Bryer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
France
Scotland
England

Early Origins of the Bryer family

The surname Bryer was first found in Dumfriesshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Dhùn Phris), a Southern area, bordering on England that today forms part of the Dumfries and Galloway Council Area. "Of all the families springing from Dumfries the MacBrairs have the longest and most honourable connection, having been virtually hereditary provosts of the burgh for nigh 150 years." 1

"The name of M'Brair," says Sir Herbert Maxwell, "contains in itself a reproach to a celibate order -Mac brathair (braher) the friar's son." 1 Another source claims the name was from the Lowland Scottish word brae, meaning 'hill'.

Other early record show: John de Byres, a monk in Neubotle, Midlothian, in 1309; and Thome de Byris owned a tenement in Edinburgh in 1392.

Early History of the Bryer family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bryer research. Another 330 words (24 lines of text) covering the years 1384, 1444, 1469, 1473, 1481, 1491, 1494, 1499, 1500, 1502, 1503, 1504, 1506, 1510, 1533, 1534, 1548, 1557, 1573, 1579, 1590, 1593, 1630, 1639, 1653, 1667 and 1684 are included under the topic Early Bryer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bryer Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: MacBriar, McBriar, MacBrair, McBrair, MacBraire, McBraire, MacBriare, McBriare, Briar, Brier, Brire, Briars, Briers, Brires, Braires, Brares, Braire, Brair, MacBrare, McBrare, Brare, MacBrar, McBrar, Brar, MacBrayr, McBrayr, MacBrayre, McBrayre, McBryar, MacBryar, MacBray, McBray, MacBrire, McBrire, MacBrier and many more.

Early Notables of the Bryer family

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

Bryer Ranking

In the United States, the name Bryer is the 16,609^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 2

Bryer migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Bryer Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

George Bryer, who arrived in Virginia in 1650 3
Rob Bryer, who arrived in Virginia in 1656 3
Richard Bryer, who landed in Newbury, Massachusetts in 1665 3
Ann Bryer, who landed in Maryland in 1678 3

Bryer Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Jacob Bryer, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1740 3
Godfrey Bryer, who landed in Frederick County, Maryland in 1794 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Bryer (post 1700) +

Paul Donald Bryer (1958-2023), Archdeacon of Cornwall in the Church of England from 2019 - 2023
Denise Bryer (1928-2021), English actress, known for her voice roles on television and radio, best remembered for her work on the Gerry Anderson series, Terrahawks
Henry Bryer (d. 1799), English engraver, a pupil of William Wynne Ryland, in partnership with whom he for some years carried on an extensive printselling business in Cornhill 4
Tania Bryer (b. 1962), British television personality
Lionel Bryer (1928-2006), South African-British youth arts promoter, co-founder of the Aberdeen International Youth Festival

Citations +

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)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 5 Feb. 2019