Branter History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

The Branter surname finds its earliest origins with the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name is derived from the common Old English personal name, Brand, or the Old Norse name, Brandr. The word brand comes from the Germanic word brand, which means sword. This surname was found in Lincolnshire, where the family can trace its origin to shortly after the Norman Conquest. "As a personal name it occurs in the genealogy of the Northumbrian kings from Woden. It was a very common old Scandinavian name, and it is still used in Iceland. " 1

"The name Brand in England is usually taken to be of Norse origin, but it may be noted that as early as 1046 we find Bransbury, Hants, as Brandesburh, while Branston, Staffs, is Brantestun, in a charter (Birch, Cart. Saxonicum, 978) dated 956." 2

Another source noted that "Walter Brandus held lands by knight service in the Viscounty of Caen 1165 and William Brant had estates Norfolk 1086. (Domesday Book)" 3 4

Early Origins of the Branter family

The surname Branter was first found in Lincolnshire where the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list: William Brand, or Brant; and Walter Brand, or Brant. The same rolls also listed John Brand, Oxfordshire; Robert Brand, Oxfordshire; and Wymer Brant, Norfolk. 5

Further to the north in Scotland, early records there revealed "Giliane Brand held land in Irvine, 1323. Thomas Brand was burgess of Edinburgh in 1512, and the name was common there in the seventeenth century." 2

Early History of the Branter family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Branter research. Another 253 words (18 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1100, 1150, 1506, 1591, 1605, 1626, 1631, 1635, 1660, 1662, 1663, 1668, 1674, 1685, 1691, 1700 and 1738 are included under the topic Early Branter History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Branter Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Branter are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Branter include: Brand, Brande, Brands, Brander, Brant, Branter and others.

Early Notables of the Branter family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Joseph Brand (1605-1674), an English merchant, landowner and politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1660 and Sheriff of Suffolk from 1662 to 1663; and Thomas Brand (1635-1691), an English nonconformist minister and divine.John Brand (1668?-1738)...
Another 46 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Branter Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Branter family

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Branter or a variant listed above: Benjamin Brand who settled in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630; John Brand settled in Virginia in 1670; John Brande settled in Maryland in 1775; they also settled in Pennsylvania, Mississippi, Texas and Massachusetts in the 18th and 19th centuries..

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)