Brabazon Family History

English: from Old French Brabançon Anglo-Norman French Brabanzon Middle English Brab(a)son ‘Brabanter’. This was originally an ethnic name for a native of the duchy of Brabant (now in north Belgium).

Medieval Brabant was widely known for two exports: its brutal mercenary soldiers and its linen cloth. In the 13th century, parts of France were devastated by marauding gangs of armed Brabanters, and brabançon came to be used generically to denote a mercenary, hired assassin, or robber.

These originated in Brabant and Flanders, but in the course of time accepted recruits from anywhere. The true source of the surname is the presence in many English (and Irish) towns of Brabant cloth merchants.