| ![Show Contents]() Briers History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
Scotland
England Early Origins of the Briers familyThe surname Briers was first found in Dumfriesshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Dhùn Phris), a Southern area, bordering on England that today forms part of the Dumfries and Galloway Council Area. "Of all the families springing from Dumfries the MacBrairs have the longest and most honourable connection, having been virtually hereditary provosts of the burgh for nigh 150 years." 1 "The name of M'Brair," says Sir Herbert Maxwell, "contains in itself a reproach to a celibate order -Mac brathair (braher) the friar's son." 1 Another source claims the name was from the Lowland Scottish word brae, meaning 'hill'. Other early record show: John de Byres, a monk in Neubotle, Midlothian, in 1309; and Thome de Byris owned a tenement in Edinburgh in 1392. Early History of the Briers familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Briers research. Another 330 words (24 lines of text) covering the years 1384, 1444, 1469, 1473, 1481, 1491, 1494, 1499, 1500, 1502, 1503, 1504, 1506, 1510, 1533, 1534, 1548, 1557, 1573, 1579, 1590, 1593, 1630, 1639, 1653, 1667 and 1684 are included under the topic Early Briers History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Briers Spelling VariationsSpelling variations of this family name include: MacBriar, McBriar, MacBrair, McBrair, MacBraire, McBraire, MacBriare, McBriare, Briar, Brier, Brire, Briars, Briers, Brires, Braires, Brares, Braire, Brair, MacBrare, McBrare, Brare, MacBrar, McBrar, Brar, MacBrayr, McBrayr, MacBrayre, McBrayre, McBryar, MacBryar, MacBray, McBray, MacBrire, McBrire, MacBrier and many more. Early Notables of the Briers familyMore information is included under the topic Early Briers Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Briers migration to the United States | + |
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Briers Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- Robert Briers, aged 21, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Plain Joan" 2
Briers Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- William Briers, who landed in New England in 1717 2
- William Briers, who settled in Maryland in 1742
Briers Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Chris Briers, aged 19, who landed in America, in 1895
Briers Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- Lily Briers, aged 23, who immigrated to the United States from St Helens, in 1906
- Victor Briers, aged 18, who immigrated to America from England, in 1910
- Elizabeth Briers, aged 26, who immigrated to the United States from England, in 1910
- James Briers, aged 9, who settled in America from England, in 1910
- Samuel Briers, aged 50, who landed in America from Birstall, Leicester, England, in 1919
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Contemporary Notables of the name Briers (post 1700) | + |
- Stephen Briers, British clinical psychologist, an on-screen expert in BBC Three's Little Angels
- Norman Briers (b. 1947), former English cricketer who played for Leicestershire, born in Highfields, Leicester
- Nigel Briers (b. 1955), former English cricketer from Southfields, Leicester, Leicestershire
- Mark Briers (b. 1968), former English cricketer from Loughborough in Leicestershire
- Lucy Briers (b. 1967), English actress, known for her roles in Pride and Prejudice (1995) and sitcom Game On
- Lee Briers (b. 1978), Welsh former rugby league player, currently development coach at Brisbane Broncos in the National Rugby League
- Richard David Briers CBE (1934-2013), English actor, best known for his role as Tom Good in the BBC sitcom The Good Life (1975-78)
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: In defiance
- Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
- Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
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