This is an Anglo-German-Swiss surname. Recorded in many forms including Brand, Brandt, Braund, Brann, Braun, Braune, Braunes, Brawn, Brown, Brun (both English and German), locational compounds such as Brandeston, Branston and Braunston (England), Braunbach, Braunward and Brunger (Germany), and residentials meaning 'of a place called Braun', such as Branner, Brauninger, and Braunninger, (also Germany), it is an ancient surname of very confusing origins. All basic spellings do ultimately derive from the pre 7th century germanic word 'brand' meaning a sword, itself a derivative of 'brinnan' meaning to flash. Brand itself, Brando and Bruno were all very early personal names which have come down through the many centuries as both personal and subsequently surnames. Early examples of recordings taken from surviving rolls and charters of the medieval period include: Ralph Brand in the Pipe Rolls of the city of London in 1184, and in Switzerland Heinrich Brunonis is recorded in 1199, whilst a Dr Martin Braunninger is recorded at Konstanz, Germany, in 1490. An early example of the coat of arms from Germany has the blazon of a red field, in base a green field and a silver prancing horse. The first recorded spelling of the family name in any form is believed to be that William Brant. This was dated 1086, in the famous Domesday Book of England, during the reign of King William 1st, known as "The Conqueror", 1066 - 1087. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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