Brown

When the word “brown” is mentioned, we often think of the brown color. Well, it is understandable since we frequently see objects, animals and other living things, including people, in various shades of brown color. Although the term is readily perceived as a color, in most English-speaking countries, it is one of the most commonly used surnames. Brown is even essentially identical in frequency to the Jones surname based on the results of the 1990 U.S. Census.

According to the Dictionary of American Family Names, the Brown surname is English, Scottish and Irish in origin. It is derived from the Middle English br(o)un and from the Old English brun. The Brown surname can be traced back to persons with brown eyes, brown hair or brown complexion.

Brown is the fifth most common family name in the United States and Great Britain. Some of the first settlers in the U.S. of this name were: Peter Brown, who settled in Plymouth in 1620; Abigail Brown, who came to Maryland in 1668; Alex Brown, who lived in Boston in 1763; and Hugh Brown, who settled with his wife Margory in Philadelphia in 1775.

Famous people who share this common surname include Chris Brown, Dan Brown, James Brown and Samantha Brown.