Bracken Family History

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.