This rare and interesting surname, of Anglo-Saxon origin, derives from the Middle English, and Olde English pre 7th Century personal name "Bryning", a patronymic from the Olde English given name "Bryni", from "bryne" meaning fire, flame. The latter is found as a placename element in, for example, the places called, Brington, Brinnington, and Brinton. The popularity of the personal name is borne out by the number of surnames it has generated. The surname dates back to the late 17th Century (see below). Variations in the spelling of the name include Brining, Brinning, Brenning, and Brynnin, and is found particularly widespread in the county of Lancashire. Among the recordings of the name in that county is that of the marriage Henry Bryning and Alic Jhonson, in Kirkham, on November 23rd 1589. London Church Records include the marriage of James Brynnin and Grace Haycock, on July 5th 1750, at St. George's, Mayfair, Westminster. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Elizabeth Brining, which was dated January 27th 1542, marriage to Nicholas Clarkson, in Kirkham, Lancashire, during the reign of King Henry V111, known as "Bluff King Hal", 1509 - 1547. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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