| Brown | |
|---|---|
| Family name | |
| Meaning | 7th century Old English word "brun" or the Old Norse personal name "Bruni". |
| Region of origin | Scotland, England, United States, Germany |
| Related names | Braun |
| Footnotes: [1] | |
Brown is a surname of English and Scottish origin.[1] It also originates independently in the United States, as an Anglicization of several other surnames, such as the German Braun. Among the earliest recorded Browns is John Brown of Stamford, Lincolnshire, England in 1312.[2] Brown is one of the most common family names in English-speaking countries. It is the fourth most common surname in the United Kingdom.[3] According to the 1990 United States Census, Brown is the fifth most common family name in the United States at 0.621% of the sample population, essentially identical in frequency to Jones.[4]
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When the surname is of English or Scottish origins it is derived from a nickname concerning the complexion of an individual, or the colour of their hair. This nickname is derived from the Old English brun, brūn; Middle English brun, broun; or Old French brun.[5][6] The root word is also sometimes found in Old English and Old Norse bynames,[6] such as the Old Norse Brúnn; however these names were not common after the Norman Conquest (in 1066).[5] In some cases, the Old English personal name Brun may be a short form of one of several compound names, such as Brungar and Brunwine.[6] Early recordings of the English name/surname are: Brun, Brunus in 1066; Conan filius Brun in 1209; Richard Brun, le Brun le mercer in 1111–38; William le Brun in 1169; William Brun 1182–1205; Hugh Bron in 1274; Agnes Broun in 1296; and John le Browne in 1318.[5]
The Scottish surnames are not completely confined to the origin listed above. The name can also be derived from the Gaelic Donn ("brown").[6][7] The Mac an Bhreithamhnaigh clan of Co. Donegal have anglicized as Brown or Browne since about 1800.[8]
In the United States, the surname has absorbed many other surnames with similar meanings.[6]
The German cognates are associated with the much more common Continental personal name Bruno, which was borne by the Dukes of Saxony, among others, from the Tenth century or before. It was also the name of several medieval German and Italian saints, including the founder of the Carthusian Order (1030–1101), who was born in Cologne.
Braun, Broun, Browne, Dunn, Van Bruaene