This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Bryan.' The 'i' in Briant and Bryant is of course excrescent. Bryan was not an importation from Ireland, though its popularity as an English fontname is gone. It lingered in North Yorkshire, Westmoreland, and Furness till the close of the last century. 'The Bretons, who joined in the Norman Conquest, imported it to England' (Yonge). 'Brien was always a favourite in Brittany, and is very common as a surname with the peasantry there' (ibid.); v. Brine.

Wydo Bryan, Devon, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Alicia Bren, Cambridgeshire, ibid.

Acelot Bryvon, Cambridgeshire, ibid.

Thomas fil Brian, Yorkshire, ibid.

Alan fil. Brian, Yorkshire, ibid.

Brian de Brampton, Gloucestershire, ibid.

William Brian, Somerset, 1 Edward III: Kirby's Quest.

Colin Briant, London, 1269: Chronicles of the Mayors and Sheriffs of London, 1188-1274.

The intermediate stage between Brian and Briant, or Bryant, is found in the following entry: '1770. Married — John Briand and Barbara Backhouse': St. George's, Hanover Square.

Compare riband and ribbon, and Simmons and Simmonds.

A well-known Breton personal name of common occurrence in Breton records from the ninth century. It is a derivative from some full name compounded with bri 'dignity,' 'esteem' (Loth, p. 111). The name was introduced into Britain by Bretons who were among the Normans in the invasion of England. Linaldus filius Brian is mentioned in reign of William the Lion (Kelso, 13), and Bernard filius Brien granted a carucate in the vill of Hauden to the Abbey of Kelso early in the same reign (ibid., 214). He also appears as a charter witness in two charters to the Abbey (ibid., 226,274). Bern fil. Bryen also witnessed a grant to Arnbroath Abbey a. 1204 (RAA., I, 11), and Bryen may be the person who gave name to Bryanton near Inverkeillor. Brian fitz Alan rendered homage, 1296 (Bain, II, p. 196). Hugh Briane, burgess of Irvine, 1446 (Irvine, I, p. 137). John Brian, witness in Kyle, 1549 (Laing, 551), and Wille Bryand, 'hyrd,' is mentioned in 1527 (Prestwick, p. 52). John Bryan, heir of Andrew Bryan of Natherpark, his father, in 20s. lands of old extent of Natherpark, 1631 (Retours, Ayr, 273). William Bryane in Barquhy, heir of William Bryane, his father, in the merklands of Barquhay, 1637 (ibid., 319).

(Celtic) Strength, Virtue, Honour [from Breton and Welsh bri, with the diminutive suff.] Brian.—Annals of Ireland (10th cent.) Alan son Brian.—Hundred Rolls Brian de Brampton.— do.

Note by Dr.K. Meyer.—The a being short, an cannot be the diminutive suffix. It is not originally an Irish name, as Brythonic bri is bríg in Irish.

Now what is your name, sayd Gauayne? Sorlouse of the forest, said the eldar; and my name is, sayde the yonger, Bryan of the forest.—Morte d’ Arthur, III. vi.

Bryan is a Celtic personal name of great antiquity, implying originally, regulus, or chieftain.

(Gaelic.) The nobly descended, from Bri, dignity, honor, and an, diminutive of that to which it is annexed, belonging to it; Gaelic, gin or gen, begotten. Bri, Welsh, honor; briadd, honorary. Bailey derives Brian from Bruiant French, clamorous. Brian, in the Gaelic, also implies one who is fair—spoken, wordy, specious.

The same as Brian or Brien (which see).

Armorially identified with Bryan.

There was a family of Bryan in Husband's Bosworth, Leicestershire, last century (N.). Bryon was the usual form of the name in the 13th century; it then occurred in Cambridgeshire, Hunts, Bucks, and Norfolk (H. R.). In addition to Leicestershire, the Bryans now characterise Derbyshire, Shropshire, Gloucestershire, and Oxfordshire.

The surname O’Brian comes from the Irish Gaelic O’Briain, which means ‘son of Brian’. Brian is an ancient Celtic name of uncertain origin-but the most likely explanation is that it means ‘hill’.

The family clans of the O’Brians have great importance in Ireland. This is mainly due to their illustrious predecessor, the great Brian Born, King of Leinster and Munster, who fought the Vikings at the Battle of Clontarf.

The O’Brians were originally found mainly in Munster, but are now numerous all over Ireland, and indeed wherever Irishmen have immigrated. It is not unexpected to find the name O’Brian occurring frequently in London, Boston, or Sydney, but a little-known fact is that one of the great wines of France-Chateau Haut Brian-is in fact derived from the Irish O’Brian. (The O’Brians are not the only Irish to have distinguished themselves in this most French of preserves-witness the Hennessys of Cognac fame.) In some cases the Irish O’Brian is derived from O’Byrne (see Byrne), derived from O’Biorain. Also, during the centuries of British persecution in Ireland, many Irish O’Brians found it prudent to anglicise their name to Byran, Bryon or Bryom: compare the case of the Byrnes, above. In other cases it is a derivation of the first name Brian, which in this instance came to England with the Norman Conquest, being found in Latinised form in the Domesday Book, and giving rise to a number of variant English surnames such as Bryant and Byrne. Thus the Irish who switched from O’Brian to Bryan were really doing little more than completing a circle of variations.

The O’Briens have produced several Irish literary figures during this century. The novelist Edna O’Brien (b. 1932) is famed for her romantic portrayals of her childhood in remote County Clare. The humorist Flann O’Brien (1911— 66), whose real name was Brian O’Nolan, is best remembered for his hilarious novel At Swim-Two-Birds. Conor Cruise O’Brien (b. 1917) is a politician and journalist, as well as a biographer. He served as UN representative in the Congo during the Katanga crisis, and is now editor of the Observer.

Special effects genius Willis O’Brien gave birth to one of the screen’s greatest stars, King Kong. His brilliant stop-animation techniques reached a peak with the climactic battle with aircraft atop the Empire State Building-one of the most memorable scenes in cinema history. O’Brien’s handiwork was unsurpassed 43 years later, when Dino De Laurentiis, employing the latest technology, resurrected the giant ape. A laudable attempt, the second ape wasn’t a patch on the strangely charming original.

Place and major geographic feature names related to O’Brien are rare. The United Kingdom has none. Ireland has 2 towns-O’Briensbridge and O’Briens Town, while Canada has one town called simply O’Brien.

With about 35,000 namesakes O’Brien is Ireland’s 6th most popular surname. Thus about one out of every 135 residents of Ireland is an O’Brien. (The name is not common enough throughout England, Scotland and Wales to be counted separately.) Around the world O’Briens are most common in Canberra (one in 500 families), Melbourne (one in 785) and Brisbane (one in 887). The United States has an estimated total of just under 133,000 O’Briens-this makes it their 195th most popular surname.