Braken History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• Ireland

Etymology of Braken

The Irish name Braken was originally written in a Gaelic form as Ó Breacain, from the word breac, which means speckled. 1

Early Origins of the Braken family

Early History of the Braken family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Braken research. Another 92 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1014, 1697 and 1764 are included under the topic Early Braken History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Braken Spelling Variations

A name was often recorded during the Middle Ages under several different spelling variations during the life of its bearer because literacy was rare there was no real push to clearly define any of the languages found in the British Isles at that time. Variations found of the name Braken include Bracken, Braken and others.

Early Notables of the Braken family

Another 27 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Braken Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Braken family

In the 19th century, thousands of Irish left their English-occupied homeland for North America. Like most new world settlers, the Irish initially settled on the eastern shores of the continent but began to move westward with the promise of owning land. The height of this Irish migration came during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. With apparently nothing to lose, Irish people left on ships bound for North America and Australia. Unfortunately a great many of these passengers lost their lives - the only thing many had left - to disease, starvation, and accidents during the long and dangerous journey. Those who did safely arrive in "the land of opportunities" were often used for the hard labor of building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. The Irish were critical to the quick development of the infrastructure of the United States and Canada. Passenger and immigration lists indicate that members of the Braken family came to North America quite early: James Bracken, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1831; John Bracken, who settled in New England in 1806; Michael, Patrick, Robert, Thomas, who all arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860..