This is a German residential surname. It is believed to originate from the town of Brunn, and if so it describes an inhabitant of Brunn as in Brungger, or one from Brunn as in Brunning, Brunig or Bruniges. Brunn meaning brown is recorded in many surnames including Brune, Bruhns, Brunebarbe and Brunhardt. As to why a whole town should be called brunn is unclear, but may refer to the colour of the stone used, or even to a place on a river with muddy water. German surnames usually date from about the middle of the 13th century, a little later than England, but well in advance of the Scandanavian countries or Italy. Examples of recordings of this particular surname taken from surviving charters and registers include Counrad Brunig given as being a spitalfleger (arrow maker) from Barden in 1351, and Rudolf Brungger of Winterthur, a cleric from Konstanz.

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