O'Brian Surname Meaning & Coat of Arms

There is no single O'Brian family crest for every bearer. Herald Lab researches the arms historically associated with the name and explains whose they were.

Family name meaning

Seen on a birth certificate or a ship's manifest, O'Brian is usually a form of O'Brien. Taken at its root, O'Brian points to “Descendant of Brian Boru”.

O'Brian is listed among the recognised spellings of O'Brien. Census takers and immigration officers often wrote what they heard. You may also find the name written O'Bryan, O'Brion and Brien. According to the 2010 US Census, the O'Brian surname had 3,203 bearers.

Want more than a summary? See the O'Brian family name pack.