Braceland History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Braceland is a name that was formed by the Anglo-Saxon society of old Britain. The name was thought to have been used for someone who once worked as a maker of breech-girdles. The first portion of the surname is derived from the Old English word brec, which in turn comes from the Old French word braie, which means breeches. The second portion of the name comes from the Old English word gyrdel, which means girdle. 1

Early Origins of the Braceland family

The surname Braceland was first found in Cheshire. "The Bracegirdles were an old Cheadle family, one of the members being rector of Billing, Northamptonshire, in the reign of Elizabeth. The name is at present most at home in the Knutsford district, but is still to be found in Cheadle." 2

Early History of the Braceland family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Braceland research. Another 130 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1541, 1556, 1560, 1569, 1613, 1620, 1649, 1663, 1748 and 1749 are included under the topic Early Braceland History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Braceland 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 Braceland include Bracegirdle, Bracegerdle, Brasgirdle and others.

Early Notables of the Braceland family

Distinguished members of the family include John Bracegirdle (d. c. 1613), an English poet, supposed to have been a son of John Bracegirdle, vicar of Stratford-upon-Avon from 1560 to 1569. Anne Bracegirdle (1663?-1748), was one of the most popular and brilliant of English actresses, born about 1663, presumably in one of the midland counties. One source...
Another 55 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Braceland Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Braceland 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 Braceland were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: John Bracegirdle, who settled in New England in 1774.

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.