This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Brun' (i.e. Brown), whence also Brownson, which see. In Domesday Brun appears as a personal name; compare German Bruno. Brown stands sixth among the surnames of England and Wales in point of numbers.

Gamel fil Brun, c. Henry I: Estates and Families of Cumberland, Cumberland.

Brun Ednth, Salop, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Matilda relicta Brun, Oxfordshire, ibid.

Brune relicta Johannis, Cambridgeshire, ibid.

Reginald III Brun. Rotuli Curiae Regis.

Willelmus Branson, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

(a) Nick, 'the brown,' a sobriquet of complexion, extremely common in all early registers.

Hugh le Brun, Suffolk, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Robert le Brun, Buckinghamshire, ibid.

Johanna la Brune, Oxfordshire, ibid.

Robert Broun, Somerset, 1 Edward III: Kiiby's Quest.

Willelmus Broune, et uxor, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

A very common name in Scotland, of more than one origin. (1) Brun is a common personal name in Old English charters, e.g. Brun, c. 970, Brun bydel ('beadle'), c. 1000 (Kemble, Codex Diplomaticus, 981, 1353), etc. The name is from an old adjective meaning 'brown dark red,' Old English and OHG. brun ON. brunn. The adjective was also borrowed from OHG. 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. Gamel, son of Brun came into possession of Bothel (now Boode) 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, II, p. 421), Patric Brun witnessed resignation of land 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 (Soltre, p. 32). Richard Broun, witness in Irvine, 1260 (Irvine, 1, 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—1294 (SCM., II, p. 313) is probably William Brun, witness in Dundee, 1281 (HP., II, p. 223). Several of this name in the shires of Berwick, Edinburgh, Lanark, and Linlithgow rendered homage, 1296 (Bain, II). Joannes Broun who had a grant of the thanage of Formerteine (Fermartyn) from Robert I (RMS. I, App. II, 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 lands of Kirclambirston c. 1332 (BNCH., XVI, p. 331), and Ricardus Bron de Otterston 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 Colstounclaim descent from and bear the arms of the ancient royal house of France three fieur-de-lys. Several individuals of this name from Scotland entered the French military service about the middle of the fifteenth century, and their names are recorded in the muster-rolls as Brom, Bron, Brun, and le Brun (Forbes-Leith, 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 late 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 b 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 (Poltalloch 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. Arnong 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'llle 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.

(Teutonic) Of Dark Reddish Complexion [Middle English br(o)un, Old Teutonic brún, brown] Brún was a fairly common name among the Anglo-Saxons.

Brun Edrith.—Hundred Rolls Robert le Brun.— do.

Note.—Brown(e is sometimes an Anglicization of the corresp. Ger. Braun and the French Brun, both from Old Teutonic Brún.

(English, Scottish) One with a dark complexion; descendant of Brun (brown).

One of the commonest of our family names, entering into the proverb, "Smith, Jones, Brown, and Robinson," to designate the ignubile vulgus. According to the Reg. General's XVI. Report, it stands sixth among the surnames of England and Wales in point of numbers, Williams, Taylor, and Davies intervening between Jones and this. Within a given period the Smiths were 33,557, and the Browns, 14,346. Its etymology is obvious, and like the Roman Fuseus, the French Le Brun, the Germ, and Dutch Bruin, the name refers to the dark complexion of its original bearers. It is difficult to discriminate between the Browns of Saxon and those of Norman descent, the old orthography being in both instances brun. Domesd. has several Bruns, apparently Saxon, but the Battel Abbey Roll has its Le Brun from Normandy, and subsequently we have Le Bruns in plenty, in England, Scotland, and (at Henry II.'s invasion) in Ireland, and ultimately in every rank of society. The Scottish form is Broun, a retained medievalism. A family of French refugees who settled in Norfolk after the Rev. of the Edict of Nantes, 1685, under the name of Brunet, now write themselves Browne.

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.

A name derived from complexion, color of hair or garments, consequently, a very common name.

Gilbert le Brun, and William, Normandy 1180-95, MRS. The name Brunus, or le Brun, frequently occurs in Normandy 1180- 98, MRS; but it was so frequent in England in the next century (Rotuli Hundredorum), that it probably included other fami­lies besides Norman, which it would be difficult to discriminate without extensive research. Some will be noticed under Browne.

Broun, Brune, or Bruin (English), Brown haired or com- plexioned; Burn or Brook; also Beorn or Bear. As the bear was king of the northern forests, his name was used principally by poets to signify chief noble, prince, king. (variant: de Bruin and Osborn.) Browneshaugh, Brook-meadow, (v.How.) Brown- shin, Brown shin. (variant: Beawshin.) Brownsover, Burn side, Brook bank.

From the Old Norse, Bruni; from the Danish, Braun, Bruhn, Brun, Bruun; in the Domesday Book, Brun; from the Frisian, Brûno; from the Dutch-Flemish, Bruin, Brun, Brune, Brown; from the German, Braun, Brun, Bruno; from the French, Brune, Bruné, Brunet; personal name Brun, Bruni, Brunus in Rotuli de Oblatis et Finibus, King John

Brown. —This name may be said to be universally distributed over England, but in very varying degrees in different counties. The north of England is especially remarkable for the number of Browns, and the name extends with equal frequency across the border, being found over a large part of Scotland, though most characteristic of the counties south of the Forth and the Clyde. In the rest of England it is more numerous in the eastern half than in the western half; but in the midland and inland counties its distribution is often capricious, and we may find it in very different proportions in adjacent counties, as in those of Stafford and Warwick, or in those of Oxford and Wilts. However, in the south - west of England and in the counties bordering South Wales we find as a general rule a diminished number of Browns. Wales is the death - ground of the name.

The name Brown is an old colour-name which is a form of nickname. Colour-names usually referred to the complexion or hair of the owner. There are several common names which began life as colour-names. Thus the name Reed, Reid (or Read) derives from the Old English word ‘read’ which means ‘red’. Similarly, Blake is thought in most cases to derive from the Old English word ‘blac’ which means ‘black’; and Blunt derives from the Middle English word ‘blund’, meaning ‘white’ or ‘fair-haired’.

The name Brown derives from the Old English word ‘brun’, meaning ‘brown’, though in some cases it may derive from a foreign version of the same word. The name Brown, in the form Brun, was certainly prevalent throughout the country before the Norman Conquest. However, a number of Bruns came across the Channel with William the Conqueror so, in some cases, the name Brown derives from the French root (the modern French word for brown is ‘brun’).

In the 1066 records of the Domesday Book we find reference to one Brun, and the Latinised form Brunus. These were personal names. However, by 1273 we find the surname form with Hugh le Brun in Suffolk and Robert le Brun in Buckinghamshire.

Naturally enough, such a simple and widespread name soon acquired many variations, several of which remain in use to this day. Brownett and Brunet are diminutives of the Old French Brun. Browning represents Old English Bruning, from the Old English Brun-in the same way as Dunning or Downing from Dunn, ‘the dark, swarthy or dun-coloured one’. Brownutt comes from a medieval nickname describing its owner as ‘brown as a nut’. Brownsmith comes from the Old English ‘brun’ and ‘smith’, meaning ‘a worker in copper or brass’. The names Brownson and Brunson simply mean ‘son of Brown’. And Brownjohn derives from an old medieval nickname meaning ‘John with the brown hair (or face)’.

For many years Brown has been Scotland’s third most numerous surname-after Smith and McDonald. However, some Scottish Browns may derive their name from a different source from their English counterparts. In England the name usually comes from the Old English, or sometimes from the Old French, but in Scotland and parts of the north of England, the name may sometimes come from the Old Scandinavian ‘Brunn’-a subtle distinction, but it spreads the origins of the Browns from Norway to Brittany.

Brown vs Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas (1954) was a landmark decision of the United States Supreme Court which marked the beginning of the end of segregation. The Court ruled that ‘separate but equal’ educational facilities for people of different races were inherently unequal, and thus violated the US Constitution’s 14th Amendment, which guarantees all citizens equal protection under the law.

The cross-the-chest military fashion called the Sam Browne belt is named after General Sir Samuel Jones Browne (1824— 1901) who made it popular.

Brownies have long been fairies in Scotland and Eire, while around the English-speaking world they are the descriptive term for the youngest group of Girl Guides. Their name derives from their uniform.

Browns have been exceptionally inventive on both sides of the Atlantic. Inventions include all sorts of precision instruments (Joseph Rogers Brown-USA, 1810—76), armour plate (Sir John Brown-UK, 1816—96), hoisting and conveying machines (Alexander Ephraim Brown-USA, 1852—1911), the Browning submachine gun and numerous other firearms (John Moses Brown-USA, 1855—1926), and the gyroscopic compass and aeroplane speed indicator (Sydney George Brown-UK, 1873—1948).

Brownian Motion, the common term for the rapid oscillating movement of particles suspended in liquid or gas which, when viewed through a microscope, is evidence of molecular motion, is named after the Scots-born botanist, Robert Brown (1773-1858).

Six Lord Mayors of London have had a Brown-related surname: Stephen Broun (1438), John Browne (1480), William Browne (1507), William Browne (1513), Sir Richard Browne (1660) and Anthony Brown (1826).

Browns have been notable warriors in exotic places. Admiral William Brown (1777—1857) led the Argentinian fleet to two famous victories over the Brazilians. George Browne served the Czars, was enslaved in Turkey, escaped with state secrets, commanded the Russian Armies during the Danish War and retired to become the much revered Governor of Livonia in the Baltic for over 30 years.

As a colour-related name, towns and geographic features which contain the name Brown are frequent. The United Kingdom alone has 7 towns ranging from Brown Candover to Brownston while the United States has no fewer than 27 towns which contain the name. Australia has mountains called Browne and Brown, a peak named Brown Hills and a Brown Point.

With about 441,000 namesakes, Brown is the 4th most popular surname in England and Wales. There are over 49,000 Browns in Scotland where it is 3rd in popularity, while in Ireland it is estimated that with about 15,000 Browns it is the 37th most popular surname. Brown is notably popular in and around Edinburgh where an estimated one in about 85 families bears the name. In descending numerical order, Glasgow, Teesside and Nottingham are other Brown strongholds. Around the world Browns are most common in Canberra (one in 202 families), Sydney (one in 231) and Auckland (one in 244). The United States has more Browns than the entire population of Birmingham and Coventry combined-an estimated total of just over 1,430,000 makes this their 4th most popular surname.