The name originally written Brus, or, Brusi, was found amongst the Vikings who settled in the Orkneys and Western Isles of Scotland. Sigurd the Stout, son-in-law of Malcolm II, had four sons, one of whom was named Brusi, and from whom it is claimed came the family of Brus who accompanied William the Conqueror to England.

The connection of the Brus family with Scotland originated when Robert de Brus was companion in arms to Prince, afterwards King David I during his stay at the court of Henry I of England. Brus received from King David a grant of the Lordship of Annandale. He resigned his lands to his son at the outbreak of war with England, and at the Battle of the Standard in 1138, the elder Brus took his son prisoner. Robert, 4th Lord of Annandale, married a niece of William the Lion, and on this marriage was based the subsequent claims of the family of Bruce to the throne of Scotland. Robert, 6th Lord of Annandale and 1st Earl of Carrick, maintained his claims, but fought on the English side at the Battle of Dunbar. He died in 1304.

His eldest son Robert, 7th Lord of Annandale and 2nd Earl of Carrick, was born in 1274. He was the famous King Robert the Bruce, the victor at Bannockburn in 1314, who after a fierce struggle gained the independence of Scotland acknowledged by the treaty of Northampton in 1328. He died in 1329 at Cardross and was buried in Dunfermline. His heart which was carried by Sir James Douglas reached Spain on its way to the Holy Land, but owing to the death of Sir James was brought bank to Scotland and buried at Melrose.

From the Bruces of Clackmannan are descended the Earls of Elgin.

Crest: a lion statant with the tail extended, azure.