Brown Family
THE
Ancient History
of the Distinguished Surname
**** BROWN ****
The chronicles of England, though sometimes shrouded by the mists of time, reveal the early records of the name Brown as a Norman surname which ranks as one of the oldest. The history of the name is interwoven into the colourful fabric as an intrinsic part of the history of Britain.
Careful research by professional analysts using such manuscripts as the Domesday Book (compiled in 1086 by William the Conqueror), the Ragman Rolls, the Wace poem, the Honour Roll of the Battel Abbey, the Curia Regis, Pipe Rolls, the Falaise Roll, tax records, baptismals, family genealogies, and local parish and church records, shows the records of the name Brown was found in Cumberland where they were seated from very early times and were granted lands by Duke William of Normandy, their liege Lord, for their distinguished assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1966 A.D.
Many alternate spoellings of the name were found. They were typically linked to a common root, usually one of the Norman nobles at the Battle of Hastings. Your name, Brown, occurred in many references, and from time to time, the surname included the spelling of Brown, Broun, Brun, and many more.Scribes recorded and spelled the name as it sounded.It was not unlikely that a person would be born with one spelling, married with another, and buried with a headstone which showed another. All three spellings related to the same person, Sometimes preferences for different spelling variations either came from a division of the family, or, had religious reasons, or sometimes patriotic reasons.
The family name Brown is believed to be descended originally from the Norman race. They were commonly believed to be of French origin but were, more accurately, of Viking origin. The Vikings landed in the Orkneys and Northern Scotland about the year 870 A.D. , under their Chief, Stirgud the Stout. Later, under their , Thorfin Rollo, they inveded France about 940 A.D. The French King, Charles the Simple, after Rollo laid siege to Paris, finally conceded defeat and granted northern France to Rollo. Rollo became the first Duke of Normandy, the territory of the North Men. Duke William who invaded and defeated England in 1066, was descended from the first Duke Rollo of Normandy.
Duke William took a census of most of Englang in 1086, are recorded it in the Domesday Book. A family name capable of being traced back to this document, or to Hastings, was a signal honour for most families during the middle ages, and even to this day.
The surname Brown emerged as a notable English family name in the county of Cumberland. thet were descended from Le Brun in Normandy and granted many estates in Cumberland soon after the Conquest. This prolofic name moved north into Scotland and by the 13th century had established many branches in Berwick, Edinburgh, Lanark, and Linlithgow. With the joining of the English and Scottish crowns under King James 1 of England many branches of Brown notibity moved into various locations in the British Isles, establishing important branches at Deptford, Edinburgh, Arncliffe Hall, Brent Eleigh, Tostock Place, Woodthorpe Hall, Jarrod Hall, and many others. Barons, knights, abound. John Brown "of Ossawatomie"(1800-59), hero of Harpers Ferry, who in inciting negro slaves to rebellion in 1859 struck the note of alarm which resulted in the Civil War, he was hanged,but regarded as a martyr by the Abolitionists. Of note amongst the family at this time was Anthony Brown, Lord Mayor of London.
The surname Brown contributed much to local politics and in the affairs of England or Scotland. During the 12th century many of these Norman famlies woved north to Scotland, following Earl David of Huntingdon who would become King of Scotland. Later, in the 16th, 17, and 18th canturies, England and Scotland were ravaged by religious and political conflict.The Monarchy, the Church and Parliment fought for supremacy. The unrest caused many to think of distant lands.
Settlers in Ireland became known as the "Adventurers for land in Ireland". They "undertook" to keep the Protestant faith, and were granted lands previosly owned by the Irish.In Ireland this distingguished family settled in Londonderry and Ballymena.
The news of attractions of the New World spread like wildfire. Many sailed abroard the fleet of dailing ships known as the "White Sails".
In North America, migrants which could be considered kinsmen of the family name Brown, or variable spellings of that same family name included Alexander, Andrew, Anthony, Archibald, Catherine, Charles, Christopher, David, Edward, Elizabeth, Frencis, Frederick, Goerge, Henry, Hugh, James, and so on. All of whom arrived in Pennsylvania in the early 19th century. In Newfoundland, Andrew Brown settled in Toads cove (now Tors Cove) in 1676; John Brown settled in Petty Harbour in 1677; John Brown settled there in 1704; they also settled in Placentia, Harbour Main, Quidi Vidi; Fogo, Twillingate, Great Belle Isle; Harbour Grace and many many more between 1704 and 1870. From the port of arrival many settlers joined the wagon trains westward. During the War of Independence some declared their loyalty to the Crown and moved northwards into Canada and became known as the United Empire Loyalists.
Meanwhile, the family name was prominent in the social scene. There were many notables of this name, from Newfoundland to Ireland in 16 hours 12 minutes; Sir Charles Brown; Admiral Brown; Judge Brown; Sir John Brown; Claude Brown; American writer ; Charles Brockden Brown (1771-1810) American novelist and editor.
In the process of researching this distinguished family name we also traced the most ancient grant of Coat of Arms from the branches which developed their own Arms.
The most ancient grant of a Coat of Arms found was:
Blue with three gold fleur de lis
The Crest was:
A lion holding in the paw a gold fleur de lis.
The ancient family motto for this distinguished name was:
Floreat Majestas
ktbx@ktbx.demon.co.uk