Brinkle History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The present generation of the Brinkle family is only the most recent to bear a name that dates back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name comes from having lived in or near the settlement of Brinkley in the county of Cambridgeshire.

Early Origins of the Brinkle family

The surname Brinkle was first found in Cambridgeshire at Brinkley, a small village about 15 miles from Cambridge in the union of Newmarket, hundred of Radfield. 1 The village dates back to the late 12th century when it was first listed as Brinkelai and literally meant "woodland clearing of a man called Brynca," from the Old English personal name + "leah." 2

Early History of the Brinkle family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Brinkle research. Another 35 words (2 lines of text) covering the years 1546, 1550, 1583 and 1585 are included under the topic Early Brinkle History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Brinkle Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Brinkle include Brinkley, Bringley, Bringle, Bringlow, Bringley, Brinklow, Brinkley and many more.

Early Notables of the Brinkle family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

John Brinkley, Bishop of Cloyne; and Stephen Brinkley (b. 1550-1585?), an English printer, covertly producing Roman Catholic literature under Elizabeth I of England. He was tortured at the Tower of Lo...

Migration of the Brinkle family to Ireland

Some of the Brinkle family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 75 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Brinkle family

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Brinkle were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: John Brinklow who settled in New England in 1763; John Brinkley settled in New England in 1773; James Brinkley settled in New England in 1755.

The Brinkle 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: Mutabimur
Motto Translation: Be changed

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)