Show ContentsBraybroke History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancestors of the bearers of the Braybroke family name are thought have lived in ancient Anglo-Saxon England. They were first found in the parish Braybrook, Northamptonshire.

Early Origins of the Braybroke family

The surname Braybroke was first found in Northamptonshire at Braybrook(e), a parish, in the union of Market-Harborough, hundred of Rothwell. 1 The place name derived its name from Saxon times and the term "Brada-broc" meaning "the broad brook", 2

By the time of the Domesday Book of 1086, the place name had evolved to Bradebroc, Braibroc in the Pipe Rolls of 1163, and as Brabroc in the Feet of Fines of 1197.

Robert de Braibroc was a Baron by tenure temp. King John. Also known as Robert of Braybrooke or Robert le May (1168-1210), he was a medieval landowner, justice and sheriff. He was born at Braybrooke, Northamptonshire, son of justiciar Ingebald de Braybrooke. His son Henry of Braybrooke (died 1234) was an undersheriff of Rutlandshire, Buckinghamshire, and Northamptonshire. 3

The family held Braybrook Castle, originally a manor home, but by the late 13th century, the estate has passed into the hands of the Latymer family.

Later, Sir Gerard Braybrooke I (c.1332-1403), of Colmworth, Bedfordshire and Horsenden, Buckinghamshire, was an English politician, Member of Parliament for Bedfordshire (1377-1390.) He had two sons: Sir Gerard Braybrooke (before 1354-1429), an English politician, Member of Parliament for Bedfordshire (1388-1399) and for Essex (1402-1417); and Sir Reynold Braybrooke (c.1356-1405), another English politician, Member of Parliament for Kent in 1404. He died from a battle wound on 20 September 1405.

Baron Braybrooke, of Braybrooke in the County of Northampton, is a title created in 1788 for John Griffin, 4th Baron Howard de Walden and has no relationship to this family.

Early History of the Braybroke family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Braybroke research. Another 81 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1200, 1356, 1381, 1382, 1383, 1390, 1394, 1397, 1404 and 1405 are included under the topic Early Braybroke History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Braybroke Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Braybroke include Braybrook, Braybrooke, Brailbroc and others.

Early Notables of the Braybroke family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Robert Braybrooke (d. 1404), medieval Dean of Salisbury and Bishop of London, nominated (1381) and consecrated in 1382, named Lord Chancellor of England in 1382, out of the...
Another 36 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Braybroke Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Braybroke family

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Braybroke or a variant listed above: John Braybrook who settled in New England in 1630.



  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  3. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print


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