Brannen
A surname likely related to Irish names built on the element for “raven” or “little raven,” with Brannon and Brannan as close kin.
The #8,084 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 75,285 Americans shares it.
Etymology
The surname Brannen is usually treated as an Anglicized form of an Irish Gaelic name from the element bran, meaning “raven.” In Irish surname formation, this could point to a personal name or nickname built on that word, sometimes with a diminutive sense such as “little raven.” Brannen is closely associated with spellings like Brannan, Brannon, and Brennan in older records, though exact lines of descent can vary by family.
History
The name appears in Irish-American usage alongside several related spellings, and nineteenth-century surname writers often grouped Brannen with Brannan and Brannon. Because many Irish surnames were Anglicized in more than one way, modern Brannen families may not all share a single medieval origin. The surname is now found especially in the United States and in Irish-descended communities.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The Irish word bran means “raven,” so several surnames in this cluster ultimately echo that bird’s name.
From the historical record
“Braniff. 268. Brannan. 121,43^ Brannen. Brannie. Brannon. 3S6. Branon. Breanon. Brenan.”
— Varieties and Synonymes of Surnames and Christian Names in Ireland