Show ContentsBrume History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Brume was brought to England in the wave of migration that followed the Norman Conquest of 1066. Brume is based on the name of a plant. The family name claims direct descent from the Earls of Anjou, who changed their name to Broome after a pilgrimage to the crusades and the Holy Land. As the story goes, the Earl of Anjou, wore a sprig of Broome as a symbol of humility. He then took the name of the plant as his name.

Early Origins of the Brume family

The surname Brume was first found in Kent where Eustace de la Brome was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. The same census lists William de Broom and Henry de Brom in Norfolk. 1 By the time of King Edward III (1312-1377), records of the name were found in Somerset: Nicholas atte Brome and William atte Brome.

Adam de Brome (d. 1332), was a "founder of Oriel College, Oxford, of whose early life nothing is known, was Rector of Hanworth in Middlesex in 1315, Chancellor of Durham in 1316, Archdeacon of Stow in 1319, and in the same year was made Vicar of St. Mary in Oxford. " 2

Indeed, he may have been one of the progenitors of the family found in the parish of Holton in Oxfordshire. "The church is a cruciform structure, with a chapel attached to the north aisle, and another to the south; the latter, which appears to be the less ancient, was built by William Brome, who in 1461 was buried in a vault underneath it. In the parish register is recorded the marriage of Ireton to Bridget, daughter of Oliver Cromwell, which took place June 15th, 1646, in the mansion-house of the Whorwood family, to whom the estate was conveyed by marriage with the heiress of George Brome." 3

Thomas Brome (d. 1380), was a Carmelite divine who was "brought up in the monastery of his order in London, whence he proceeded to Oxford and attained the degree of master, and also, as it seems, of doctor in divinity." 2

Early History of the Brume family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Brume research. Another 316 words (23 lines of text) covering the years 1366, 1485, 1550, 1600, 1620, 1666, 1689, 1719 and 1745 are included under the topic Early Brume History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Brume Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Brume were recorded, including Broome, Broom, Brome and others.

Early Notables of the Brume family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Henry Broome, who died at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485. Alexander Brome (1620-1666), was an English poet, but by profession "an attorney in the Lord Mayor's court, according to Langbaine, and in the court of king's bench, according to Richard Smith's ' Obituary,' published by the Camden Society. During the civil wars he distinguished himself by his attachment...
Another 67 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Brume Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Brume migration to the United States +

The unstable environment in England at this time caused numerous families to board ships and leave in search of opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad in places like Ireland, Australia, and particularly the New World. The voyage was extremely difficult, however, and only taken at great expense. The cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels caused many to arrive diseased and starving, not to mention destitute from the enormous cost. Still opportunity in the emerging nations of Canada and the United States was far greater than at home and many went on to make important contributions to the cultures of their adopted countries. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Brume arrived in North America very early:

Brume Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Christoph Brume, who settled in Philadelphia in 1792
  • Christopher Brume, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1792 4


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  3. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  4. 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)


Houseofnames.com on Facebook