Show ContentsBrawford History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancestors of the name Brawford date back to the days of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from their residence in Derbyshire, where they held a family seat in Brelsford. The place-name Brelsford was originally derived from the Old English broegelsford, which means manor on a hall near a fording place on a river. 1

Early Origins of the Brawford family

The surname Brawford was first found in Derbyshire at Brailsford, a parish, in the hundred of Appletree. "The manor, which in the reign of the Confessor had belonged to Earl Wallef, was one of those given by William the Conqueror to Henry de Ferrers, under whom it was held by Elsin, ancestor of the ancient family of Brailsford. From the Brailsfords the property passed by marriage to the Bassetts, and from them in the same way to the Shirleys: the manor now belongs to the Evans family." 2

Early rolls revealed some interesting early spellings. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed Robert de Brailisford, Derbyshire and the Derbyshire Writs of Parliament listed Henry de Braylesford, 1301. 3

Early History of the Brawford family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Brawford research. Another 103 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1060, 1450, 1660 and 1678 are included under the topic Early Brawford History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Brawford Spelling Variations

Brawford 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 Brawford have been found, including Braylsford, Braylford, Brayleford, Brailsford, Braylesford, Brawlford, Brawford, Brelisford, Brellisford and many more.

Early Notables of the Brawford family

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


United States Brawford migration to the United States +

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 Brawfords to arrive on North American shores:

Brawford Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Sarni Brawford, who landed in Virginia in 1740 4
  • Samuel Brawford, who arrived in Augusta County, Va in 1740 4
  • Samuel Brawford who settled with his family in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina in 1767 aged 2
  • Samuel Brawford, who settled in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina in 1767


  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  4. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)


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