Show ContentsBrownlo History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Brownlo

What does the name Brownlo mean?

Scottish history reveals Brownlo was first used as a surname by the Strathclyde-Briton people. It was a name for someone who lived in either of two settlements called Brownlee in the counties of Ayrshire and Lanarkshire.

Early Origins of the Brownlo family

The surname Brownlo 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 Brownlo family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Brownlo 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 Brownlo History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Brownlo Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that rules have developed and the process of spelling according to sound has been abandoned. Scottish names from before that time tend to appear under many different spelling variations. Brownlo has been spelled Brownlee, Brownlea, Brownlie, Brownlees, Brownley, Brownlow, Brownless, Brownlee, Brunlee, Brunlees, Brownleis, Brounley and many more.

Early Notables of the Brownlo family

  • Richard 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 b...
  • Sir William Brownlow (1591-1661), was a High Sheriff of Armagh and William Brownlow (1683-1739) was an Anglo-Irish politician, eldest son of Arthur Chamberlain Brownlow

Migration of the Brownlo family to Ireland

Some of the Brownlo 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 Brownlo family

Unwelcome in their beloved homeland, many Scots sailed for the colonies of North America. There, they found land and freedom, and even the opportunity to make a new nation in the American War of Independence. These Scottish settlers played essential roles in the founding of the United States, and the shaping of contemporary North America. 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.
  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. 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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