38,245 Global Brand Family Members

Brand Family History

Family spelling variants include Brant, Braund, Brawn, Brands, Braun.

 

There are approximately 38,245 Brand family members around the world. In general you can double this figure to include those related to the Brand names to allow for those connected to the name through maiden name connections.

 

It is estimated that the largest group of Brand family members live USA with 23,962 (62.7%) members, England with 6,985 (18.3%), Australia with 3,246 (8.5%), Canada with 2,141 (5.6%), Scotland with 1,221 (3.2%), New Zealand with 445 (1.2%), Wales with 169 (0.4%) and Ireland with 76 (0.2%) members. 

 

It usually derives from the male given name Brando, a short form of popular compound personal names such as Hildebrand. Originating from the pre 6th Anglo-Saxon word "brinnan", meaning a flash, as in a flash of lightning. From the Germanic personal name Brando, it is regarded as English, Scottish, Scandinavian, North German and Dutch.  

 

An English relationship name from the Middle English personal name Brand (Old Scandinavian Brandr, Brand, from Old Norse personal name brandr ‘firebrand, sword-blade’), also found in Normandy.

 

An English topographic name for someone who lived by a place where burning had occurred, from Old English brand, relating to a person who lived by a "brant". This described an area of agricultural land, one which was cleared by fire, a common practice in ancient times.

 

Early bearers of the surname include: William Brant, 1086 in Domesday Book (Norfolk); Ralph Brand, 1184 in Pipe Rolls (London); Jacobus filius Brand, 1206 in Assize Rolls (Lincs); Johannes Brand, 1377 in Poll Tax (Colchester, Essex); Waltero Brand, 1377 in Poll Tax (Canterbury, Kent); Ricardus Brande, 1379 in Poll Tax (Collingham, WR Yorks); Matill’ Brand, 1381 in Poll Tax (Wigan, Lancs); Johannes Brand, 1381 in Poll Tax (Howell, Lincs); Margaret Brand, 1540 in IGI (Habrough, Lincs); Willimus Brande, 1540, Alicia Brand, 1542 in IGI (Worminghall, Bucks); 

 

In 1891 census, the surname was recorded in England and Wales with 3,167 occurrences and a further 865 in Scotland. 

 

In 1881 census, the surname was frequent in East England, especially Essex with 577 occurrences.

 

In 1881, the most common occupation in the UK for the surname was Agricultural Labourer. Agricultural Labourer, Farmer and Labourer were the top 3 reported jobs worked by Brand members. A less common occupation was Bricklayer.

 

The noted, Russell Brand, British award-winning comedian, writer, actor, presenter and activist born in Grays, Essex. Russell Brand is now better known for his public activism and campaigning, speaking on a wide range of political and cultural issues, including addiction, corporate capitalism, climate change, and wealth inequality. 

 

1881, 1891 Census

1881 Census in Essex

Dictionary of American Family Homes, P Hanks OUP 2003

Homes of Family Names in Great Britain, H.B. Guppy, London 1890

The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, P.Hanks, Coats, McClure OUP 2016

1860 Lower, Mark A Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom, London: J.R Smith. Public Domain

1857 Arthur, William An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. New York: Sheldon, Blakeman. Public Domain

J.M.P