Show ContentsBracebritch History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The history of the Bracebritch family goes back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It is derived from the family living in or near the settlement of Bracebridge in Lincolnshire.

Early Origins of the Bracebritch family

The surname Bracebritch was first found in Lincolnshire, but "in the time of King John, the venerable family of Bracebridge, originally of Bracebridge in Lincolnshire, acquired by marriage in the person of Peter de Bracebridge with Amicia, daughter of Osbert de Arden and Maud, and granddaughter of Turchill de Warwick, the manor of Kingsbury in this county, an ancient seat of the Mercian Kings, and inherited by Turchill, called the last Saxon Earl of Warwick." 1

Early History of the Bracebritch family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bracebritch research. Another 72 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1428, 1547, 1553, 1558, 1562 and 1590 are included under the topic Early Bracebritch History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bracebritch Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Bracebritch include Bracebridge, Bracebrigg, Brasbridge and others.

Early Notables of the Bracebritch family

Distinguished members of the family include John Brasbrigg or Bracebrigge (fl. 1428), who appears as a priest of the convent of Syon in 1428. "He is said to have given a large number of books to the convent, and to have written a treatise entitled 'Catholicon continens quatuor partes grammaticæ,' which, with other manuscripts belonging to Syon monastery, passed to Corpus...
Another 61 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bracebritch Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Bracebritch family

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Bracebritch or a variant listed above: one of the first settlers, an unknown pioneer whose family rose to great stature in early Canada, naming the town of Bracebridge in Ontario.



  1. Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.


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