|
![Show Contents]() Wistbrech History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England
The ancestry of the name Wistbrech dates from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It comes from when the family lived in one of the places called Westbrook in Kent, Berkshire, or on the Isle of Wight. The surname Wistbrech belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. Early Origins of the Wistbrech familyThe surname Wistbrech was first found in Kent where one of the first records of the name was Reginald de Westbroc who in 1255 was listed in that county's Feet of Fines. A few years later, John de Westbroke was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of 1327. Over one hundred years later, Edmind Westbrook was listed in the Feet of Fines of Essex in 1440. 1 Another reference lists Richards de Westbrek in Surrey during the reign of Edward I 2. They were Lords of the manor of Elsted for many years. Early History of the Wistbrech familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wistbrech research. Another 70 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1616, 1659, 1660, 1666, 1675 and 1743 are included under the topic Early Wistbrech History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Wistbrech Spelling VariationsSpelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Wistbrech have been found, including Westbrooke, Westbrook, Westbrock, Westbrocke and others. Early Notables of the Wistbrech familyAnother 43 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Wistbrech Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Wistbrech familyFamilies began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Wistbrech, or a variant listed above: John Westbrook who settled in West New Jersey in 1664; William Westbrook landed in America in 1772; William T. Westbrook settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1859.
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- Hanks, Patricia and Flavia Hodges, A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print. (ISBN 0-19-211592-8)
|
