Surname Brassil - Meaning and Origin
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Brassil: What does the surname Brassil mean?
The last name Brassil is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the personal name Brace. It is believed to have originated in a place name deriving from the Old English word "braces", meaning "brushwood". As such, the Brassil family may have originally been a family of brushwood collectors, or have taken their name from the area they inhabited.
The Brassil name is relatively rare, though it can still be found throughout the British Isles. The Anglicized version of the name is Brace/Brassell/Brassill and is most commonly found in the counties of Gloucestershire, Hereford and Worcester, and the Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk region.
The Brassil name has also had some notable mentions in classic literature; the character William Brassil is a minor character in the novel Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson.
In modern times, the Brassil name is a proud reminder of the family’s rich history and origins, and a source of pride in the family’s strength and deep roots.
Order DNA origin analysisBrassil: Where does the name Brassil come from?
The last name Brassil is most commonly found today in Ireland. This surname has been firmly rooted in Irish history since at least the 16th century when it began to spread through the ranks of landowners, nobility, and the Catholic Church. In the 17th century, the name was used by settlers as part of the 'plantation movement'. Established families sent out numerous members of their family to settlements in North America, particularly in places such as the Carolinas, Virginia, and Maryland.
As the Irish diaspora spread, variations of the surname Brassil began to appear in different locations. In the United States, for example, it is seen as Brasseal, Brassell, or Brassello. In Canada and Britain, it is usually spelled Braseel,Brasill, Branchal, or Bronsell.
In modern day Ireland, the Brassil name is still very much alive and the counties with the highest frequency of the surname are Cork, Clare, Donegal, and Galway. Additionally, many of the Irish branches of the family have emigrated and the surname can now be found in a range of countries, from Australia and the United States to the United Kingdom and Canada.
Variations of the surname Brassil
Brassil is a surname with several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. Brassil is thought to be derived from an old Irish (Gaelic) name, O’Brasil or O’Brassell. Possible alternate spellings include Brasley, Brassel, Brassell, Brazel, Brazell, Brasil, Brazill, Brazle, Brazzle, Brasal, Brasell, Brezel, Pressel and Presselll.
The surname Brassil is thought to have originated in County Donegal in northwestern Ireland, where it is still found today. Early variants of the name are said to derive from a personal name such as Bresail, which is of Viking origin.
In the 16th and 17th centuries, many variations of the surname Brassil appear in Irish records. The name appears in the 1659 Census of Ireland with spellings such as Brasil, Brasell, Brezel and Presselll.
The Brassil surname was also carried to other countries by Irish emigrants. In England, Brassil is rarely found. In the United States, the name is fairly common, although the spelling Brazel and Brasel are more commonly found.
The surname Brassil is also common in Australia, where it arrived with 19th century Irish immigrants. The variants Brazill and Brazzle are also found in Australia, especially in New South Wales and Queensland.
It is likely that there are many other variations of the Brassil surname that have yet to be discovered. Regardless of the spelling, it is thought that persons bearing the Brassil surname are all descended from O’Brasil or O’Brassell, a historic Irish family.
Famous people with the name Brassil
- Conor Brassil: Former professional hurler who played for Kerry GAA and the Ballyheigue Hurling Club.
- Martin G. Brassil: Former CEO of Conrad Dublin.
- Mark Brassil: Racecar driver and one of the driving forces behind low-budget team Powerboard Racing.
- Will Brassil: Professional baseball player in the Los Angeles Angels organization.
- Meghann Brassil: Singer-songwriter and actress.
- Jack Brassil: Former Rallycross driver and FIA Vice-President for Motorsport.
- Alexandra Brassil: National champion and award-winning show jumper.
- Caroline Brassil: Founder and CEO of SleepRite International, a sleep-consultancy firm.
- Paddy Brassil: Irish singer known for his folk-rock and political songs.
- Patrick Brassil: Member of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland and former Director General of the Irish Film Board.