Clan Broun
Encyclopedia
Clan Broun also known as Brown is a common Scottish clan
name, it was located primarily in Lowland Scotland.
as Brunn and is the source of the French surname le Brun. A family of this name were superiors of land in Cumberland
shortly after the Norman conquest. In all cases it seems to be a name describing the appearance of the original ancestor.
It is also found as an Anglicisation
of Mac a' Bhriuthainn (pron. "mac a vroon"), meaning "son of the brehon (judge)", which is usually Anglicised as MacBrayne, or a direct translation of MacIlledhuinn.
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The dowry consisted of the "Colstoun Pear" which was said to have been invested with wondrous powers by the 13th century wizard and necromancer Hugo de Gifford of Yester. This pear was meant to ensure unfailing prosperity on the family which possessd it. The pear was said to have been as fresh as the day it was picked until in the 17th century a pregnant descendant, longing for the fruit which was out of season, took a bite of it, whereupon it became as hard as rock.
Patrick Broun of Colstoun was created a Baronet of Nova Scotia in 1686, the title to be passed on to his male heirs. On his death he left only a daughter who inherited his possessions while the title went to the Thorndyke branch of the family. Members of a younger branch of Broun of Colstoun settled in Elsinore, Denmark where they became prominent merchants; the name is still found there today. During the Civil War Sir John Brown of Fordell commanded the royalist army at the Battle of Inverkeithing
in 1650.
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Scottish clan
Scottish clans , give a sense of identity and shared descent to people in Scotland and to their relations throughout the world, with a formal structure of Clan Chiefs recognised by the court of the Lord Lyon, King of Arms which acts as an authority concerning matters of heraldry and Coat of Arms...
name, it was located primarily in Lowland Scotland.
Origins of the Name
As well as the name being Scottish, Broun or Brown is also common name in Old English charters (as Brun) from an adjective meaning brown or dark red. It also occurs in Old High GermanOld High German
The term Old High German refers to the earliest stage of the German language and it conventionally covers the period from around 500 to 1050. Coherent written texts do not appear until the second half of the 8th century, and some treat the period before 750 as 'prehistoric' and date the start of...
as Brunn and is the source of the French surname le Brun. A family of this name were superiors of land in Cumberland
Cumberland
Cumberland is a historic county of North West England, on the border with Scotland, from the 12th century until 1974. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974 and now forms part of Cumbria....
shortly after the Norman conquest. In all cases it seems to be a name describing the appearance of the original ancestor.
It is also found as an Anglicisation
Anglicisation
Anglicisation, or anglicization , is the process of converting verbal or written elements of any other language into a form that is more comprehensible to an English speaker, or, more generally, of altering something such that it becomes English in form or character.The term most often refers to...
of Mac a' Bhriuthainn (pron. "mac a vroon"), meaning "son of the brehon (judge)", which is usually Anglicised as MacBrayne, or a direct translation of MacIlledhuinn.
Brouns in Scotland
The Brouns of Colstoun, the Chiefs of Clan Broun, claim descent from the Royal House of France. They bear on their shield the three fleur-de-lys of the French Monarchy. The Brouns of Colstoun also claim descent from George Broun who in 1543 married Jean Hay second daughter of Lord Yester, ancestor of the Marquess of TweeddaleMarquess of Tweeddale
Marquess of Tweeddale is a title of the Peerage of Scotland, created in 1694 for the 2nd Earl of Tweeddale. Lord Tweeddale holds the subsidiary titles of Earl of Tweeddale , Earl of Gifford , Viscount of Walden , Lord Hay of Yester , and Baron Tweeddale, of Yester in the County of Haddington...
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The dowry consisted of the "Colstoun Pear" which was said to have been invested with wondrous powers by the 13th century wizard and necromancer Hugo de Gifford of Yester. This pear was meant to ensure unfailing prosperity on the family which possessd it. The pear was said to have been as fresh as the day it was picked until in the 17th century a pregnant descendant, longing for the fruit which was out of season, took a bite of it, whereupon it became as hard as rock.
Patrick Broun of Colstoun was created a Baronet of Nova Scotia in 1686, the title to be passed on to his male heirs. On his death he left only a daughter who inherited his possessions while the title went to the Thorndyke branch of the family. Members of a younger branch of Broun of Colstoun settled in Elsinore, Denmark where they became prominent merchants; the name is still found there today. During the Civil War Sir John Brown of Fordell commanded the royalist army at the Battle of Inverkeithing
Battle of Inverkeithing
The Battle of Inverkeithing was a battle of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. It was fought on 20 July 1651 between an English Parliamentarian army under John Lambert and a Scottish Covenanter army acting on behalf of Charles II, led by Sir John Brown of Fordell. Lambert's force was a seaborne...
in 1650.
Clan profile
- Clan Chief: Sir Wayne Broun of Colstoun, 14th Baronet of ColstounBroun BaronetsThe Broun Baronets are a branch of the ancient Broun of Colstoun family whose estate near Haddington, East Lothian, remains to this day in the possession of a cadet family.-Origins:Early in the twelfth century a Walterus le Brun flourished in Scotland...
, Chief of the Name and Arms of Broun- Chief's ArmsCoat of armsA coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
: GulesGulesIn heraldry, gules is the tincture with the colour red, and belongs to the class of dark tinctures called "colours". In engraving, it is sometimes depicted as a region of vertical lines or else marked with gu. as an abbreviation....
, a chevron between three fleur-de-lisFleur-de-lisThe fleur-de-lis or fleur-de-lys is a stylized lily or iris that is used as a decorative design or symbol. It may be "at one and the same time, political, dynastic, artistic, emblematic, and symbolic", especially in heraldry...
OrOr (heraldry)In heraldry, Or is the tincture of gold and, together with argent , belongs to the class of light tinctures called "metals". In engravings and line drawings, it may be represented using a field of evenly spaced dots... - Chief's CrestCrest (heraldry)A crest is a component of an heraldic display, so called because it stands on top of a helmet, as the crest of a jay stands on the bird's head....
: A lion rampant, holding in the dexter paw a fleur-de-lisFleur-de-lisThe fleur-de-lis or fleur-de-lys is a stylized lily or iris that is used as a decorative design or symbol. It may be "at one and the same time, political, dynastic, artistic, emblematic, and symbolic", especially in heraldry...
Or - Chief's MottoMottoA motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
: Floreat majestas (let majesty flourish)
- Chief's Arms
- TartanTartanTartan is a pattern consisting of criss-crossed horizontal and vertical bands in multiple colours. Tartans originated in woven wool, but now they are made in many other materials. Tartan is particularly associated with Scotland. Scottish kilts almost always have tartan patterns...
s: Clan Broun of Coulston, Clan Brown of Castle Dean, Clan Brown Military Watch, Clan Brown Dress Watch
Clan Castles
Seats of the Clan Broun have included: Bruntsfield House and Carsluith CastleCarsluith Castle
Carsluith Castle is a ruined tower house, dating largely to the 16th century. It is located beside Wigtown Bay on the Galloway coast of south-west Scotland, around south east of Creetown.-History:...
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