st Class from Sumter, South Carolina, USA who died in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash 21
  • Solomon Brown (b. 1815), British passenger aboard the ship "Cataraqui" when sailing for Melbourne, Australia she struck rocks of Kings Island and sank on 4th April 1845, he survived
  • Hannah Brown (b. 1805), British passenger who died aboard the ship "Cataraqui" when sailing for Melbourne, Australia she struck rocks of Kings Island and sank on 4th April 1845
  • Ellen Brown (b. 1831), British passenger who died aboard the ship "Cataraqui" when sailing for Melbourne, Australia she struck rocks of Kings Island and sank on 4th April 1845
  • Phoebe Brown (b. 1837), British passenger who died aboard the ship "Cataraqui" when sailing for Melbourne, Australia she struck rocks of Kings Island and sank on 4th April 1845
  • ... (Another 117 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Suggested Readings for the name Brown +

  • Burgess, Mullins, Browning, Brown, and Allied Families by James A. Burgess.
  • Ancestors and Descendants of Henry Marion Murphy and Anna Jane Brown by Lera Murphy Johnson.
  • Brown and Sayre Ancestry; Three Centuries in Northern New Jersey by Mortimer Freeman Sayre.
  • Brown (Browne) and the Descendants in Carolina Today by Joseph Parsons Brown.
  1. 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)
  2. Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
  3. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  4. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  5. "The first 1,000 family names by rank, Quebec (in French only)" Institut de la statistique du Quebec, https://statistique.quebec.ca/en/document/family-names-in-quebec/tableau/the-first-1000-family-names-by-rank-quebec
  6. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  7. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  8. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  9. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  10. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  11. "Most Common Last Names in South Africa." Forebears, https://forebears.io/south-africa/surnames
  12. Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships
  13. 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)
  14. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's. Retrieved January 6th 2023 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  15. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
  16. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barwell
  17. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Britannia
  18. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-cornwallis
  19. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
  20. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  21. American War Memorials - Flight 1285. (Retrieved 2016, August 24) . Retrieved from http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/monument_details.php?SiteID=317&MemID=550

Houseofnames.com on Facebook