Show ContentsBryers History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Early Origins of the Bryers family

The surname Bryers 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 Bryers family

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

Bryers 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 Bryers family

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

Bryers migration to the United States +



Bryers Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Robert Bryers, who received a land patent in Virginia in 1714
  • Robert Bryers, who arrived in Virginia in 1714 2
  • Alexander Bryers, who arrived in Hampton, Virginia in 1728
Bryers Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • William Bryers, who was recorded as being a "British Alien" in New York in 1812
  • William Bryers, aged 30, who landed in New York in 1812 2
  • Philip Bryers, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1819
  • John Bryers, who arrived at the port of New York, NY in 1820
  • Robert Bryers, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1844 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bryers migration to Australia +

Bryers Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Bryers (post 1700) +

  • Duane Bryers (1911-2012), American artist and sculptor, perhaps best remembered for his plump pinup girl Hilda who appeared in calendars from the mid-1950s to 1980s
  • Ronald Frederick "Ron" Bryers (1919-1987), New Zealand rugby union player who played as a lock, but in his early career was in the backs and was a loose forward
  • Rhonda Bryers (1952-2007), New Zealand singer of Maori descent, born in Taumarunui, daughter of Ron Bryers
  • Paul Bryers (b. 1955), British BAFTA Award nominated film director, screenwriter, and author from Liverpool

The Bryers Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: In defiance
  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. 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)
  3. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th October 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au

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