Branscum History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The ancestors of the name Branscum date back to the days of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from their residence 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 Branscum family

The surname Branscum 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 Branscum family

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

Branscum Spelling Variations

Branscum has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Many variations of the name Branscum have been found, including Brancomb, Bronscombe, Branscom, Bronscom and others.

Early Notables of the Branscum family

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

Branscum Ranking

In the United States, the name Branscum is the 9,055^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 4

Migration of the Branscum family

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Branscums to arrive on North American shores: James Branscomb who settled in Barbados in 1692.

Contemporary Notables of the name Branscum (post 1700) +

Robbie Nell Tilley Branscum (1937-1997), American writer of children's books and young adult fiction

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/