What is the origin of the last name Brown?

Question

What is the origin of the last name Brown?

Answer 1

This is what www.ancestry.com has to say about the name,

Brown Name Meaning and History

English, Scottish, and Irish: generally a nickname referring to the color of the hair or complexion, Middle English br(o)un, from Old English brun or Old French brun. This word is occasionally found in Old English and Old Norse as a personal name or byname. Brun- was also a Germanic name-forming element. Some instances of Old English Brun as a personal name may therefore be short forms of compound names such as Brungar, Brunwine, etc. As a Scottish and Irish name, it sometimes represents a translation of Gaelic Donn. As an American family name, it has absorbed numerous surnames from other languages with the same meaning.

hope this helps.

Answer 2

I thought it had a German origin coming from the name "Braun" but I found this, hope it'll help.

English, Scottish, and Irish: generally a nickname referring to the color of the hair or complexion, Middle English br(o)un, from Old English brun or Old French brun. This word is occasionally found in Old English and Old Norse as a personal name or byname. Brun- was also a Germanic name-forming element. Some instances of Old English Brun as a personal name may therefore be short forms of compound names such as Brungar, Brunwine, etc. As a Scottish and Irish name, it sometimes represents a translation of Gaelic Donn. As an American family name, it has absorbed numerous surnames from other languages with the same meaning.

Answer 3

houseofnames.com

Answer 4

Ah, some dude with brown hair, skin, house etc

Eg. Village has two dudes called Cecil.

Where is Cecil?

Cecil the ranga?

Nah, not ever, Cecil Brown!