Brysen

Brysen is coined from Bryson, a surname-turned-first-name with a couple of potential etymologies. This is where it gets tricky. Some etymologies assign Bryson’s meaning to the Gaelic clan name O’Briosáin which is an altered variation of O'Muirgheasáin (English: Morrissey). How these two seemingly disparate family names are connected, we have no clue – yet all the research we’ve done seems to point in this direction. Apparently both clan names originated in Northern Ireland (Ulster), specifically in Counties Donegal and Derry, where dialectically they have approximately similar phonetic renderings. Then the Anglo-Normans came along and corrupted the pronunciations and spellings even more; for instance, Mrieson morphed into both Bryson and Morrissey. So if we are to accept this etymology, then we must dissect the name Muirgheasáin. First of all, it’s a diminutive (as evidenced by the Irish “-áin” suffix). Muirgheas is derived from the Old Gaelic elements “muir” meaning “sea” and “gus” meaning “vigor” – it probably developed as a nickname for one who was a hearty, strong and energetic sailor. This would make sense considering the modern-day Brysons and Morrisseys descended from Donegal and Derry (northwest points of Ireland) which in part rest against the Atlantic Ocean and its “vigorous seas.” Now that we got that complicated explanation out of the way, we have another potential etymology for you. Bryson could also have another Celtic origin – this time Welsh. From this perspective, Bryson is a patronymic surname meaning “son of Brice/Bryce”, with Bryce representing a diminutive of Rhys, which is a Welsh masculine name that means “ardor, passion”. Bryce is basically an Anglicization of “ap + Rhys” which is a Welsh way of saying “son of the ardent one”. The “Ap” connector means “son of” in Welsh just as the M(a)c/ Ó means the same in Irish surnames, M(a)c in Scottish-Gaelic and Fitz in Anglo-Norman. Brysen is more of an American spelling, while Bryson is the English form of the Irish Briosáin or the Welsh “son of ap-Rhys”.