Brockey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

Brockey is a name of ancient Norman origin. It arrived in England with the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Brockey 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 Brockey family

The surname Brockey 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 Brockey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Brockey 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 Brockey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Brockey Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Broc, Brock, Brocke, Brockes, Brocks, Brock, Brockx, Broch and many more.

Early Notables of the Brockey 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 Brockey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Brockey family to Ireland

Some of the Brockey 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.

Brockey migration to the United States +

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Brockey or a variant listed above:

Brockey Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Charles Brockey, aged 25, who landed in Georgia in 1775 9

The Brockey 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.

Citations +

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)
Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
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.
Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
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)
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)