Brinston History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The ancestors of the name Brinston date back to the days of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from their residence in the village of Brinton in the county of Norfolk. Brinton appears in the Domesday Book as belonging to the Bishop of Thetford, and having a total value of thirty pounds.

Early Origins of the Brinston family

The surname Brinston was first found in Norfolk at Brinton, a parish, in the hundred of Holt. 1 The village dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 when it was first listed as Bruntuna. Literally the place name means "estate associated with a man called Bryni," from the Old English personal name + "-ing" + "tun." 2

One of the first records of the name was Thomas Brunton or Brinton (d. 1389), Bishop of Rochester, a monk of the Benedictine house at Norwich. "He is said to have studied both at Oxford and Cambridge, and is variously described as bachelor of theology and as ‘doctor decretorum’ of the former university. Having taken up his residence in Rome, he was made penitentiary of the holy see, and on 31 Jan. 1372-3 was appointed bishop of Rochester by Gregory XI, in the room of John Hertley, prior of Rochester, whose election was set aside by the Pope." 3

Early History of the Brinston family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Brinston research. Another 78 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1190, 1273 and 1585 are included under the topic Early Brinston History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Brinston Spelling Variations

Brinston 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 Brinston have been found, including Brinton, Brinston, Brinson, Brinstone, Bryenton, Brintnell and many more.

Early Notables of the Brinston family

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

Brinston Ranking

In Newfoundland, Canada, the name Brinston is the 569^th most popular surname with an estimated 81 people with that name. 4

Brinston migration to Canada +

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 Brinstons to arrive on North American shores:

Brinston Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Thomas Brinston who settled in Scilly Cove, Newfoundland in 1826 5

The Brinston Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Lux et Salus
Motto Translation: Light and safety.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0