| ![Show Contents]() Brownlees History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Etymology of BrownleesWhat does the name Brownlees mean? In ancient Scotland, the first people to use Brownlees as a surname were the Strathclyde-Britons. It was a name someone who lived in either of two settlements called Brownlee in the counties of Ayrshire and Lanarkshire. Early Origins of the Brownlees familyThe surname Brownlees was first found in Scotland where "Wedow" Brounlees was tenant on lands under Newbotle Abbey in 1563. Later, "Gavin Brwnelie was heir to James Brwnelie in Kinpuntmyln, 1608 and Issobell Brounleis was tenant on lands of Kelso Abbey in 1567. Janet Brownlee or Brownlees is recorded in Ersiltoune, 1653, John Brounllyes in Chappell, 1659, and James Brounleyis there in 1661. Nathaniel Brounlie in Mauldslie, 1685, and John Brounlie in Toun of Belsraine, parish of Carluke, 1624, and five more are recorded in Lanark Commissariot Record. " 1 In England, Robert de Browlegh was listed in the Assize Rolls for Staffordshire in 1310 and later, Cuthbert Brownles was a Freeman of York in 1485. This branch is from Brownlee, in Scotland, meaning "'dweller at the brown clearing" 2 Early History of the Brownlees familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Brownlees research. Another 129 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1553, 1560, 1567, 1583, 1591, 1606, 1637, 1638, 1661, 1683, 1739, 1886 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Brownlees History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Brownlees Spelling VariationsThe origin of rules governing the spelling of names and even words is a very recent innovation. Before that, words and names were spelled according to sound, and, therefore, often appeared under several different spelling variations in a single document. Brownlees has been spelled Brownlee, Brownlea, Brownlie, Brownlees, Brownley, Brownlow, Brownless, Brownlee, Brunlee, Brunlees, Brownleis, Brounley and many more. Early Notables of the Brownlees familyRichard Brownlow (1553-1638), Chief Prothonotary of the Ccourt of Common Pleas, the son of John Brownlow of High Holborn, by a daughter of Sir John Zouch of Stoughton Grange, Leicestershire. "He was born 2 April 1553, and baptised 12 April at St. Andrew's, Holborn. In 1583 he was entered at the Inner Temple, and was treasurer of that society in 1606. On 9 Oct. 1591 he was made Chief Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas, which office he continued to hold until his death, deriving from it an annual profit of 6,000l., with which he purchased the reversion of the...
Another 121 words (9 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Brownlees Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Brownlees family to IrelandSome of the Brownlees family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 74 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Brownlees familyThe persecution faced in their homeland left many Scots with little to do but sail for the colonies of North America. There they found land, freedom, opportunity, and nations in the making. They fought for their freedom in the American War of Independence, or traveled north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. In both cases, they made enormous contributions to the formation of those great nations. Among them: Rich Brownley who settled in Barbados in 1635; Luke Brownlie settled in Virginia in 1639; Alice, Ann, George, James, Jane, John Brownlee settled in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina in 1770.
- 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)
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
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