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Brooker History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Brooker History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The vast movement of people that followed the Norman Conquest of England of 1066 brought the Brooker family name to the British Isles. They lived in Essex. The name, however, derives from the family's former residence in Broc, in the area of Anjou, France. 1

Early Origins of the Brooker family

The surname Brooker was first found in Essex. Medieval forms of the name are Ate-Broc, Atte-Broc, Attenbroke and was more often than not pluralized to Brooks and Brookes in modern times. 2

Originally from the Norman "Broc," meaning "a stream" or "at the brook," one of the first references was of Robert le Broc and Ranyllph le Broc, two knights having estates in Essex in the year 1119. A few years later, Eustace delbroc was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Northumberland in 1130 and Rand de Broc was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Hampshire in 1157. 3

The Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum, temp. Henry III-Edward I, listed Edelina del Brok. Henry III-Edward I 4

Early in the 13th century, William de la Broke was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls of Surrey in 1208 and Emma de Brokes was listed in the same source but in Suffolk in 1220. 3 The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list Alice de la Broke and Laurence del Broc. 5 In Somerset, William atte Brouke was listed there, 1 Edward III (during the first year of King Edward III's reign.) 6

Early History of the Brooker family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Brooker research. Another 204 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1214, 1512, 1532, 1545, 1560, 1563, 1569, 1592, 1601, 1602, 1608, 1614, 1632, 1643, 1646, 1648, 1652, 1655, 1660, 1664, 1676, 1680, 1683, 1685 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Brooker History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Brooker Spelling Variations

A multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Brook, Brooke, Brookes, Brooks, Brecks, Broocks and others.

Early Notables of the Brooker family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Richard Brooke (died 1569), Sheriff of Cheshire in 1563, he bought the manor of Norton, Cheshire from Henry VIII in 1545 following the dissolution of the monasteries; John Brooke, (died 1660) 1st Baron Cobham, an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1614 and 1643; Sir Henry Brooke, 1st Baronet (died 1664), an English soldier and politician; Robert Brooke, Sr...
Another 74 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Brooker Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Brooker Ranking

In the United States, the name Brooker is the 7,224^th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 7 However, in New Zealand, the name Brooker is ranked the 978^th most popular surname with an estimated 766 people with that name. 8

Migration of the Brooker family to Ireland

Some of the Brooker family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 124 words (9 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Brooker migration to the United States +

Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Brooker or a variant listed above:

Brooker Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Geo Brooker, aged 17, who landed in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Merchant's Hope" 9
Eliza Brooker, who landed in Virginia in 1651 9
Fra Brooker, who arrived in Virginia in 1653 9

Brooker Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Jacob Brooker, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1740 9
Peter Brooker, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1761 9

Brooker Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

William Brooker, who landed in New York in 1825 9
Albert Brooker, who landed in America in 1844 9
Robert George Brooker, who arrived in Ohio in 1891 9

Brooker migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Brooker Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Michael Brooker, who landed in Canada in 1834

Brooker migration to Australia +

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

Brooker Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Marding Brooker, English convict who was convicted in Surrey, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 22nd September 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
Mr. Thomas Brooker, English convict who was convicted in Surrey, England for life, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 13th July 1822, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
Mr. Thomas Brooker, English convict who was convicted in Surrey, England for life for burglary, transported aboard the "Chapman" on 6th April 1824, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 12
Mr. Mark Brooker, (b. 1808), aged 18, English porter who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life for stealing, transported aboard the "Earl St Vincent" on 20th April 1826, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 13
Martha Brooker, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Cleveland" in 1839 14
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Brooker migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Brooker Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Thomas Brooker, aged 22, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Jessie Readman" in 1872 15
Caroline Brooker, aged 19, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Jessie Readman" in 1872 15
Mr. Thomas Brooker, (b. 1850), aged 22, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Jessie Readman" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 14th December 1872 15
Miss Caroline Brooker, (b. 1853), aged 19, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Jessie Readman" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 14th December 1872 15
John Brooker, aged 17, a porter, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Strathnaver" in 1874
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Brooker (post 1700) +

Moe Brooker (1940-2022), American artist from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, known for his work in painting and fabrics and his use of bright colors such as "saturated pinks, mellow yellows and lime greens (that) are feasts for the eyes"
James "Jim" Kent Brooker (1902-1973), American bronze medalist pole vaulter at the 1924 Summer Olympics
Gary Brooker MBE (1945-2022), English singer-songwriter, pianist and founder and lead singer of the rock band Procol Harum
Paul Brooker (b. 1976), English professional footballer from Hammersmith, London
Stephen Michael Lord "Steve" Brooker (b. 1981), English football striker
Richard Brooker (1954-2013), English stuntman, best known for his role in Friday the 13th Part III
Moira Brooker (b. 1957), English television actress popular in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and the United States
Charles "Charlie" Brooker (1932-2020), Canadian bronze medalist ice hockey player who competed in the 1956 Winter Olympics
Ralph Anthony "Tony" Brooker (b. 1925), British academic and computer scientist, best known for developing the Mark 1 Autocode in 1954
Alex Brooker (b. 1984), British journalist and presenter
... (Another 6 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Brooker 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: Perseverando
Motto Translation: By persevering.

Citations +

The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Testa de Nevill or "Liber Feodorum" or "Book of Fees," thought to have been written by Ralph de Nevill, for King John (1199–1216)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 10th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 15th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
Convict Records of Australia. Retreived 26th January 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/chapman
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th September 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-st-vincent
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CLEVELAND 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Cleveland.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html