Table o contents
History[eedit | eedit soorce]
Origins o the Name[eedit | eedit soorce]
As well as the name being Scots, Broun or Brown is an aa common name in Auld Inglis charters (as Brun) frae an adjective meanin brown or dairk red. It an aa occurs in Auld Hie German as Brunn an is the source o the French surname le Brun. A family o this name war superiors o land in Cumberland shortly efter the Norman conquest. In aw cases it seems tae be a name describin the appearance o the oreeginal ancestor.
It is an aa foond as an Anglicisation o Mac a' Bhriuthainn (pron. "mac a vroon"), meanin "son o the brehon (judge)", which is uisually Anglicised as MacBrayne, or a direct translation o MacIlledhuinn.
Brouns in Scotland[eedit | eedit soorce]
The Brouns o Colstoun, the Chiefs o Clan Broun, claim descent frae the Ryal Hoose o Fraunce. They bear on their shield the three fleur-de-lys o the French Monarchy. The Brouns o Colstoun an aa claim descent frae George Broun who in 1543 married Jean Hay seicont dochter o Lord Yester, ancestor o the Marquess o Tweeddale.
The dowry consistit o the "Colstoun Pear" which wis said tae hae been investit wi wondrous pouers bi the 13t Century wizard an necromancer Hugo de Gifford o Yester. This pear wis meant tae ensure unfailin prosperity on the family which possessd it. The pear wis said tae hae been as fresh as the day it wis picked till in the 17t Century a pregnant descendant, langin for the fruit which wis oot o saison, teuk a bite o it, whereupon it became as haurd as rock.
Patrick Broun o Colstoun wis creatit a Baronet o Nova Scotia in 1686, the title tae be passed on tae his male heirs. On his daith he left anerlie a dochter who inheritit his possessions while the title went tae the Thorndyke branch o the family. Members o a younger branch o Broun o Colstoun settled in Elsinore, Denmark where they became prominent merchants; the name is still foond there the day. During the Ceevil War Sir John Brown o Fordell commandit the ryalist airmy at the Battle o Inverkeithing in 1650.
Clan profile[eedit | eedit soorce]
- Clan Chief: Sir Wayne Broun o Colstoun, 14t Baronet o Colstoun , Chief o the Name an Airms of Broun
- Tartans: Clan Broun o Coulston, Clan Brown o Castle Dean, Clan Brown Military Watch, Clan Brown Dress Watch