Surname O'Brien/Bryan/Bryant - Meaning and Origin
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O'Brien/Bryan/Bryant: What does the surname O'Brien/Bryan/Bryant mean?
The surname O'Brien, Bryan, and Bryant are all derived from the ancient Irish name O'Brien meaning descendant of Brian. This surname is believed to have been derived from the surname Brion, which came from the old Irish word "Brion" meaning "the noble". As a result, people with the O'Brien surname are believed to be descendants of the most powerful Gaelic dynasties and were traditionally associated with the ruling families of Ireland.
The Bryan and Bryant versions of the surname began in the late fourteenth and early fifteenth century when the surname changed slightly due to royal influences in England. During this time a great deal of Norman influence began to take root in Ireland, resulting in many native Irish names being re-spelled. O’Bryan, or O'Briain, is the Gaelic spelling for O'Brien while Byran and Bryant are the Anglicized versions of the same name.
The O'Brien name is associated with several prominent Irish figures, including several High Kings of Ireland, in addition to having a strong presence in many Irish clans throughout the region. While the O'Brien surname is more closely associated with Ireland, it can be found throughout the English-speaking world. It is a common surname in Ireland, England, Scotland, Australia, the United States, Canada, and other countries in the former British Commonwealth. As a result, many families with the same surname can trace their roots back to an original ancestor from Ireland.
Order DNA origin analysisO'Brien/Bryan/Bryant: Where does the name O'Brien/Bryan/Bryant come from?
The surname O’Brien is one of the most common Irish last names, with as many as 300,000 people in Ireland today having the name. The O’Brien surname can also be found in Scotland, England, the United States, and other parts of the world where Irish immigrants settled in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The surname Bryan, which is derived from the Irish surname O'Brian, is also a fairly common one, particularly in the United Kingdom. It is the 109ᵗʰ most common name in England and Wales, and the 58ᵗʰ most common in Scotland. The Bryan surname is also common in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Ireland, where it is close to the top 100.
Bryant, meanwhile, is a surname of English origin and derived from the name Brian. It is most commonly found in the United Kingdom, especially England, where it is the 108ᵗʰ most common surname. In Scotland, it is the 115ᵗʰ most common, and in Ireland it is the holy grail of last names, coming in at number three. It is also common in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Variations of the surname O'Brien/Bryan/Bryant
The O'Brien surname stems from the Irish patronymic Ó Breágháin or Ó Briain, meaning "descendant of Breasneach". Breasneach is thought to derive from the personal name Bran meaning "raven". The O'Brien surname originated in Tipperary, but was also found later in Limerick and as far north as County Clare.
Variants of the surname include O'Bryan, O'Bryant, and Obrien. Spellings of the surname also vary, including O'Brine, O'Bryne, O'Briney, O'Briny and O'Bryant. It is also found in other languages as O Briain, O'Brienne, Obriain, and O'Bryne.
Many surnames have evolved from the original settings of O'Brien, such as Bryan, Brien, Brienne, Bryans,Brian, Bryon, Brain and Brine, all of which are derivatives of the original Irish spelling and pronunciation of O'Brien. The surname can also be found spelled as O'Bryne, O'Brion, O'Bryon and O'Briain.
Similarly, it is found in other languages such as O'Breen, O'Beirne, O'Bryene, Obroin, and O'Bryon and O'Bryan.
Another group of variations include Brien, Brian, Briant, Bryck, Bryeant, Breck, Bryer, Brinck, Brieant, Brean, and Breint. The surname Bryan is an anglicized form of the O'Brien name, and has also spawned many spellings including Bryon, Bryen, Brienne, Briant, Brieant, Bryent, Breins, Breens, Breints, Bries, Bryant and Briand.
The Bryant spelling is closely related to the O'Brien/Bryan name, and can also be found spelled as Bryonts, Bryante, Briante, Briants, Bryants, and Bryon.
All of these surnames are believed to have stemmed from the original Irish O'Brien name, with many spellings evolving into new surnames in other countries.
Famous people with the name O'Brien/Bryan/Bryant
- Conan O'Brien: US comedian, television host, writer, and producer
- Ed O'Brien: English musician and member of the band Radiohead
- Elizabeth O'Brien: British actress
- Florence O'Brien: English actress
- James O'Brien: British broadcaster, journalist, and writer
- Katie O'Brien: English tennis player
- Kevin O'Brien: Irish cricketer
- Ryan Bryan: American actor and singer
- Asia Bryant: American singer and songwriter
- Chris Bryant: British Labour politician
- Don Bryant: American soul singer and songwriter
- Hezekiah X.B. Bryant: US army officer
- José Bryant: Spanish footballer
- Kobe Bryant: US basketball player
- Matt Bryant: US football player
- Tariqah Shakirah Bryan: US actress, dancer, and singer
- Tomáš Bryant: Slovak footballer