Bracken

Bracken
Recorded as usually as Bracken, and much more rarely as Brahan, Braghan, Breaghan, Breagan, Broughan and Brouhan, this is a surname of Irish origins. Previously recorded as O' Bracken, the O' prefix meaning male descendant being largely lost in the 17th century, and descending from the original Gaelic name O' Breacain, it is from the region of County Kildare and County Offally (formerly known as Kings County). Here it is said, the clan have been resident since at least medieval times. The name means 'speckled' from the ancient word 'breac', and as such was apparently a nickname given to the first chief or nameholder who presumably had freckles. Most if not quite all, Irish surnames, have a nickname origin, some being extremely robust in their modern interpretation, although any sensibility in this respect seems to have passed by the original nameholders. The Bracken clan were more prominent and more populous in past centuries, as like many Irish clans their number have decreased considerably, often through emigration. The name is one of the earliest recorded in Ireland with Bendict O'Breacan being bishop of Achory in the years from 1286 to 1312. Other later examples include Patrick Breagan who was christened at St Michans Cathedral, Dublin, on April 14th 1683, Thomas Bracken of Clones (1843- 1898), who became one of the most prominent politicians in New Zealand, whilst Brendan Bracken (1901 -1958), born in Ireland, and the 1st Viscount Bracken, was a leading member of Winston Churchills British war cabinet in 1941.

Surnames reference. 2013.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Bracken — steht für: Bracken (Band), britische Band Bracken (TV), irische TV Soap ein historisches Fachwerkhaus in Bad Gandersheim, Niedersachsen Bracken ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Bob Bracken (1885–?), US amerikanischer American Football… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Bracken — Bracken, verb. reg. act. im gemeinen Leben, aussondern, von dem Untauglichen seiner Art befreyen; im Nieders. wraken und wroken. Eine Waare bracken. Das Schafvieh, das Rindvieh, die Fische u.s.f. bracken. Daher die Brackbank, oder der Bracktisch …   Grammatisch-kritisches Wörterbuch der Hochdeutschen Mundart

  • Bracken — Brack en, n. [OE. braken, AS. bracce. See {2d Brake}, n.] A brake or fern. Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Bracken [1] — Bracken, so v.w. Ausbracken …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Bracken [2] — Bracken, 1) (Forstw.), so v.w. Abständiger Baum; 2) so v.w. Brackvieh …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Bracken [3] — Bracken (spr. Bräck n), Grafschaft im nördlichen Theile des Staates Kentucky in den Vereinigten Staaten von NAmerika, an Ohio grenzend; gegen 9 QM. groß; Boden hügelig, auf Kalkstein basirt, meistens fruchtbar; 1796 organisirt; Bevölkerung 10,000 …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • bracken — (n.) coarse fern, early 14c., northern England word, from a Scandinavian source (Cf. Dan. bregne, Swedish bräken fern ) …   Etymology dictionary

  • bracken — ► NOUN ▪ a tall fern with coarse lobed fronds. ORIGIN Scandinavian …   English terms dictionary

  • bracken — [brak′ən] n. [ME braken < ON * brakni > Dan bregne] 1. any of a genus (Pteridium, family Polypodiaceae) of large, coarse, weedy ferns, occurring in meadows, woods, and esp. wastelands: very closely related to the brake ferns 2. a growth of… …   English World dictionary

  • Bracken — Taxobox name = Pteridium aquilinum image width = 240px regnum = Plantae divisio = Pteridophyta classis = Pteridopsida ordo = Pteridales familia = Dennstaedtiaceae genus = Pteridium subdivision ranks = Species subdivision = Pteridium aquilinum… …   Wikipedia

  • Bracken — Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. Bracken peut désigner : Toponymes Le Comté de Bracken, dans le Kentucky, aux États Unis Personnalités Bill Bracken, skieur alpin britannique Eddie… …   Wikipédia en Français

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”