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Did you know that in the 1881 UK census there were 197415 people with the Brown surname? In that year Brown was ranked number 4 for popularity in the UK.

The Origin of the Brown surname

The Brown name originated in English speaking countries and refers to the colour of the person's hair, complexion or attire.

"Originally Broun, and le Brun dark complexioned. The family have been free Barons of Colstoun in Haddingtonshire, since 1116. The family claim descent from the Royal family of France, and bear for their arms, gu., three fleur de lis or. "_{(The origin and signification of Scottish surnames. Clifford Stanley Sims, 1862)}

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"BROWN. A very common name in Scotland, of more than one origin. (1) Brun is a common personal name in Old English (Anglo-Saxon) charters, e. g. Brun, c. 970, Brun bydel ('beadle'), c. 1000 (Kemble, Codex Diplomatic, 981, 1353), etc. The name is from an old adjective meaning "brown, dark red,' Old English (Anglo-Saxon) and Old High German bran, Old Norse brunn. The adjective was also borrowed from Old High German into old French and is the source of the French surname Le Brun. A family of this name were the possessors of several estates in Cumberland shortly after the Norman Conquest. Camel, son of Brun came into possession of Bothel (now Bootle) in the time of Henry I (1100-1135). Gilchrist, son of Bruun witnessed a charter by R. son of Dunegal to the Hospital of S. Peter of York c. 1136 (cited in Bain, n, 421). Patric Brun witnessed resignation of nd of Weremundebi (Warmanbie in Annandale) and Anant between 1194-1214 ( (Annandale, i, p. 3; Bain, i, 606). Ricardus Brun witnessed a charter by Ebrardus de Penkathleht (Pencaitland near Edinburgh) to the church of S. Cuthbert of Durham in the reign of William the Lion (Raine, 163). Several individuals of this name are recorded in the thirteenth century, but what connection, if any, existed between them is not known. Robert Brune witnessed a gift of land to the Hospital of Soltre c. 1250-1266 (Satire, p. 82). Richard Broun, witness in Irvine, 1260 (Irvine, i, p. 5), and another Richard Brun was an assizer in Elgin, of which place he was an inhabitant in 1261. William Brun, who witnessed a charter of Donald, earl of Mar, of the lands of Dorlaw or Dronlaw c. 1279 91294 (SCM., n, p. 313) is probably William Brun, witness in Dundee, 1281 (HP., n, p. 223). Several of this name in the shires of Berwick, Edinburgh, Lanark, and Linlithgow rendered homage, 1296 (Bain, n). Joannes Broun who had a grant of the thanage of Fonnerteine (Fermartyn) from Robert i (RMS., i, App. n, 423) is probably the person who was sheriff of Aberdeen, 1331-1332 (ER., I, p. 24). William "dictus Brune del Borumore" (the Boroughmuir of Edinburgh) granted to John de Raynton a charter of the Ends of Kirclambirston c. 1332 (BNCH., xvi, p. 331), and Ricardus Bron de Otterstofi attested the marches of Kyrknes and Louchor, 1395 (RPSA., p. 5). Patrick Broun was burgess of Edinburgh, 1405, and John Brown, clerk and notary public there, 1426 (Egidii, p. 41, 47). Broun of Hartrie near Biggar is said to have been settled there from about the end of the fourteenth century, and Broun of Colstoun claim descent from and bear the arms of the ancient royal house of France three fleur- Scotland entered the French military service about the middle of the fifteenth century, and their names are recorded in the musterrolls as Brom, Bron, Brun, and le Brun ( (ForbesLeith, Scots men at arms in France). Members of a younger branch of Broun of Colstoun settled in Elsinore, Denmark, and became prominent merchants there. Many of the name Brown in Islay, says the late Hector Maclean, "came to the island from the low country (i. e. Lowlands) within the past century, and have no claim to be considered descendants of the Britheamh Ileach (the Islay Judge)" (Book of Islay, p. 19n); and the Browns of Tiree at the present day, says the kte Rev. J. Gregorson Campbell, are called Brunaich, evidently a word not of native origin, and likely an adaptation of English Brown (Waifs and strays of Celtic tradition, v. 5, p. 12). (2) From Gaelic Mac a'bhriuthainn, from britheamhain, the former Gaelic genitive of britheamh, "brehon, breive, judge.' Pat: M' aBriuin is one of the witnesses in the unique Gaelic charter of 1408 (Bk. Islay, p. 18). Donald Broune was rector of Lochow, 1539 ( (Poltattoch Writs, p. 184). Robert Abroun is recorded in Aberruthven, 1616 (Dunblane), and Niall M'Abrioune was servitor to the laird of Lochnell, 1658. The name of Diorbhorgail Nic a' Bhriuthainn, the royalist poetess and satirist of the Campbells of the beginning of the eighteenth century is Englished Dorothy Brown. Among the many islands on the west coast is one called Elan a Bhriu, 'the judge's isle.' (3) The name is also used as an English rendering of Gaelic M'ltte dhuinn, and possibly of earlier M'Mhaoil dhuinn (see MACILDUIN). Braun 1676, Bron 1446, Brouin 1546, Broun 1320, Broune 1502, Browne 1509, Browyn 1525, Brune 1333, Brwne 1505. "_{(The surnames of Scotland. George Fraser Black, 1866-1948)}

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