Brehon History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

Etymology of Brehon

What does the name Brehon mean?

The roots of the Brehon surname are linked to a set of 4,000 year old Irish law, known as the Brehon Law. There were no judges or lawyers, but the arbitrators whose responsibility it was to settle disagreements based on these laws were known as Brehons.

Early Origins of the Brehon family

The surname Brehon was first found in Kilkenny (Irish: Cill Chainnigh), the former Kingdom of Osraige (Ossory), located in Southeastern Ireland in the province of Leinster, where they held a family seat as judges and scholars. Irish history was greatly influenced by the Norman invasion of 1172, and thereafter, the surnames of Irish Gaelic clanns and septs and many of the Norman families became almost indistinguishable. This ancient Irish family name was found later in Sligo represented another early reference to the name.

Early History of the Brehon family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Brehon research. Another 65 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Brehon History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Brehon Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Brehon, Brehane, Brehany, Brehaney, Breheny, Brehony, MacBreheny and many more.

Early Notables of the Brehon family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was

the Brehon family of Kilkenny

Brehon migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Brehon Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

James C. Brehon, who arrived in North Carolina in 1819

Contemporary Notables of the name Brehon (post 1700) +

Brehon Burke Somervell (1892-1955), American General in the United States Army and Commanding General of the Army Service Forces in World War II