Show ContentsBramhall History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancestors of the name Bramhall date back to the days of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from their residence in Bramhall in Greater Manchester. Bromale was a township in the parish of Stockport.

Early Origins of the Bramhall family

The surname Bramhall was first found in Greater Manchester where the place dates back to at least the Domesday Book where it is listed as Bramale (Bromale.) [1] In more recent years, the township is known as Bramhall and is found in the parish and union of Stockport, hundred of Macclesfield, Chester.

"The manorial mansion is a curious edifice of timber and brick plastered over; it stands on elevated ground, and possesses great interest, as part of the wooden building is supposed to date as far back as the reign of John. At the south-east angle is the domestic chapel, apparently of the time of Richard III., having a flat panelled roof, and a considerable quantity of painted glass in the windows." [2]

The place name literally means "nook of land where broom grows" derived from the Old English words "brom" + "halh" [3].

The first record of the family was listed in the source, Earwaker's East Cheshire where Mathew de Bromale was listed as holding lands in Cheshire, temp. 1150. [4]

Some of the family has Scottish roots as noted by Broomhall Castle, built in 1874, located in Menstrie, Clackmannanshire, Scotland. It is still in good condition and today is in use as a hotel.

Early History of the Bramhall family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bramhall research. Another 123 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1502, 1594, 1595, 1602, 1616, 1628, 1633, 1635, 1639, 1642, 1644, 1653, 1654, 1659, 1660, 1661, 1662, 1663, 1664, 1666 and 1781 are included under the topic Early Bramhall History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bramhall Spelling Variations

Bramhall has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Many variations of the name Bramhall have been found, including Bramhall, Bramall, Bramhill, Brammall, Bramwell and others.

Early Notables of the Bramhall family

Notables of the family at this time include

  • John Bramhall, Mayor of Pontefract in 1502; and John Bramhall (1594 -1663) an Anglican theologian and apologist, Archbishop of Armagh, Primate of All Ireland. He was born in Pontefract, Yorkshire, the...

Ireland Migration of the Bramhall family to Ireland

Some of the Bramhall family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 250 words (18 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Bramhall migration to the United States +

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Bramhalls to arrive on North American shores:

Bramhall Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • George Bramhall, American settler and landowner who moved to the Portland, Maine area in 1680 and bought 400 acres; he was killed during the French and Indian Wars, but his name survived by the eponymous Bramhall Hill
Bramhall Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • George Bramhall who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1858
  • Thomas Bramhall, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1860
  • Eleonore Bramhall, aged 17, who settled in America, in 1896
Bramhall Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Charles Bramhall, aged 22, who landed in America from York, in 1904
  • Gladys Bramhall, aged 26, who immigrated to America from Liverpool, in 1905
  • Jaques Bramhall, aged 28, who immigrated to the United States from Kingston, Jamaica, in 1907
  • Elizabeth Bramhall, aged 4, who immigrated to the United States from Stockport, England, in 1910
  • Fred Bramhall, aged 29, who landed in America from Bredbury, England, in 1910
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Bramhall migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Bramhall Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Bramhall, English convict who was convicted in Doncaster, Yorkshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Equestrian" on 25th January 1844, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Island) [5]
  • Thomas Bramhall, English convict from Lancaster, who was transported aboard the "Anna Maria" on March 6, 1848, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia [6]
  • Mr. John Taylor Bramhall, Scottish convict who was convicted in Jedburgh, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Fairlie" on 9th Mary 1852, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Island), he died in 1852 [7]

Contemporary Notables of the name Bramhall (post 1700) +

  • Arthur Washington "Art" Bramhall (1909-1985), American Major League Baseball third baseman who played two games in 1935 with the Philadelphia Phillies
  • Dr. E.H. Bramhall (b. 1933), American physicist on the Byrd Antarctic Expedition, eponym of Mount Bramhall, a peak of the Walker Mountains, Antarctica
  • Doyle Bramhall II (b. 1968), American musician, producer, guitarist, and songwriter known for his work with Eric Clapton, Roger Waters and many others, son of Doyle Bramhall
  • Doyle Bramhall (1949-2011), American Blues singer, songwriter, drummer
  • John Bramhall (b. 1956), former English professional footballer who played from 1976 to 1991
  • Steven Bramhall (b. 1967), former English cricketer whop played from 1988 to 1994
  • Dorothy Bramhall, British actress, active from 1944 to 1954 and appeared in 10 films

HMS Hood
  • Mr. Harold Bramhall (b. 1918), English Joiner 4th Class serving for the Royal Navy Special Reserve from Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking [8]


The Bramhall Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Sanguine Christe tuo
Motto Translation: By Thy Blood O' Christ.


  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  4. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  5. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 4th May 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/equestrian
  6. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2015, January 8) Anna Maria voyage to Van Diemen's Land or Port Phillip, Australia in 1848 with 190 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/anna-maria/1848
  7. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 26th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
  8. H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm


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