Bullbroke History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The ancestors of the Bullbroke surname lived among the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. The name comes from when they lived in the parish of Bolingbrooke. The place dates back to the Domesday Book as Bolinbroc 1 from the Old English Bulingbroc, which literally meant brook associated with a bull. 2

Today there is also a village named New Bolingbroke located in the Lincolnshire Fens about 10km east of Coningsby.

Early Origins of the Bullbroke family

The surname Bullbroke was first found in Lincolnshire. Undoubtedly, one of the most interesting aspects of this surname is that King Henry IV of England, was also known as Henry of Bolingbroke because he was born at Bolingbroke Castle in Lincolnshire. The castle, now in ruins, was first fortified by the Saxons in the 6th or 7th century. In the 12th century the Normans built a Motte-and-bailey on a nearby hill above the settlement of Bolingbroke. The present structure was founded by Ranulf, Earl of Chester, in 1220 shortly after he returned from the Fifth Crusade.

Another source explains the castle's origin in a slightly different manner: "A castle was built by William de Romara, Earl of Lincoln, of which his descendant, Alicia de Lacey, was dispossessed by Edward II. Henry IV. was born in this fortress, and from it took the name of Henry of Bolingbroke: it was nearly demolished in the civil wars, the south-west tower being all that remains." 3

Lucy of Bolingbroke (died c. 1138) was an Anglo-Norman heiress and later in life, Countess of Chester. William de Bullingbroc was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1170-1180 in Lincolnshire and later, John be Bolingbrok was recorded in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1275 in Yorkshire. Much later, John Bullyngbroke was listed in Nottinghamshire in 1476 and William Bolyngbroke was found in the same shire in 1503. 4

Early History of the Bullbroke family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bullbroke research. Another 263 words (19 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1170, 1275, 1295, 1367, 1441, 1476, 1500 and 1503 are included under the topic Early Bullbroke History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bullbroke Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Bullbroke include Bolingbroke, Bollingbroke, Bolingbrook, Bullingbroke, Bullingbrook, Bollingbrooke, Bulingbroc, Bolingbrok, Bullyngbroke and many more.

Early Notables of the Bullbroke family

Another 48 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bullbroke Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Bullbroke family

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants: a number of settlers who arrived by the 19th century.

Citations +

Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)