This is one of those very interesting surnames, which is actually very rare. However because of an association, in this case with an international airline, it is a 'household name' and appears to be quite popular. The origin is Irish and a develoment of the pre 10th century Gaelic O'Braduibh, translating as 'The descendant of the black raven'. The majority of Irish surnames have an origin in a nickname for the first chief of the clan, and these nicknames were based upon either appearance or activities directly associated with the leader.
The raven is a fierce bird which appears regularly in heraldry, and presumably the chief was considered to have similar properties. Unfortunately without actually being present when these names were bestowed, a thousand or more years ago, the precise meaning can only be conjecture. The surname was originally recorded only in County Down in Ulster, but even there it is rare. Examples of recordings taken from various registers include: Daniel Braniff, who sailed on the ship Joan-Clark of Liverpool bound for New York, on May 14th 1846, and later James Branniff, whose daughter Margaret was born at Portaferry, County Down, on November 24th 1864.
The history of the surname braniff is, like that of most surnames, a complex and fascinating journey to ancient times with the aim of unraveling the origin of braniff. The origin, the coat of arms or the different heraldic shields, and the bibliography in which the surname braniff is mentioned are part of this exciting investigation. We can try to trace the genealogy of the surname braniff, and in addition to the original locations of braniff, we can find out where people with the surname braniff can currently be found.
It is common for surnames like braniff to become known in places far removed from their country or region of origin. Discover which ones. The list of countries with a higher presence of people with the surname braniff provides us with a perspective on the history of the surname, beyond its origins, focusing on its migrations. The mobility of people carrying the surname braniff has led to its presence in different countries, as you can verify.
The historical journey of the surname braniff can be traced back to those who were the first bearers of braniff. For those like you, who are interested in the history hidden behind the surname braniff, it is essential to find all kinds of information, both direct and tangential, that helps to construct a solid narrative of how the birth and expansion of braniff developed. The history, heraldry, coats of arms, and possible nobility of the surname braniff are scattered in documents across various regions and historical periods, so it is necessary to reconstruct a complex puzzle to approach the facts from a realistic perspective.
You can visit us regularly to get more information about the origin of the surname braniff, as we frequently accept significant contributions from other individuals interested in heraldry and the history of surnames. We keep our website updated through our own research and also thanks to contributions from people like you, after verification; so if you have information about braniff and send it to us, we will update it on this website. Please note that if you are in a position to provide more data about the surname braniff or any other surname and its origin, we would appreciate your collaboration with us by sending us information about the origin of braniff.
Unfortunately, it's highly probable that not all braniffs who performed notable deeds have been included in historical chronicles and records. Sadly, not all the contributions of those who bore the surname braniff were recorded by the chroniclers of the time. A surname like braniff can connect a person to an illustrious lineage and a distinguished coat of arms. However, it must be kept in mind that it is individual people who, through their lives and actions, bring fame and recognition to their surnames. It is our desire to highlight in this section those individuals with the surname braniff who, for various reasons, have left their mark on the course of history.
It goes without saying that consulting bibliographic and documentary sources is essential when accessing information about the origins of the surname braniff. The origin, history, coat of arms or different coats of arms, and the heraldry of braniff are recorded in a wide variety of sources and documents that are essential to know for better compilation. We consider it highly advisable to refer to the following sources if you wish to conduct research on the surname braniff, as well as many other surnames.
These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of braniff, and at the same time, of surnames in general.