[2] Within Britain, the territory which the Brigantes inhabited was bordered by that of four other peoples: the Carvetii in the northwest, the Parisii to the east and, to the south, the Corieltauvi and the Cornovii.

Other related forms from the modern Celtic languages are: Welsh brenin 'king' (< brigantīnos); Welsh/Cornish/Breton bri 'prestige, reputation, honour, dignity', Scottish Gaelic brìgh 'pith, power', Irish brí 'energy, significance', Manx bree 'power, energy' (all < *brīg-/brigi-); and Welsh/Cornish/Breton bre 'hill' (< brigā).

There were several ancient settlements named Brigantium around Europe, corresponding to modern places (many with cognate names), including Berganza in Álava (Spain), A Coruña and Bergantiños in Galicia (Spain), Bragança and Braga in Portugal, Briançon in France,[4][5] Brigetio on the border of Slovakia and Hungary,[6] Brigobanne[7] situated on the Breg River and near the Brigach river in south Germany (pre-Roman Vindelicia[8]) Bregenz in the Austrian Alps, and Brianza in Italy.

[10] Territorially the largest tribe in Britain, the Brigantes encompassed sub-tribes or septs such as the Gabrantovices on the Yorkshire Coast,[11] and the Textoverdi in the upper valley of the River South Tyne[12] near Hadrian's Wall.

The names Portus Setantiorum and Coria Lopocarum suggest other groups, the Setantii and the Lopocares located on the Lancashire coast and the River Tyne respectively.

During the Roman invasion, in 47 AD, the governor of Britain, Publius Ostorius Scapula, was forced to abandon his campaign against the Deceangli of North Wales because of "disaffection" among the Brigantes, whose leaders had been allies of Rome.

[14] In 51, the defeated resistance leader Caratacus sought sanctuary with the Brigantian queen, Cartimandua, but she showed her loyalty to the Romans by handing him over in chains.

The emperor Antoninus Pius (138–161) is said by Pausanias to have defeated them after they began an unprovoked war against Roman allies,[23] perhaps as part of the campaign that led to the building of the Antonine Wall (142–144).