Bryan is a surname found in the

English-speaking world Speakers of English are also known as Anglophones, and the countries where English is natively spoken by the majority of the population are termed the '' Anglosphere''. Over two billion people speak English , making English the largest languag ...

. This surname has several different origins. One origin of the name is from an

Anglo-Norman Anglo-Norman may refer to: *Anglo-Normans, the medieval ruling class in England following the Norman conquest of 1066 * Anglo-Norman language **Anglo-Norman literature * Anglo-Norman England, or Norman England, the period in English history from 10 ...

name, ''de Brionne'', derived from either of two places called ''Brionne'' in the north of

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

—one is

Brionne Brionne () is a commune in the Eure department. Brionne is in the region of Normandy of northern France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of oversea ...

, in Eure; the other is Brionne in

Creuse Creuse (; oc, Cruesa or ) is a department in central France named after the river Creuse. After Lozère, it is the second least populated department in France. It is bordered by Indre and Cher to the north, Allier and Puy-de-Dôme to the ea ...

. It may also come from ''de Brienne'' from

Brienne-le-Château Brienne-le-Château () is a commune in the Aube department in north-central France. It is located from the right bank of the river Aube and 26 miles northeast of Troyes. History It was the centre of the medieval County of Brienne, whose lords ...

. Another origin of the surname is as a patronymic, being borne by someone who was son of an individual named Bryan. In addition to being found in

Brittany Brittany (; french: link=no, Bretagne ; br, Breizh, or ; Gallo language, Gallo: ''Bertaèyn'' ) is a peninsula, Historical region, historical country and cultural area in the west of modern France, covering the western part of what was known ...

, it was used among the

Breton Breton most often refers to: *anything associated with Brittany, and generally ** Breton people ** Breton language, a Southwestern Brittonic Celtic language of the Indo-European language family, spoken in Brittany ** Breton (horse), a breed **Ga ...

followers of the

Normans The Normans ( Norman: ''Normaunds''; french: Normands; la, Nortmanni/Normanni) were a population arising in the medieval Duchy of Normandy from the intermingling between Norse Viking settlers and indigenous West Franks and Gallo-Romans. ...

who appear in

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

and

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

. Alternatively, Bryan might be the anglicized form of the Irish surname O'Brien. The Irish spelling of the surname Brien, Brian or the Norman spelling Bryan would then have a much longer origin in Ireland than in Brittany, predating the Normans.

People with this surname

* Albert Vickers Bryan (1899–1984), American judge * Albert Vickers Bryan Jr. (1926–2019), American judge * Alfred Bryan, American songwriter *

Arthur Bryan Sir Arthur Bryan (4 March 1923 – 11 February 2011) was managing director of the Wedgwood pottery firm (now Waterford Wedgwood Waterford Wedgwood plc was an Irish holding company for a group of firms that specialized in the manufacture of ...

, British business executive * Arthur Q. Bryan, American comedian *

Ashley Bryan Ashley Frederick Bryan (July 13, 1923February 4, 2022) was an American writer and illustrator of children's books. Most of his subjects are from the African-American experience. He was U.S. nominee for the Hans Christian Andersen Award in 2006 ...

(1923-2022), American author and illustrator * The

Bryan brothers The Bryan brothers, identical twin brothers Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan, are retired American professional doubles tennis players and the most successful duo of all time. They were born on April 29, 1978, with Mike being the elder by two minutes. ...

, a tennis doubles team made up of American twin brothers

Bob Bob, BOB, or B.O.B. may refer to: Places * Mount Bob, New York, United States *Bob Island, Palmer Archipelago, Antarctica People, fictional characters, and named animals *Bob (given name), a list of people and fictional characters *Bob (surname ...

and

Mike Bryan Michael Carl Bryan (born April 29, 1978) is an American former doubles world No. 1 tennis player. With his twin brother Bob, he was the world's top doubles player for more than nine years, first achieving the top ranking in Septem ...

(born 1978) *

Brother Bryan James Alexander Bryan, known as Brother Bryan, (March 20, 1863, near Kingstree, South Carolina – January 28, 1941, in Birmingham, Alabama) was a pastor of Third Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, Alabama. Bryan came to Birmingham while he was ...

, American Presbyterian minister * Cecil E. Bryan (1878–1951), American architect *

Charles Faulkner Bryan Charles Faulkner Bryan (July 26, 1911 – July 7, 1955) was an American composer, musician, music educator and collector of folk music. Life and career Bryan was born in McMinnville, Tennessee in 1911. He was attracted to music from a young age ...

(1911–1955), American composer * Charles W. Bryan (1867–1945), Governor of Nebraska *

Charlie Bryan Charlie Bryan (11 December 1933 - 2 November 2013) was the head of the International Association of Machinists union in the southeast United States, during the mid to late 1980s. He led machinists to strike against Eastern Air Lines and Frank Lorenz ...

(1933–2013), American labor leader * Daniel Bryan, ring name of American professional wrestler Bryan Danielson (born 1981) *

David Bryan David Bryan Rashbaum (born February 7, 1962) is an American musician and songwriter, best known as the keyboard player for the rock band Bon Jovi, with which he also co-wrote songs and performed backing vocals. In 2018, Bryan was inducted int ...

, American musician *

Donald Bryan Donald Bryan is the former Acting Commissioner of Banking and Insurance in New Jersey. A career employee of his department, served as Director of the Division of Insurance from 1999 to 2006, where he served two separate stints as acting commissi ...

, American politician *

Dora Bryan Dora May Broadbent, (7 February 1923 – 23 July 2014), known as Dora Bryan, was a British actress of stage, film and television.Elizabeth Carew née Bryan, mistress of Henry VIII and wife of his close friend, Nicholas Carew * Elizabeth M. Bryan (1942–2008), British paediatrician * Ernie Bryan, Welsh footballer * Sir

Francis Bryan Sir Francis Bryan (about 1490 – 2 February 1550) was an English courtier and diplomat during the reign of Henry VIII. He was Chief Gentleman of the Privy chamber and Lord Justice of Ireland. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Bryan always ret ...

, brother of Elizabeth, sixteenth-century politician, known as ''The Vicar of Hell'' *

Gary Bryan Gary Bryan (born January 15, 1952) is an American radio DJ, currently on the air in Los Angeles, California at KRTH (K-Earth 101). With more than 30 years in broadcasting, Bryan's career includes major-market program director and morning show du ...

, American DJ * Gay Bryan, American long and triple jumper * George Bryan (1731–1791), colonial Pennsylvania businessman and politician * George Bryan, Scottish curler, European champion * George Hartley Bryan (1864–1928), English mathematician and engineer *

Godfrey Bryan Brigadier Godfrey James Bryan (29 December 1902 – 24 March 1991) was an English army officer and cricketer. A left-handed batsman, he played first-class cricket between 1920 and 1935 for Kent County Cricket Club and the Army cricket team. ...

(1902–1991), English cricketer *

Goode Bryan Goode Bryan (August 31, 1811 – August 16, 1885) was a planter, politician, military officer, and American Civil War general in the Confederate States Army. His brigade played a prominent role during the Battle of the Wilderness, fighting stubbo ...

American Civil War Confederate general * Henderson Bryan, Barbadian cricketer *

Henry Francis Bryan Henry Francis Bryan (May 3, 1865 – March 19, 1944) was a United States Navy Rear Admiral and the governor of American Samoa. He served as governor from March 17, 1925, to September 9, 1927. Bryan was one of only three naval governors of the terri ...

, 17th Governor of American Samoa * Henry Hunter Bryan, American politician *

Jack Bryan John Lindsay Bryan (26 May 1896 – 23 April 1985) was an English schoolteacher and cricketer who played for Cambridge University Cricket Club, Cambridge University and Kent County Cricket Club. Bryan served in the British Army in both World W ...

, English cricketer *

Jane Bryan Jane Bryan (born Jane O'Brien, June 11, 1918 – April 8, 2009) was an American actress groomed by Warner Bros. to become one of its leading ladies but she chose to retire from acting in 1940 at age 22, after which she became a philanthropist an ...

, American actress * Jenny Bryan, Canadian professor and R developer *

Jimmy Bryan James Ernest Bryan (January 28, 1926 – June 19, 1960) was an American racecar driver who won the 1958 Indianapolis 500. Born in Phoenix, Arizona, Bryan died as a result of injuries sustained in a champ car race at Langhorne Speedway. Career ...

, American racing driver * John Davies Bryan (1857-1888), Welsh retailer *

John H. Bryan John Henry Bryan Jr. (October 5, 1936 – October 1, 2018) was an American businessman who was the chairman and CEO of Sara Lee Corporation from 1975 until 2001. He also was the philanthropic driving force behind the creation of Millennium Park ...

, American CEO * John Neely Bryan, Founder of the city of Dallas *

Joseph Hunter Bryan Joseph Hunter Bryan (April 9, 1782 – December 28, 1839) was a Congressional Representative from North Carolina. He was born in Martin County, North Carolina, and was a brother of Henry Hunter Bryan. Member of the State house of commons 1804, ...

, American politician *

Joseph M. Bryan Joseph McKinley Bryan (February 11, 1896 – April 26, 1995) was an American insurance executive, broadcast pioneer, and philanthropist. Born in Elyria, Ohio, Bryan was the second son of Bart Bryan and Caroline Ebert Bryan. After serving ove ...

, American businessman and philanthropist * Karen Bryan, Speech therapist and deputy vice-chancellor of the University of Greenwich *

Kean Bryan Kean Shay Bryan (born 1 November 1996) is an English professional footballer who plays for EFL Championship club West Bromwich Albion. Career Manchester City Bryan began his career at Manchester City at the age of 11, and went on to captain th ...

, English footballer *

Kirk Bryan (geologist) Kirk Bryan (22 July 1888 in Albuquerque, New Mexico Territory – 22 August 1950 in Cody, Wyoming) was an American geologist on the faculty of Harvard University from 1925 until his death in 1950. The son of R.W.D. Bryan (Astronomer under Hall in ...

, American geologist *

Kirk Bryan (oceanographer) Kirk Bryan Jr. (born July 21, 1929), son of Kirk Bryan, Sr.(geologist, 1888–1950) is an American oceanographer who is considered to be the founder of numerical ocean modeling. Starting in the 1960s at the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, ...

(born 1929), American oceanographer *

Lettice Bryan Lettice Pierce Bryan (1805–1877) was an American author, who wrote ''The Kentucky Housewife'', a cookbook originally published in 1839. Life Lettice Pierce was born in central Kentucky, probably near Danville, Kentucky, Danville, to James A ...

(1805–1877), American author * Luke Bryan, American country music singer-songwriter *

Margaret Bryan Margaret Bryan, Baroness Bryan (c. 1468 – c. 1551/52) was lady governess to the children of King Henry VIII of England, the future monarchs Mary I, Elizabeth I, and Edward VI, as well as the illegitimate Henry FitzRoy.She was also Lady Govern ...

, made Baroness Bryan in her own right for running the households of all four of Henry VIII's acknowledged children *

Mark Bryan Mark William Bryan (born May 6, 1967) is an American musician. He is a founding member, songwriter, and the lead guitarist for the band Hootie & the Blowfish. In 1986, Bryan and his friend Darius Rucker formed a duo called The Wolf Brothers whi ...

, Veterinarian * Marvin Bryan, English footballer *

Michael Bryan (art historian) Michael Bryan (9 April 1757 – 21 March 1821) was an English art historian, art dealer and connoisseur. He was involved in the purchase and resale of the great French Orleans Collection of art, selling it on to a British syndicate, and ow ...

, Art connoisseur and author * Nathan Bryan, American politician *

Nathan P. Bryan Nathan Philemon Bryan (April 23, 1872 – August 8, 1935) was a United States senator from Florida and a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Education and career Born on April 23, 1872, in Fo ...

, American politician *

Quisi Bryan Quisi Bryan (born October 2, 1970) is an American man convicted of murdering Cleveland police officer Wayne Leon during a traffic stop in 2000. Bryan is on death row in Ohio and is scheduled to be executed on January 7, 2026. Crimes On June 25, ...

(born 1970), American murderer on death row * Rebecca Bryan, wife of Daniel Boone *

Richard Bryan Richard Hudson Bryan (born July 16, 1937) is an American attorney and politician who served as a United States Senator from Nevada from 1989 to 2001. A Democrat, Bryan served as the 25th Governor of Nevada from 1983 to 1989, and before that serv ...

, American politician * Ronnie Bryan (1898–1970), English cricketer *

Sabrina Bryan Reba Sabrina Hinojos (born September 16, 1984), known professionally as Sabrina Bryan, is an American dancer, choreographer, actress and singer. She was best known as a member of the girl group The Cheetah Girls, and starred in the Disney Channe ...

, American actress *

Samuel Bryan Samuel Bryan (September 30, 1759 in Philadelphia October 6, 1821 in Chester County, Pennsylvania) was a resident of Pennsylvania and Anti-Federalist author, who wrote during the Confederation Period. Historians generally ascribe to him the lette ...

, American political writer * Taven Bryan, American football player *

Thomas Bryan (VC) Thomas Bryan VC (21 January 1882 – 13 October 1945) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. Early ...

, British soldier * Thomas Bryan (Chief Justice), English judge who served as Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas *

Vincent P. Bryan Vincent Patrick Bryan (June 22, 1878 – April 27, 1937) was an American composer and lyricist. In the 1903-1909 production of '' The Wizard of Oz'' he was called upon to introduce new songs in numerous revisions. *with Theodore F. Morse * ...

, Canadian songwriter *

William James Bryan William James Bryan (October 10, 1876 – March 22, 1908) was an American politician, attorney, and prosecutor who was a Democratic U.S. Senator from the American state of Florida. Bryan's stint in the Senate was brief, having been appointe ...

(1876–1908), US Senator from Florida *

William Jennings Bryan William Jennings Bryan (March 19, 1860 – July 26, 1925) was an American lawyer, orator and politician. Beginning in 1896, he emerged as a dominant force in the Democratic Party, running three times as the party's nominee for President ...

(1860–1925), American politician and three-time Presidential candidate *

William Joel Bryan William Joel Bryan (December 14, 1815 – March 3, 1903) was a Texas soldier and planter. Biography Early life William Joel Bryan was born on December 14, 1815 at Hazel Run in Sainte Genevieve County, Missouri. His father was James Bryan and hi ...

, Texan soldier & landowner *

Zachery Ty Bryan Zachery Ty Bryan (born October 9, 1981) is an American actor and film producer. He is best known for his role as Brad Taylor on the ABC sitcom ''Home Improvement''. He also appeared in the films '' True Heart'' and '' The Fast and the Furious: ...

(born 1981), American actor

References

{{surname English-language surnames

People with this surname

See also

References