Show ContentsBrathech History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Brathech is a name whose history is connected to the ancient Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from when the Brathech family once lived by a large, broad oak tree. The surname is derived from the Old English words brad, which means broad, and ac, which means oak.

Early Origins of the Brathech family

The surname Brathech was first found in Kent where one of the first records of the name was Geoffrey Brodhok who was listed there in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. Thomas del Brodok was listed a few years later in the Assize Rolls of 1282 and later Thomas Broddock was listed in the Nonarum Inquisitiones for Essex in 1341. 1

One source notes that Braddock of Broadoak is a parish, in the union of Liskeard, hundred of West, E. division of Cornwall and some of the family originated there. 2

Braddock, Bradock or Broadoak is a parish in the hundred of West, Cornwall. "This parish was taxed in Doomsday under its present name; 'which, if it be single,' says Hals, 'signifies a rebel or traitor; one that betrays the trust or fidelity reposed in him by another; otherwise, if it be compounded of Brad-ock or Brod-ock, it signifies broad trees of oak.' - Saxon. " 3

Early History of the Brathech family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Brathech research. Another 84 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1623, 1643, 1656, 1660, 1672, 1679, 1680, 1695, 1700, 1719 and 1755 are included under the topic Early Brathech History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Brathech Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Brathech family name include Braddock, Braddick, Braddocke and others.

Early Notables of the Brathech family

Distinguished members of the family include Sir Allen Brodrick (1623-1680), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1660 and 1679; and John Braddocke (1656-1719), an English divine from Shropshire. John Braddocke (1656-1719), was an English divine, a native of Shropshire, and received his education at St. Catharine's Hall, Cambridge. General Edward...
Another 53 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Brathech Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Brathech family

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, Canada, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Brathech surname or a spelling variation of the name include: Nathan Braddock who settled in Virginia in 1635; Nicholas Braddon, who came to America in 1685; James Braddick, who arrived in Virginia in 1704; Henry Braddock was a bonded passenger, who arrived in America in 1739.



  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  3. Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print


Houseofnames.com on Facebook