Show ContentsBraches History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Bavaria, one of the oldest and largest of the German states, is the birthplace of the Braches family. After the 12th century, hereditary surnames were adopted according to fairly general rules. Names derived from occupations were particularly common in this region. Braches is an occupational surname for master of hunting dogs. Further research showed the name was derived from the German word bracke. The surname Braches was also a nickname for a person that resembled a hunting dog. Moreover, the surname Braches is a nickname for a boisterous person, which is derived from the German word braht, which means loud or noise.

Early Origins of the Braches family

The surname Braches was first found in Bavaria, where this distinguished family contributed greatly to the development of an emerging nation.

Early History of the Braches family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Braches research. Another 90 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1637 and 1742 are included under the topic Early Braches History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Braches Spelling Variations

Many cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Braches include Brack, Bracke, Brach, Brache, Brak, Brakk, Brakke, Bracken, Brakken, Brachen, Bracker, Brakker, Bracher, Brackner, Brakkner, Brachner, Brackel, Brackell, Brachel, Brachell, Brakkel and many more.

Early Notables of the Braches family

More information is included under the topic Early Braches Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Braches migration to the United States +

Thousands of German settlers came to North America between the mid-17th and mid-20th centuries. The hardships of the long voyage were balanced by the opportunity to escape poverty and religious persecution. The descendents of these settlers still populate the states of Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. Many also live in Ontario and the prairie provinces of Canada. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Braches or a variant listed above:

Braches Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Johann Nik Braches, who arrived in North America in 1853 1


  1. 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)


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