Show ContentsBroé History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Broé can have three possible origins. It can be a Manx name, from MacVriew, or an Irish name, from Ó Brugha or Ó Brughadha. 1 Or the name could be of Norman descent, from the names de Berewa and de Bruth. Burrough and Burrowes are related to these Norman names, as their English derivatives meaning "dweller at a bower-house."

Early Origins of the Broé family

The surname Broé was first found in Queen's County and Kilkenny, where the Norman surnames de Berewa and de Burgh appear as early as 1190. In County Kildare, one Geoffrey Broy was outlawed as a robber in 1297.

Early History of the Broé family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Broé research. Another 42 words (3 lines of text) covering the years 1753 and 1841 are included under the topic Early Broé History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Broé Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Brew, Broe, Broy, Burrough, Burrowes and others.

Early Notables of the Broé family

Another 30 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Broé Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Broé migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Broé Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Mathew Broe, who was naturalized in Illinois in 1872

Contemporary Notables of the name Broé (post 1700) +

  • Tim Broe (b. 1977), American long-distance runner at the 2004 Summer Olympics
  • Mrs. M. F. Broe, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from South Dakota, 1956 2
  • Georg Alfred Broe (1923-1998), Danish surrealist artist


The Broé 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: Audaces fortuna juvat
Motto Translation: Fortune favours the bold.


  1. MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)
  2. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, February 1) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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