McBride - Bumpus Genealogy
Careful research by professional analysts using such manuscripts as the Doomsday Book
(compiled in 1086 by William the Conqueror), the Ragman Rolls, the Wace Poem, the Honour Roll
of the Battle Abbey, the Curia Regism Pipe Rolls, the Falaise Roll, tax records, baptismals, family
genealogies and the local parish and church records shows the first record seated from very
early times and were granted lands by Duke William of their Normandy, their liege lord, for their
distinguished assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066A.D.
In 1067, Duke William of Normandy granted Colstoun, Haddingtonshire to Sir Walter Le Brun
a warrior who came to Scotland from Normandy. Le Brun supported the cause of King Malcolm III
and obtained the Baronies ofColtstroun in Haddingtonshire & Gamilshiels in Burwickshire in 1116.
He was a witness to an inquisition of possessions of the Church of Glasgow.
Many alternate spellings of the name were found. They were typically linked to a common
root, usually one of the Norman nobles at the Battle of Hastings. The name, Broun, occured in
many references, and from time to time, the surname included the spellings of Brown, Broun, Brun,
and many more. Scribes recorded and spelled the name as it sounded. It wasnot unlikely that a
person would be born with one spelling, married with another, and buried with a headstone which
showed another. All three spellings related to the same person. Sometimes preferences for different
spelling variations either came from a division of the family, or for religiousreasons, or for sometimes
patriotic reasons.
Other Coat of Arms - Family Crest associated with Surname " Brown "
Duke William took a census of most of England in 1086, and recorded it in the Dommsday
Book. A family name capable of being traced back to this document, or to the Hastings was a
single honour for most families during the Middle Ages, and even to this day.
The surname Broun emerged as a notable English family name in the country of Cumberland.
They were descended from Le Brun in Normandyand granted many estates in Cumberland soon
after the Conquest. This prolific name moved north into Scotland and by the 13th century had established many branches in Berwick, Edinburgh, Lanark, and Linlithgow. With the joing of the
English and Scottish crowns under King James I ofEngland many branches of Brown nobility
moved into various locations in the British Isles, establishing important branches at Deptford,
Endinburgh, Arncliffe Hall, Bret Eleigh, Tostock Place, Woodthorpe Hall, & many others. Barons
and Knights abounded. John Brown "of Ossawatomie" (1800-1859),hero of Harper's Ferry, who
inciting negro slaves to rebellionin 1859 struck the note of alarm which resulted in the Civil War,
he was hanged, but regarded as a martyr by the Abolitionists. Notable amongst the family at
this time was Anthony Brown, Lord Mayor of London.
Clan Brown History
The family name Broun is believed to be descended originally from
the Norman racel. They were commonly believed to be of French origin
were, more accurately, of Viking origin. The Vikings landed in the Orkneys,
Shetland, and Northern Scotland about the year 870 A.D., under their chief,
Stirgud the Stout. Later, under their Jarl, Thorfinn Rollo they invaded
France about 940 A.D. The french King, Charles the simple, after Rollo
laid seige to Paris, finally conceded defeat and granted northern France
The Most ancient grant
of a Coat of Arms found
was ; three gold fleur de lis.
Clan Brown History and info from : http://clanbrownofflorida.webs.com/
to Rollo. Rollo became the first duke of Normandy and the territory of the north men. Duke William
who invaded & defeated England in 1066, was a decended from the first Duke Rollo of Normandy.
Clan Brown History
Meanwhile, the family name was active in the social stream. Therewere many notables of
this name, Broun, Baron Brown; Sir Alan Brown; Sir Arthur Whitten Brown, who flew the first
transatlantic flight from Newfoundland to Ireland in 16 hours 12 minutes; Sir Charles Brown;
Admiral Brown; Judge Brown; Sir John Brown; and many more. In the process of researching
this distinguished family name we also traced themost ancient grant of Coat of Arms from the
branches which developed their own arms.
Clan Brown History
The surname Broun contributed much to local polotics
and in the affairs of Englandor Scotland. During the 12th
century many of these Norman families moved north to
Scotland, following Earl David of Huntingdon who would
become King of Scotland. Later,in the 16th, 17th, and 18th
centuries England and Scotland was ravaged by religious
and political conflic. The Monarchy, the church, and the
Parliament fought for supremacy. The unrest caused many
to think of distant lands.
Settlers in Ireland became known as "Adventurers for land in Ireland".They "undertook" to
keep the protestant faith, and were granted lands previously owned by the Irish. In Ireland this
distinguished family settled in Londonderry and Ballymena.
The attractions of the New World spread like wildfire. Many sailed abroad the fleet of sailing
ships known as the "White sails".
In North America, migrants which could be considered a kinsman of thefamily name Broun,
or variable spellings of that same name family included Alexander, Andrew, Anthony, Archibald,
Catherine, Charles, Christopher, David, Edward, Elizabeth, Francis, Frederick, George, Henry,
Hugh, James, and so on. All of whom arrived in Pennsylvania in the early 19thcentury. In New
foundland, Andrew Brown settled in Petty Cove ( now Tors Cove) in 1676; John Browne settled
Petty Harbour in 1677; John Brown settled there in 1704; they also settled in Placentia, Habour
Main, Quidi Vidi; Fogo Twillingate, Great Belle Isle; Harbour Grace & many morebetween 1704
and 1870. From the port of arrival manysettlers joined the wagon trains westward. During the
War of Independence some declared their loyalty to the Crown and moved northward into Canada
and became as the United Empire Loyalists.
Clan Brown History
The chronicles of England, shrouded by the mists of
time, reveal the early records of the name BROUN as a
Norman surname which ranks as one of the oldest. The
history of the name is interwoven in colorful fabric which
is a natural part of the history of Britian.