Bracken Family History
Bracken Name Meaning
Irish: Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Breacáin ‘descendant of Breacán’ a personal name from a diminutive of breac ‘speckled spotted’ which was borne by a 6th-century Christian saint who lived at Ballyconnel County Cavan and was famous as a healer; Saint Bricin's Military Hospital Dublin is named in his honor. Irish: from Ó Bragáin see Bragan . English: topographic name from Middle English braken ‘bracken’ (from Old English bræcen or Old Norse brakni) or a habitational name from a place called with this word such as Bracken in East Yorkshire Bracken Fold in Westmorland or Bracon Ash in Norfolk. German: especially in the north probably a topographic name from Middle Low German brake ‘brushwood fallow land copse’ an element of many field and placenames.
Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022