Spelling variations of this family name include: Brouwer, Brouwers, Brouwershaven, Brouwet, Brouwen, Brouwern, Brouwermann and many more.

First found in Holland, where the name became noted for it's many branches in the region, each house aquiring a status and influence which was envied by the princes of the region. The name was first recorded in Amsterdam, an ancient 13th century town held by the lords of Amstel. Giesebrecht II built a castle there. Giesebrecht III built the dam to keep out the sea. It is first mentioned in charters of 1275 when Floris IV, the count of Holland granted it's charter. It became a city of great mercantile wealth. It hold great treasures of art. In their later history the surname became a power unto themselves and were elevated to the ranks of nobility as they grew into a most influential family.

This of course is not where my family came from however. The Brouwers of Groningen were shopkeepers, merchants and farmers as best I can tell, but who knows they could have been the long lost cousins of one of those nobel Brouwers of Amsterdam!