Broich History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

The ancestral home of the Broich family is in the German state of Bavaria. The name Broich is an occupational hereditary surname, a type of surname that was taken from a word describing or common to the profession of the original bearer. It is a name for a person who was physically powerful. This surname was originally derived from the Old German word brock which refers to those individuals who had a stocky or strong build. The surname Broich also has local origins, being derived from the Old German word brok which denotes that the original bearer of the surname lived near a marshy area.

Early Origins of the Broich family

The surname Broich was first found in the Rhineland, where the family became noted for its many branches within the region, each house acquiring a status and influence which was envied by the local princes. In their later history the family became a power unto themselves and were elevated to the ranks of nobility as they grew into this most influential family. The name may derives from the term "Brook" or "Brauk," which means a marshy landscape and was therefore common in the northern regions.

Early History of the Broich family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Broich research. Another 105 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1533, 1680 and 1747 are included under the topic Early Broich History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Broich Spelling Variations

One can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames: in early times, spelling in general, and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized; and later, spellings would change with branching and movement of families. Variations of the name Broich include Brock, Brocke, Brocken, Brockes, Brock, Brokke, Braeuck, Braucker and many more.

Early Notables of the Broich family

Another 32 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Broich Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Broich migration to the United States +

Hundreds of thousands of Europeans, including many Rhinelanders, made the voyage to North America between the 17th and 20th centuries. It was an escape from religious persecution and poverty and also an opportunity for people to start over and own their own land. Most landed at Ellis Island, off New York before moving on to the states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, Illinois, and California. Some also landed in Canada and settled in Ontario, while others headed west to the prairie provinces. A study of passenger and immigration lists has shown a number of people bearing the name of Broich, or one of its variants, reaching North America shores very early:

Broich Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Gerhard Wilhelm Broich, aged 19, who landed in America in 1881 1
Jos Broich, aged 26, who arrived in America in 1881 1

Citations +

Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)