Family Name History


     The english surname Brazier is occupationnal in origin, being one of those surnames based on the type of work a man once did or the profession he once pursued. In this instance, the surname is derived from the old English word "brasian", meaning "to make of brass", and as such would indicate that the original bearer of the surname was a brass founder by trade in the medieval ages. Occasionally, it originates from Old English "Broesian" which means "to cast in brass" this is an occupational name for "A worker in brass", particularly in smelting and pouring of moulton brass onto sand to form a Brass Sheet.

     It must be remembered that before the advent of the hereditary system of surnames, it was not unusual to name a person according to the type of work that he was associated with as it provided a simple form of identification and distinguished the bearer from others in the community. References to this medieval occupation date back to the Middle Ages and mention of the occupation is recorded in Cocke Lorrelle's Bote which dates back to the sixteenth century when he says "Pavyers, bell-makers, and brasyers ". Early references to the surname date back as far as the thirteenth century and are substantiated by numerous medieval sources. Some a these early instances include Henry le Brazur who was mentioned in the "Hundred Rolls" for Huntingdonshire in 1273 an also William Brasier who is recorded in the "Subsidy Rolls" for Essex in 1327. The "London Commercial and Court Directory" recorded seven instances of the surname in 1870. William Brazier, a labourer, aged nineteen, sailed from London to virginia on the ship 'Elisabeth" as an indented servant in November, 1774, and is evidence of the early existence of the surname in America.

    The Brazier surname, is also derived from the name Brashears and is a patronymic version of the English occupational name Brasher, which was brought to England by the Normans during the Conquest. Brasher is derived from Old French "brasser" which means "to brew." A French cognate is LeBrasseur.