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Bryan History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Bryan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland-Alt
Ireland

Etymology of Bryan

What does the name Bryan mean?

The name Bryan is of Norman origin, derived from the personal name Brian which was popular in France and Norman England before it came to Ireland. It has sometimes been used as a synonym for O'Brien, though it is of different origin.

Brian (926-1014), was King of Ireland, known in Irish writings as Brian Boroimhe, Boroma most commonly in earlier books as Brian Mac Cennedigh (Book of Leinster), and in English writings as Bryan Mac Kennedy and Brian Boru, He was a native of the northern part of Munster, and was of the royal descent of Thomond, of the family known as Dal Cais. Brian, who was born in 926, was the youngest of three sons. 1

Early Origins of the Bryan family

The surname Bryan was first found in County Kilkenny (Irish: Cill Chainnigh), the former Kingdom of Osraige (Ossory), located in Southeastern Ireland in the province of Leinster, where bearers of the surname settled in the 13th century.

Early History of the Bryan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bryan research. More information is included under the topic Early Bryan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bryan Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Bryan, Brian, OBryan, McBryan, O'Bryant and others.

Early Notables of the Bryan family

Notable amongst the family up to this time was

George Leopold Bryan of Jenkinstown House, who held 12,891 acres in County Kilkenny...

Bryan World Ranking

In the United States, the name Bryan is the 487^th most popular surname with an estimated 59,688 people with that name. 2 However, in Australia, the name Bryan is ranked the 786^th most popular surname with an estimated 4,958 people with that name. 3 And in New Zealand, the name Bryan is the 848^th popular surname with an estimated 862 people with that name. 4 The United Kingdom ranks Bryan as 513^rd with 12,704 people. 5

Bryan migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Bryan Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Edw Bryan, who landed in Virginia in 1620 6
John Bryan, who arrived in Maryland in 1634 6
Jo Bryan, aged 25, who arrived in Virginia in 1634 aboard the ship "Bonaventure" coming via St. Domingo 6
Edward Bryan, who arrived in Virginia in 1638 6
Henry Bryan, who landed in Virginia in 1639 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bryan Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

William Bryan, who arrived in Virginia in 1702 6
Daniell Bryan, who arrived in Virginia in 1704 6
Margarett Bryan, who arrived in Virginia in 1705 6
Sarah Bryan, who landed in Virginia in 1714 6
Morris Bryan, who arrived in Virginia in 1715 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bryan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Anne Bryan, who landed in Connecticut in 1811 6
Garret Bryan, who arrived in New York, NY in 1812 6
Jos Bryan, aged 41, who arrived in Virginia in 1812 6
Simon Bryan, who arrived in America in 1812 6
Bernard Bryan, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1816 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bryan Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Sam Bryan, who arrived in Arkansas in 1900 6

Bryan migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Bryan Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

John Bryan, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
William Bryan, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749
Amb Bryan, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
William Bryan, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1778
Jane Bryan, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1778
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bryan Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Brigitte Bryan, who landed in Quebec in 1823
Thomas Bryan, aged 30, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the barque "Pallas" from Cork, Ireland
Biddy Bryan, aged 28, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the barque "Pallas" from Cork, Ireland
Catherine Bryan, aged 16, a servant, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "Hibernia" from Kinsale, Ireland
Peter Bryan, aged 25, a farmer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Leslie Gault" in 1833
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bryan migration to Australia +

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

Bryan Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

Miss Elinor Bryan, (Eleanore Mary), (b. 1762), aged 31, Irish convict who was convicted in Waterford, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Boddingtons" on 15th February 1793, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 7
Miss Mary Bryan, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years , transported aboard the "Britannia III" on 18th July 1798, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 8

Bryan Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Michael Bryan, (Breen, O'Brien), (b. 1776), aged 25, Irish convict who was convicted in Queen's County, Ireland for life for stealing sheep, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 29th November 1801, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1862 9
Miss Bridget Bryan, Irish convict who was convicted in Cork, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Experiment" on 21st January 1809, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
Miss Margaret Bryan, (b. 1790), aged 19, Irish convict who was convicted in Cork, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Experiment" on 21st January 1809, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1811 10
Miss Mary Bryan, Irish convict who was convicted in Cork, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Experiment" on 21st January 1809, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
Miss Rose Bryan, (Brien, Francis), (b. 1791), aged 22, Irish country servant who was convicted in Cork, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Catherine" on 8th December 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bryan migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Bryan Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Patrick Bryan, who landed in Otako, New Zealand in 1840
Mr. John Bryan, (b. 1803), aged 44, Irish settler born in Waterford arriving as Detachment of the Royal New Zealand Fencibles travelling aboard the ship "Sir Robert Sale" from Gravesend via Cork arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 11th October 1847 12
Mrs. Ann Bryan Née Shea, (b. 1810), aged 37, Irish settler travelling aboard the ship "Sir Robert Sale" from Gravesend via Cork arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 11th October 1847 12
Miss Ann "Annie" Bryan, (b. 1844), aged 3, Irish settler born in Waterford travelling aboard the ship "Sir Robert Sale" from Gravesend via Cork arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 11th October 1847 12
Mr. John Bryan, Jr., (b. 1846), aged 7, Irish settler born in Waterford travelling aboard the ship "Sir Robert Sale" from Gravesend via Cork arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 11th October 1847 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bryan migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 13

Bryan Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Mr. Joseph Bryan, (b. 1614), aged 20, British settler travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "Hopewell" arriving in Barbados on 17th February 1634 6
Dermond Bryan, aged 20, who landed in Barbados in 1635 6
Mr. Henry Bryan, (b. 1614), aged 21, British settler travelling aboard the ship "Expedition" arriving in Barbados in 1636 14

Contemporary Notables of the name Bryan (post 1700) +

William Jennings Bryan (1860-1925), American orator and politician, Secretary of State under Woodrow Wilson
Ashley F. Bryan (1923-2022), American writer and illustrator of children's books, nominee for the Hans Christian Andersen Award in 2006, winner of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award for his contribution to American children's literature in 2009
Lieutenant-General Blackshear Morrison Bryan (1900-1977), American Commanding General 1st Army (1957-1960) 15
Kirk Bryan (1888-1950), American geologist
Richard Hudson Bryan (b. 1937), American politician, Governor of Nevada and a US Senator from Nevada
Arthur Q Bryan (1899-1959), American actor, best known as the voice of Elmer Fudd
William E. Bryan Jr., American fighter pilot and flying ace in the U.S. Army Air Forces, during World War II, credited with 8½ aerial victories
Donald S. Bryan, American fighter pilot and flying ace in the U.S. Army Air Forces, during World War II, credited with 13.3 aerial victories
Mrs. Merlita Bryan (b. 1851), born in Jamaica, British councillor, held the position of Sheriff of Nottingham, England from 2012-2013 and 2021, she was Lord Mayor in 2014, she started the Black Achievers Award in 2011
Mr. J. H. Bryan, British sheriff, held the position of Sheriff of Nottingham, England from 1967 to 1968
... (Another 7 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Bryan family +

Empress of Ireland

Mr. Caroline Agnes Bryan (1893-1914), Canadian Third Class Passenger from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 16

HMS Royal Oak

Leonard Bryan, British Leading Cook with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he survived the sinking 17

USS Arizona

Mr. Leland Howard Bryan, American Seaman First Class from Texas, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 18

Vimy Ridge

John Edward Bryan (1890-1917), Canadian driver, Lance Corporal in the 44th Battalion from Manitoba who died at Vimy Ridge April 1917

Citations +

Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/boddingtons
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Britannia
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 2nd June 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/experiment
Convict Records of Australia (Retreived 2nd January 2021, retreived from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/catherine
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's retrieved 29th September 2021. Retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, November 3) Blackshear Bryan. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Bryan/Blackshear_Morrison/USA.html
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 16) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html