Bryan is a surname found in the English-speaking world.
This surname has several different origins. One origin of the name is from an Anglo-Norman name, de Brionne, derived from either of two places called Brionne in the north of France—one is Brionne, in Eure; the other is Brionne in Creuse. It may also come from de Brienne from Brienne-le-Château. Another origin of the surname is as a patronymic, being borne by someone who was son of an individual named Bryan. In addition to being found in Brittany, it was used among the Breton followers of the Normans who appear in England and Ireland. Alternatively, Bryan might be the anglicized form of the Irish surname O'Brien. The Irish spelling of the surname Brien, Brian or the Norman spelling Bryan would then have a much longer origin in Ireland than in Brittany, predating the Normans.
Contents
People with the surname
A
Albert Vickers Bryan (1899–1984), American judge
Albert Vickers Bryan Jr. (1926–2019), American judge
Albert Bryan Jr. (born 1968), American politician, Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands
Albertus Bryne (1620s–1668), aka Albert Bryan, English organist and composer
Alfred Bryan (illustrator) (1852–1899), English illustrator
Alfred Bryan (lyricist) (1871–1958), Canadian songwriter
Arthur Bryan (1923–2011), British business executive
Arthur Q. Bryan, American comedian
Ashley Bryan (1923–2022), American author and illustrator
B
Benjamin Bryan (1840–1914) English journalist, editor, writer, and activist
Billy Bryan (born 1955), American football player
Billy Bryan (baseball) (1938–2026), American former Major League Baseball catcher
Bob Bryan (born 1978), American doubles tennis player with his twin brother Mike
Bob Bryan (geologist), Australian geologist
Brother Bryan, American Presbyterian minister
C
C. D. B. Bryan (1936–2009), American author and journalist
Cecil E. Bryan (1878–1951), American architect
Charles Bryan (disambiguation)
Charlie Bryan (1933–2013), American labor leader
D
David Bryan, American musician
Donald Bryan, American politician
Dora Bryan, British actress
E
Elizabeth Carew (c. 1500–1546), née Bryan, reputed mistress of Henry VIII and wife of his close friend, Nicholas Carew
Elizabeth M. Bryan (1942–2008), British paediatrician
Ernie Bryan, Welsh footballer
F
Francis Bryan (1490–1550), English courtier and diplomat known as The Vicar of Hell, brother of Elizabeth
Frank M. Bryan, professor of political science
Frank Bryan (cricketer) (1853–1923), English cricketer
G
Gary Bryan (born 1952), American DJ
Gay Bryan, American long and triple jumper
George Bryan (disambiguation)
Godfrey Bryan (1902–1991), English cricketer
Goode Bryan, American Civil War Confederate general
Gordon Bryan, Jamaican cricketer
Gordon Bryan (1895–1957), British pianist
H
Henderson Bryan, Barbadian cricketer
Henry Francis Bryan, 17th governor of American Samoa
Henry Hunter Bryan, American politician
I
Inés Bryan, Dominican Republic medic and politician
J
Jack Bryan, English cricketer
James Bryan (disambiguation)
Jane Bryan, American actress
Jenny Bryan, Canadian professor and R developer
Jimmy Bryan (1926–1960), American racing driver
Joe Bryan (born 1993), English footballer
John Bryan (disambiguation)
Joseph Bryan (1773–1812), American politician
Joseph Hunter Bryan (1782–1839), American politician
Joseph M. Bryan (1896–1995), American businessman and philanthropist
K
Karen Bryan, Speech therapist and deputy vice-chancellor of the University of Greenwich
Kathleen Price Bryan, American philanthropist
Kean Bryan, English footballer
Kirk Bryan (geologist), American geologist
Kirk Bryan (oceanographer) (born 1929), American oceanographer
L
Lettice Bryan (1805–1877), American author
Luke Bryan, American country music singer-songwriter
M
Margaret Bryan (c. 1468–c. 1551/52), governess of Henry VIII's acknowledged children
Mark Bryan (born 1967), American musician, a founding member, songwriter and lead guitarist of the band Hootie & the Blowfish
Mark Bryan (veterinarian), New Zealand veterinarian and researcher
Marvin Bryan, English footballer
Michael Bryan (disambiguation)
Mike Bryan (born 1978), American doubles tennis player with his twin brother Bob
N
Nancy Anne Bryan (1930–2010), American philanthropist
Nathan Bryan (North Carolina politician) (1748–1798), American politician
Nathan Bryan (scientist) (born 1973), American biologist
Nathan P. Bryan (1872–1935), American lawyer, judge and politician
P
Paul Bryan (musician) (born 1967), American musician
Paul Bryan (politician) (1913–2004), British politician
Q
Quisi Bryan (born 1970), American murderer
R
Rebecca Bryan, wife of Daniel Boone
Richard Bryan, American politician
Ronnie Bryan (1898–1970), English cricketer
S
Sabrina Bryan, American actress
Samuel Bryan, American political writer
Silas Bryan (1822–1880), American judge and politician
T
Taven Bryan, American football player
Thomas Bryan (disambiguation)
V
Vincent P. Bryan, Canadian songwriter
W
Wesley Bryan (born 1990), American professional golfer
William Bryan (disambiguation)
Z
Zachery Ty Bryan (born 1981), American actor
