Brink History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsThe name Brink comes from the Rhineland, an ancient region of Germany. In pre-medieval times, the Germans used only one name, but later they were forced by a growing population to adopt hereditary surnames; so as to remain distinct from the many others of the same first name. Local names were often chosen. They originally indicated land ownership, and frequently carried the prefix von, meaning "of" or "from," which is often taken as an indication of aristocratic lineage. Brink was a name for some one lived beside a meadow or grassy pasture. Brink is a topographic surname, which was a type of local name given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. Habitation names form the other broad category of surnames that were derived from place-names. They were derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. Other local names are derived from the names of houses, manors, estates, regions, and entire counties. Early Origins of the Brink familyThe surname Brink was first found in the Rhineland, where this family name became a prominent contributor to the development of the district from ancient times. Always prominent in social affairs, the name became an integral part of that turbulent region as it emerged to form alliances with other families within the Feudal System and the nation. The name Brink derives originally from the German word that describes a grassy meadow or pasture. Early History of the Brink familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Brink research. Another 110 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1814, 1835 and 1870 are included under the topic Early Brink History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Brink Spelling VariationsMany cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Brink include Brink, Brinker, Brinck, Brincke, Brinkmann, Brinkman, Brinckmann, Brinckman, Brinckemann and many more. Early Notables of the Brink familyMore information is included under the topic Early Brink Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Brink World RankingIn the United States, the name Brink is the 2,853rd most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 1 However, in Netherlands, the name Brink is ranked the 174th most popular surname with an estimated 6,770 people with that name. 2 And in South Africa, the name Brink is the 577th popular surname with an estimated 11,957 people with that name. 3
Between the 17th and 20th centuries, hundreds of thousands of Europeans came to North America, and many Rhinelanders were among them. They had many various reasons for making the choice: to escape poverty and persecution, for adventure, and for the opportunity to own their own land. Ellis Island, one of the main American immigration centers, saw many settlers as they moved on to the states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, and New York. In Canada, they found homes in Ontario, and on the great plains of the Midwestern provinces. The Brink were among of the early German families that came to North America: Brink Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Brink Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Brink Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
Brink Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
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