Show ContentsBrownlow History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Brownlow

What does the name Brownlow mean?

A family of Strathclyde-Briton were the first to use the name Brownlow. They lived in either of two settlements called Brownlee in the counties of Ayrshire and Lanarkshire.

Early Origins of the Brownlow family

The surname Brownlow 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 Brownlow family

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

Brownlow Spelling Variations

In the era before dictionaries, there were no rules governing the spelling or translation of names or any other words. Consequently, there are an enormous number of spelling variations in Medieval Scottish names. Brownlow has appeared as Brownlee, Brownlea, Brownlie, Brownlees, Brownley, Brownlow, Brownless, Brownlee, Brunlee, Brunlees, Brownleis, Brounley and many more.

Early Notables of the Brownlow 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

Brownlow Ranking

the United States, the name Brownlow is the 11,587th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 3

Migration of the Brownlow family to Ireland

Some of the Brownlow 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.

Brownlow migration to Australia +

Brownlow Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • James Brownlow, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Anglia" in 1851 4
  • Catherine Brownlow, aged 25, a farm servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Admiral Boxer"
  • John Henry Brownlow, aged 22, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship "Nabob"
  • John Brownlow, aged 20, a farm labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1857 aboard the ship "Carnatic"
  • Bridget Brownlow, aged 16, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1857 aboard the ship "Carnatic"

Brownlow 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:

Brownlow Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mrs. Mary Brownlow, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Harkaway" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 2nd June 1857 5
  • Miss Florence Brownlow, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Harkaway" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 2nd June 1857 5
  • Charlotte Brownlow, aged 20, a servant, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Rakaia" in 1878
  • Mr. Brownlow, South African settler travelling from London via Cape ports aboard the ship "Pembroke Castle" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 5th November 1889 6

Contemporary Notables of the name Brownlow (post 1700) +

  • William Gannaway "Parson" Brownlow (1805-1877), American journalist, clergyman and politician,17th Governor of Tennessee (1865-1869)
  • Walter P. Brownlow (1851-1910), American politician, 1Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Tennessee (1897-1910)
  • Louis Brownlow (1879-1963), American political scientist and consultant on public administration, chairman of the Brownlow Committee, 12th President of the Board of Commissioners of Washington, D.C. (1917-1920)
  • John Bell Brownlow (1839-1922), American military officer, newspaper editor, government administrator, and real estate developer, son of Parson Brownlow
  • James P. Brownlow (1842-1879), American military officer and railway superintendent, son of East Tennessee preacher and politician Parson Brownlow
  • David Brownlow, American Academy Award nominated and Emmy Award winning sound engineer
  • Louis Brownlow (1879-1963), American author, political scientist, and consultant in the area of public administration
  • Kevin Brownlow (b. 1938), British Academy Honorary Award winning filmmaker and film historian
  • Charles "Chas" Brownlow (1861-1924), Australian rules football administrator, eponym of the Brownlow Medal
  • ... (Another 5 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
  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)
  3. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  4. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) ANGLIA 1851. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851Anglia.gif
  5. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  6. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html

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