Show ContentsBroklehurst History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Broklehurst family

The surname Broklehurst was first found in Dunbarton county. The family trace their ancestry to southwestern France where "families of the name De Brocas are found in Guinne and Gascony in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. Two places, one probably the oldest in the arrondissement of Mont de Marsan and canton de Labrit (D'AIbret) and the other in the arrondissement of St. Sever. John Brocaz had payment in 1338 for "the safe custody of the marches of Scotland" 1

Sir Bernard Brocas (1330?-1395), was the third son of Sir John de Brocas, knight, of Clewer and Windsor, Master of the Horse to King Edward III. "The family came from Gascony, where they had fought and suffered for the English cause against the French for several generations before John de Brocas became an officer of the household of Edward II, and settled in England. Brocas was one of the favourite knights of the Black Prince, with whom he was certainly present at the battle of Poitiers." 2

Early History of the Broklehurst family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Broklehurst research. Another 273 words (20 lines of text) covering the years 1298, 1314, 1326, 1330, 1338, 1365, 1382, 1395, 1400, 1489, 1493, 1532, 1536, 1562, 1588, 1602, 1625, 1649, 1660, 1762, 1792, 1794, 1798, 1837, 1847, 1868 and 1873 are included under the topic Early Broklehurst History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Broklehurst Spelling Variations

Scribes in Medieval Scotland spelled names by sound rather than any set of rules, so an enormous number of spelling variations exist in names of that era. Broklehurst has been spelled Brocas, Brockas, Brockhurst, Brockhouse, Brockus, Brocass and many more.

Early Notables of the Broklehurst family

Notable among the family at this time was William Brokkas who forswore allegiance to the Queen for his clan; and Sir Bernard Brocas or Barnard Brocas Sr., (1330-1395), an English prominent commander in the English army during King Edward III's French campaigns of the Hundred Years...
Another 46 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Broklehurst Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Broklehurst family to Ireland

Some of the Broklehurst family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 171 words (12 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Broklehurst family

The number of Strathclyde Clan families sailing for North America increased steadily as the persecution continued. In the colonies, they could find not only freedom from the iron hand of the English government, but land to settle on. The American War of Independence allowed many of these settlers to prove their independence, while some chose to go to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. Scots played essential roles in the forging of both great nations. Among them: George Brocas who settled in Virginia 1642; John Brocas settled in Virginia in 1651; Tabithe Brocas settled in Virginia in 1653; William Brocas settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1766.



  1. 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)
  2. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print


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