Branscome History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Branscome first arose amongst the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is derived from their having lived in Devon, where they held a family seat at Branscombe in the 9th century. Shortly after the Norman Conquest the estates of Branscombe were owned by the Bishop of Exeter and according to the Domesday Book, 1 150 sheep were part of the holdings contributed to the supplies of the Abbey of Exeter.

Early Origins of the Branscome family

The surname Branscome was first found in Devon at Branscombe, a village that dates back to the ninth century. At that time, the village was named Branecescumbe but by the Domesday Book of 1086, it was listed there as Branchescome. The estates of Branscombe were owned by the Bishop of Exeter and the 150 sheep which was part of the holdings contributed to the supplies of the Abbey of Exeter. 1 The place name literally means "valley of a man called Branoc," for the Celtic personal name + the Old English "Cumb." 2 One of the earliest records of the surname was Walter Branscombe (Bronscombe, Branescombe, Bronescombe, Bronescomb c. 1220-1280), born in Exeter, an early English priest, Bishop of Exeter from 1258 to 1280; he is buried in Exeter Castle.

"The church [of Colon, Cornwall] is said to have been erected and endowed by Walter Bronscomb, bishop of Exeter, about the year 1250, and by him appropriated to the Augustine canons of his college of Glaseney near Penryn." 3

Early History of the Branscome family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Branscome research. Another 109 words (8 lines of text) covering the year 1327 is included under the topic Early Branscome History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Branscome Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Branscome has appeared include Brancomb, Bronscombe, Branscom, Bronscom and others.

Early Notables of the Branscome family

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

Branscome Ranking

In the United States, the name Branscome is the 18,321^st most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 4

Migration of the Branscome family

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Branscome arrived in North America very early: James Branscomb who settled in Barbados in 1692.

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)
Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/