Show ContentsBroche History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Broche is a name that was brought to England by the ancestors of the Broche family when they migrated to the region after the Norman Conquest in 1066. The Broche family lived in Essex. The name, however, derives from the family's former residence in Broc, in the area of Anjou, France. 1 Alternatively, the name could have been from the Saxon Broc, meaning a badger. "Broch, in Gaelic or Irish, Cornish-British and Welsh, all have the same meaning." 2

Early Origins of the Broche family

The surname Broche was first found in Essex where Ralph Broc was granted lands in Colchester in 1119, and it is thought he was invited to England to support the need for industrialists and trades people. 3

However, some of the family claim Great Oakley, Northampton as their ancient homestead. "Oakley Hall, the seat of Sir Arthur de Capell Broke, Bart., is a picturesque specimen of an old English manor-house. Sir Arthur is lord of the manor, and possesses a right of free warren, granted shortly after the Conquest. The collection of family deeds is one of the finest and most curious in the kingdom, and in beautiful preservation; the dates of some of them are not much later than William I.'s reign. " 4

Ancient rolls include older spellings of the name and some of the first records of the family's holdings. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed: Gilbert le Brok, Oxfordshire; Henry le Brok, Devon; Walter le Broc, Gloucestershire; Laurence del Broc, Hertfordshire; Joceus de la Brok, Kent; Geoffrey de la Brok, Kent; and William del Brok, Essex. 5

Kirby's Quest listed Robert le Brokk, Somerset, 1 Edward III; and William le Broc, Somerset, 1 Edward III (during the first year's reign of King Edward III.) 6

Robert le Broc and Ranulph de Broc were listed in the Rotuli de Oblatis et Finibus, King John. 7

Much further to the north in Scotland, there is a Brock in East Renfrewshire and one of the first records there was Henry Brok who had provision of a canonry and prebend of Dunkeld in 1328. 8

Early History of the Broche family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Broche research. Another 255 words (18 lines of text) covering the years 1214, 1220, 1275, 1504, 1539, 1554, 1611, 1619, 1625, 1663, 1687, 1708, 1727, 1739, 1755, 1769 and 1812 are included under the topic Early Broche History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Broche Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence in the eras before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate regularly changed the spellings of their names as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Broche have been found, including Broc, Brock, Brocke, Brockes, Brocks, Brock, Brockx, Broch and many more.

Early Notables of the Broche family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Marianus Brockie, D.D. (1687-1755), a Scottish Benedictine monk. He was "born at Edinburgh on 2 Dec. 1687, and joined the Scotch Benedictines at Ratisbon in 1708. He was doctor...
Another 37 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Broche Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Broche Ranking

In France, the name Broche is the 7,555th most popular surname with an estimated 1,000 - 1,500 people with that name. 9

Ireland Migration of the Broche family to Ireland

Some of the Broche family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Broche migration to the United States +

For many English families, the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. For such families, the shores of Ireland, Australia, and the New World beckoned. They left their homeland at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. Many arrived after the long voyage sick, starving, and without a penny. But even those were greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. Numerous English settlers who arrived in the United States and Canada at this time went on to make important contributions to the developing cultures of those countries. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Broche were among those contributors:

Broche Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • John Broche, who landed in Virginia in 1637 10
Broche Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Rudolph Broche, aged 18, who arrived in New York, NY in 1852 10

Contemporary Notables of the name Broche (post 1700) +

  • Arthur T. Broche (b. 1892), American Republican politician, Served in the U.S. Army during World War I; Elected Illinois State House of Representatives 1st District 1940 11


The Broche 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: Virescit vulnere virtus
Motto Translation: Courage grows stronger at the wound.


  1. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  2. Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  5. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  6. Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
  7. Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
  8. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  9. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  10. 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)
  11. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 23) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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