Also recorded as Brabs, Brabbes and Brabe, this name is a short or nickname form of the Netherlands 'Brabant', usually found in the England as Brabazon, Brabham or Brabson. 'Brabant' was a province within the Federation of the Netherlands and the men of Brabant were renouned for their fierce fighting. They were employed, specifically by the British, as mercenary soldiers, in particular against the French and Spanish and were the 'Commandos' of their day. As Brabysson the name is recorded as early as 1472, although the shortened variant is much later. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Daniel Brabbs. which was dated 1715 (Baptised) at St. Boltophs, Bishopgate, London. during the reign of King George I 'Hanover George' 1715-1727. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.