The Book of Browns: The Story of One Big Extended Family

By E. Philip Brown

The Book of Browns looks at the history of the surname Brown and the people who are fortunate to share the same last name. Many famous people from all walks of life have this common surname but that does not mean they are ordinary.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Boosters Zone
• Release date: Oct 2, 2020
• ISBN: 9781087916941

Book preview

INTRODUCTION

The most priceless of jewels are not found at ground level. It’s easier to find iron ore than to discover gold. I mean, you have to dig for gold.

I had a similar experience while studying my family name, Brown. I knew there was greatness lurking beneath the surface, and if I wanted to access it, I would have to dig deep into my family history.

Over the years, I had grown weary of my surname. I frequently got poked by friends at about bearing such a bland and uninteresting name. It didn’t give off auras of adventure like the Piccard's of Switzerland, business like the Rothschilds of Germany, politics like the Clintons of America, and wealth, like the Rockefellers of the United States.

In comparison, the name Brown seemed to give off vibes of boredom. The first thing that anyone thought of was the color, and no one would advocate its importance. After long years of tolerating my family name and trying to deck it with prestige through hard work and discipline, I decided to go on an adventure.

Besides the fact that I was sick of being called Brownie and hearing friends say my name described the excreta's color, I was quite curious. I knew that such an endeavor required the study of my genealogy. Also, the thought of discovering other people with the same name and bloodline as myself was exhilarating.

The Book of Browns is a result of my intense research into my family history. Indeed, there’s a wealth of information and knowledge to be found in family genealogy and history. Whether there is a secret in your lineage you want to unearth, a loved one you want to locate, a question you want to be answered, a point you want to prove, or you are just being curious, it’s important to get to your family’s roots.

So I’m going to advise you to begin with this book. Within these pages, if you are not a Brown, you will discover why it is important to know the history behind your family name and be acquainted with your family’s genealogy. On the other hand, if you are a Brown, there is a lot you have not been told about your origins, and your life might not be as exciting as it ought to be without knowing what I discovered about our family name and kin.

In the course of my study, I discovered that family names did not always exist. People began to use family names in the 11th Century. According to history, aristocratic families were the first to use family names. Family names were formed as ordinary surnames were passed from one generation to another.

However, most people do not know the difference between a family name and a surname. While a surname can change after an individual's death and doesn’t always pass from a father to his children’s children, family names, also known as hereditary surnames, ensure that the family continues. The reasons for this differ;