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Dictionary of Medieval Names
from European Sources

Brian m. Of uncertain origin, possibly related to Proto-Brythonic *brigonos 'high, noble'.

The name of a 10th-11th C high king of Ireland.

England
Latin
1185x1186 Brien' (acc) PR-XXXVI p. 15; 1189 Brianus (nom) GASurv p. 165; 1194 Brianus (nom) RotCur-vol1 p. 6; 1530 Brianno (dat) LIWill-III p. 32; 1558 Bryanni (gen) Reg-KirkElla p. 1, Bryanus (nom) ibid. p. 1
Early Modern English
1530 Brian LIWill-III p. 22, Bryan ibid. p. 5, bryan PP-HenV p. 19; 1567 Bryant BEmar-vol2 p. 95; 1582 Brian StAnthonlin p. 29; 1583 Bryann HAmar-vol9 p. 68; 1588/9 Brian StMary-Ke p. iv; 1590 Bryan BEmar-vol1 p. 14
France
Latin
1258 Briani (gen) ArrestReg-volI I, Pentecost, Brianum (acc) ibid. I, Pentecost, Brianus (nom) ibid. I, Pentecost
Ireland
Latin
fin12thC Brian (nom) MunDocIr III, p. 24
Cite as: S.L. Uckelman. "Brian". In S.L. Uckelman, ed. The Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, Edition 2016, no. 1. http://dmnes.org/2016/1/name/Brian.