Bolbroke History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Bolbroke is part of the ancient legacy of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is a product of when the family lived in the parish of Bolingbrooke. The place dates back to the Domesday Book as Bolinbroc 1 from the Old English Bulingbroc, which literally meant brook associated with a bull. 2

Today there is also a village named New Bolingbroke located in the Lincolnshire Fens about 10km east of Coningsby.

Early Origins of the Bolbroke family

The surname Bolbroke was first found in Lincolnshire. Undoubtedly, one of the most interesting aspects of this surname is that King Henry IV of England, was also known as Henry of Bolingbroke because he was born at Bolingbroke Castle in Lincolnshire. The castle, now in ruins, was first fortified by the Saxons in the 6th or 7th century. In the 12th century the Normans built a Motte-and-bailey on a nearby hill above the settlement of Bolingbroke. The present structure was founded by Ranulf, Earl of Chester, in 1220 shortly after he returned from the Fifth Crusade.

Another source explains the castle's origin in a slightly different manner: "A castle was built by William de Romara, Earl of Lincoln, of which his descendant, Alicia de Lacey, was dispossessed by Edward II. Henry IV. was born in this fortress, and from it took the name of Henry of Bolingbroke: it was nearly demolished in the civil wars, the south-west tower being all that remains." 3

Lucy of Bolingbroke (died c. 1138) was an Anglo-Norman heiress and later in life, Countess of Chester. William de Bullingbroc was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1170-1180 in Lincolnshire and later, John be Bolingbrok was recorded in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1275 in Yorkshire. Much later, John Bullyngbroke was listed in Nottinghamshire in 1476 and William Bolyngbroke was found in the same shire in 1503. 4

Early History of the Bolbroke family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bolbroke research. Another 263 words (19 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1170, 1275, 1295, 1367, 1441, 1476, 1500 and 1503 are included under the topic Early Bolbroke History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bolbroke Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Bolbroke has been spelled many different ways, including Bolingbroke, Bollingbroke, Bolingbrook, Bullingbroke, Bullingbrook, Bollingbrooke, Bulingbroc, Bolingbrok, Bullyngbroke and many more.

Early Notables of the Bolbroke family

Another 48 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bolbroke Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Bolbroke family

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Bolbrokes to arrive in North America: a number of settlers who arrived by the 19th century.

Citations +

Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)