Bragg History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  England 
  Ireland 


The name Bragg is rooted in the ancient Norman culture that arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. It was a name for someone who was a cheerful or lively person. The name stems from the Old English root, bragge, which means lively, gay, or active. A Norman derivation is slightly different, and suggests that the word stems from the root braggi, which means a hero, or man of great accomplishment. 1

Early Origins of the Bragg family

The surname Bragg was first found in Somerset where Walter Bragge was listed in the Assize Rolls of 1243. A few years later in Cambridgeshire, Henry Brag was listed in the Assize Rolls of 1260 2 and later in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. 3

The Register of the University of Oxford list Edward Bragge in 1573 and Edmund Bragge in 1601. 3

Early History of the Bragg family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bragg research. Another 177 words (13 lines of text) covering the year 1100 is included under the topic Early Bragg History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bragg Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Bragg, Brag, Braggs, Bragge and others.

Early Notables of the Bragg family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Bragg Ranking

In the United States, the name Bragg is the 1,497th most popular surname with an estimated 19,896 people with that name. 4 However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Bragg is ranked the 319th most popular surname with an estimated 144 people with that name. 5

Migration of the Bragg family to Ireland

Some of the Bragg family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.



Bragg migration to the United States +

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Bragg or a variant listed above:

Bragg Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Bragg Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
Bragg Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Bragg migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Bragg Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Bragg migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Bragg Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Bragg migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Bragg Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Bragg migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 14
Bragg Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Bragg (post 1700) +




The Bragg Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Fidelis et constans
Motto Translation: Faithful and steadfast.





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