Hello Sylvia: I agree that O'Brien sounds very Irish. That's the story that had been handed down though. Interestingly, Sylvia Magin replied that one of her aunts was an O'Brien and that the old pronunciation was actually o-BREE-on. This is exactly the pronunciation that I had been told about. I was also told that the spelling was something like Obryyn. I'm not sure whether the unusual pronunciation led to speculation that the root was actually a Dutch name or if there is basis for that claim. I do have 1790 census data for Thomas O'Brien in Resselaerville, Albany County and an account of him arriving in East Jewett about 1806 (Early Settlers of East Jewett by Horatio N. Beach, reprinted from Catskill Examiner, 17 August 1871). Both of those references are to Thomas O'Brien. Does Obryyn or Obyun make any more sense to you? Thanks, Tom McHugh PS: I agree with all of the 'fan-mail' that you've been getting. This is a fantastic group here and you seem to be the driving force. Thanks again.