Brackenbay History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The ancestors of the bearers of the Brackenbay family name are thought have lived in ancient Anglo-Saxon England. They were first found in Lincolnshire, where they derived their name from Brackenbury, a parish near Louth.

Early Origins of the Brackenbay family

The surname Brackenbay was first found in Lincolnshire where they held a family seat, some say well before the invasion of Duke William of Normandy at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Brackenbay family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Brackenbay research. Another 80 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1200, 1300 and 1485 are included under the topic Early Brackenbay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Brackenbay 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 Brackenbay include Brackenbury, Brackenborough, Brackenberry and others.

Early Notables of the Brackenbay family

Distinguished members of the family include Anthony Brackenbury of Thorpe Hall; and Sir Robert Brackenbury (died 1485), a younger son of Thomas Brackenbury of Denton, of an ancient Durham...
Another 28 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Brackenbay Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Brackenbay 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 Brackenbay or a variant listed above: Richard Brackenbury, who settled in Salem Mass, in about 1628; as did William Brackenbury, (presumably his brother or son). Another early immigrant was John Brackenbury, who arrived in Boston in 1657..

The Brackenbay 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: Sans recuiller jamais
Motto Translation: Without ever receding.