Esterbrooks History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The English name Esterbrooks is topographic in origin; that is, it was originally derived from geographic features of the region in which the first bearer of the name lived. The Middle English "Easter," meant "east," and the name meant "someone who lived to the east of the brook."

Early Origins of the Esterbrooks family

The surname Esterbrooks was first found in Somerset where they held a family seat. The first on record appears to be John le Eastbrook, who is mentioned in a volume called "Kirby's Quest for Somerset," as living in that county during the reign of Edward III, the Confessor (1042-1066). 1 The Saxon influence on English history diminished after the Battle of Hastings in 1066: the language of the courts was French for the next three centuries, but Saxon names survived.

Early History of the Esterbrooks family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Esterbrooks research. Another 76 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1254, 1296 and 1327 are included under the topic Early Esterbrooks History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Esterbrooks Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Esterbrooks has appeared include Eastbrook, Eastbrooke, Estabrooke, Easterbrook, Estbrook, Estbrooke, Eastbroke, Estabroke, Eastabroke, Estabroke and many more.

Early Notables of the Esterbrooks family

More information is included under the topic Early Esterbrooks Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Esterbrooks migration to Canada +

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Esterbrooks arrived in North America very early:

Esterbrooks Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. James Esterbrooks U.E. who settled in New Brunswick c. 1784 2

Citations +

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.
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X