Map of Ireland showing where the Bryen arms are recorded
The Bryen arms were recorded in Ireland, c. 1645.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Dublin.
Dublin was the seat of government in Ireland and the place where grants were sought and recorded. Families with business at the castle or the courts settled nearby, and settling there put their arms on record.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Ireland in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Ireland when the Bryen arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Ireland
The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
Granting authority
The Ulster King of Arms acted as the official body that regulated and issued all coats of arms throughout Ireland.
How they got arms
Families obtained their arms through formal grants issued by the office after proving their eligibility and paying the required fees.
Where arms were recorded
All official grants were recorded in the registers held by the Ulster King of Arms starting from the year 1552.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Ireland.
Origin & History of the Bryen Family in Ireland
The family name Bryen is a variation of the ancient Gaelic name O’Brien, which translates to descendant of Brian. The name Brian itself is rooted in the Old Irish word for high or noble. By the mid-seventeenth century, the Bryen family had established a notable presence in Dublin, a city that was then a major center of political and social change. In 1645, records show that members of the family were living in the capital during a time of great unrest in Ireland. At this point in history, many families were adapting their traditional Gaelic surnames to better fit the changing linguistic landscape of the region. As the family settled into urban life in Dublin, they became part of the complex social fabric of a city transitioning through a period of intense historical upheaval.
Bryen Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Brian
Derived from the Old Celtic word for high or noble.
This name
BryenA variant spelling of the Irish name meaning high, noble, or strong.
also spelled
Brien
Briene
Related arms
Brienvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland, 1985
National Archives of Ireland, Civil Survey of the County of Dublin, 1654–1656
Woulfe, Patrick, Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall: Irish Names and Surnames, 1923
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
pileWell-doing, and a mark of distinction
bordureA difference between branches of one family
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
pileWell-doing, and a mark of distinction
bordureA difference between branches of one family
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
