Bras History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Bras

What does the name Bras mean?

The name Bras is part of the ancient legacy of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is a product of when the family lived in Brace, a parish in the county of Hereford.

Early Origins of the Bras family

The surname Bras was first found in Herefordshire, where this distinguished Welsh/English border family held a family seat for many centuries, probably well before the Norman Conquest of England by Duke William of Normandy in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Bras family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bras research. Another 212 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1218, 1273, 1327, 1379, 1440, 1578, 1581, 1604, 1611, 1697, 1790, 1816, 1824 and 1833 are included under the topic Early Bras History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bras Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Bras has been spelled many different ways, including Brace, Braice, Brayce, Brass, Braz, Brase, Bras, Brasse and many more.

Early Notables of the Bras family

Distinguished members of the family include

John Brass (1790-1833), a prominent educational writer

Bras Ranking

In France, the name Bras is the 2,870^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,000 - 2,500 people with that name. 1

Bras migration to Canada +

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Brass to arrive in North America:

Bras Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century

Nicolas Bras, who arrived in Canada in 1645

Bras migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Bras Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Margaret Bras, aged 24, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Victoria Regia"

Contemporary Notables of the name Bras (post 1700) +

Edgar A. Bras (1841-1923), American soldier who fought in the American Civil War who was awarded the Medal of Honor, for his actions during the Battle of Spanish Fort in Alabama on 8 April 1865
Francisco Bras (1956-2023), Portuguese actor
Gabriel Le Bras (1891-1970), French legal scholar and sociologist
Hervé Le Bras (b. 1943), French historian and mathematician, Fellow of Churchill College, Cambridge since 2002, Knight of the Legion of Honour
Rafael Luis Bras (b. 1950), Puerto Rican civil engineer, known for his contributions in soil-vegetation-atmosphere system modeling, awarded the Robert E. Horton Medal and the National Academy of Engineering medal
Jean-Claude Bras (b. 1945), French former professional footballer who played from 1964 to 1979, member of the France National Team (1969-1970)
David Le Bras (b. 1983), French football player
Juan Mari Brás (1927-2010), Puerto Rican advocate for Puerto Rican independence from the United States
Martine Bras (b. 1978), Dutch former road cyclist who competed at the 2012 UCI Road World Championships
Michel Bras (b. 1946), French chef, owner and head chef restaurant Bras

Citations +

http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/