We have heard that the family name was originally Brun, then this name was changed to Brunn in the US by the family themselves. Why, I do not know for sure, but there are rumors.

I have some papers for Louis (Luigi) Brunn from 1917, showing he registered for the draft as Louis Brunn and it states in his own handwriting that Andreis, Italy was his birthplace and that he was a shoemaker at that time. I know that in a 1937 Hazleton, PA City Directory, he was a coal miner, so I am not sure how that occupation change occured or when.

Our Brunn family was Presbyterian here in the US and I am assuming they were Presbyterian in Italy also; many Northern Italians were. In fact, a cousin or uncle of Louis's, Rev. Joseph Brunn, was the Reverend at The Broome Street Tabernacle in Little Italy, NYC, for many years, and this was not a Catholic Church, but a Protestant one. He was born in Italy as was Louis, though we believe both married in the US, Italy.

As for Louis's father, I think his name was Giovanni. Louis's only son's name was John, and we were told he was named after Louis's father, who stayed in Italy when the brothers came over to America.

I was told that Louis came over alone, later, and that prior to that, two other brothers came over--Giovanni and either Antonio or Angelo.

My grandmother, Edith Brunn Eisenman, was a natural redhead and her father, Louis Brunn apparently was, too; I was told many of our Brun/n family members were, too.

As for the name being changed to Braun,it's possible that some family members took this name, which means Brown in German (as Brun means Brown in Italian). I was told a family rumor that our branch changed their name to Brunn with 2 n's because it was "more German sounding" and at the time Louis emmigrated from Italy to the US (1880s), Italians were looked down upon but Germans were seen as "industrious and clean".

That may be true, maybe not. Maybe it was just a mistake when someone signed their name, one time. Who knows!

I don't know if any of this fits for you and your family, but please let me know if it does ot does not, for my records.