Warbreck History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Warbreck is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when the family lived in an area known as Swarbrick found in the parish of Kirkham in the county of Lancashire. The surname was originally derived from the Old Norman byname svartrbrekka when translated means the dweller on the black slope. The surname Warbreck is a habitation name that was originally derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. The surname originated as a means of identifying individuals from a particular area.

Early Origins of the Warbreck family

The surname Warbreck was first found in Lancashire where they held a family seat. The Saxon influence of English history diminished after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The language of the courts was French for the next three centuries and the Norman ambience prevailed. But Saxon surnames survived and the family name was first referenced in the 13th century in the area of Wimmerleigh or Wimmerley in Lancashire. 1

Early History of the Warbreck family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Warbreck research. Another 80 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1530, 1581, 1622 and 1680 are included under the topic Early Warbreck History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Warbreck Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Warbreck are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Warbreck include: Swarbrick, Swarbrigg, Swartbrick, Swartbrigg, Swartbrecke, Swartbreck, Swartbregg, Swarbrooke and many more.

Early Notables of the Warbreck family

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

Migration of the Warbreck family

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Warbreck or a variant listed above: Dorothy Swarbrooke settled in Maryland in 1661; John Swarbeck settled in Virginia in 1624 soon after the arrival of the Mayflower.

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)