Brent History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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England

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The name Brent came to England with the ancestors of the Brent family in the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Brent family lived in Somerset in the area of Brent, from where their family name is taken. The Brent family was originally from Conteville, in the arrondissement of Eure in Normandy.

Early Origins of the Brent family

The surname Brent was first found in Somerset where they are conjecturally descended from Ralf de Conteville who was Lord of the manor of Brent, and an undertennant of the Abbot of Glastonbury, as shown in the Domesday Book in 1086. They were originally of Conteville in the arrondisement of Eure in Normandy.

Sir Falkes de Breauté (died 1226) also known as Fulk de Brent was loyal to both King John and later King Henry III. He played a key role in the Battle of Lincoln Fair in 1217. "At the Conquest [the parish of Luton, Bedofrdshire] was held in royal demesne; and in 1216 came into the possession of Baron Fulk de Brent, who built a strong castle there." 1

Early History of the Brent family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Brent research. Another 96 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1309, 1573, 1589, 1593, 1594, 1598, 1601, 1607, 1623, 1652 and 1671 are included under the topic Early Brent History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Brent Spelling Variations

Multitudes of spelling variations are a hallmark of Anglo Norman names. Most of these names evolved in the 11th and 12th century, in the time after the Normans introduced their own Norman French language into a country where Old and Middle English had no spelling rules and the languages of the court were French and Latin. To make matters worse, medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, so names frequently appeared differently in the various documents in which they were recorded. The name was spelled Brent, Brente and others.

Early Notables of the Brent family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Sir Nathaniel Brent (1573?-1652), warden of Merton College, Oxford, the son of Anchor Brent of Little Wolford, Warwickshire. His grandfather's name was Richard, and his great-grandfather was John Bren...
Margaret Brent (c.1601-c.1671), was an English immigrant to the Colony of Maryland from Gloucestershire, the first woman in the English North American colonies to appear before a court of the Common L...

Brent Ranking

In the United States, the name Brent is the 3,757^th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 2

Brent migration to the United States +

Because of this political and religious unrest within English society, many people decided to immigrate to the colonies. Families left for Ireland, North America, and Australia in enormous numbers, traveling at high cost in extremely inhospitable conditions. The New World in particular was a desirable destination, but the long voyage caused many to arrive sick and starving. Those who made it, though, were welcomed by opportunities far greater than they had known at home in England. Many of these families went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Brent or a variant listed above:

Brent Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Margaret Brent (born c. 1600, Gloucestershire, England-died 1669/71, Westmoreland county, Virginia) who arrived in Maryland in 1638 and obtained a patent for 70 acres. She was the first woman in the colony to hold land in her own right
Mary Brent, who arrived in Maryland in 1637 3
Margaret Brent, who landed in Maryland in 1638 3
Fulke Brent, who arrived in Maryland in 1638 3
Gibe., Brent, who arrived in Maryland in 1638 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Brent Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Robert Brent, who arrived in Virginia in 1711 3
Susannah Brent, who landed in Virginia in 1711 3
Peter and Thomas Brent, who both arrived in Philadelphia in 1741
Peter Brent, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1741 3

Brent Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Mr. Daniel Brent, (b. 1800), aged 40, Cornish farmer departing from Bristol aboard the ship "Druid" arriving in Ohio, USA on 29 June 1840 4
Mrs. Grace Brent, (b. 1815), aged 25, Cornish settler departing from Bristol aboard the ship "Druid" arriving in Ohio, USA on 29 June 1840 4
Mr. John Brent, (b. 1834), aged 6, Cornish settler departing from Bristol aboard the ship "Druid" arriving in Ohio, USA on 29 June 1840 4
Mr. William Brent, (b. 1840), aged 3 months, Cornish settler departing from Bristol aboard the ship "Druid" arriving in Ohio, USA on 29 June 1840 4
John Brent, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1840 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Brent migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Brent Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century

George Brent who settled in Bona Vista, Newfoundland, in 1677 5

Brent migration to Australia +

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

Brent Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. William Brent who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Camden" on 21st March 1831, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 6
Mr. John Brent, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Bangalore" on 28th March 1848, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) from Bermuda 7

Brent 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:

Brent Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. George Brent, (b. 1838), aged 24, Cornish farm labourer departing on July 1862 aboard the ship "Queen of the Mersey" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 20th October 1862 8
Mr. George Brent, (b. 1838), aged 24, Cornish farm labourer, from Cornwall travelling from London aboard the ship "Queen of Mersey" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, Southland, South Island, New Zealand on 20th October 1862 9
Mr. Brent, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Peter Denny" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 26th July 1874 9

Contemporary Notables of the name Brent (post 1700) +

George Brent (1904-1979), American (Irish born) film actor
Richard Brent (1757-1814), American politician, U.S. Congressman and Senator from Virginia
J Allen Brent (b. 1921), American beverage company executive
Richard Brent (1757-1814), American politician, Representative from Virginia, 1795-99, 1801-03; Member of Virginia State Senate, 1808-10; U.S. Senator from Virginia, 1809-14 10
Joseph Lancaster Brent (b. 1905), American Democratic Party politician, Member of California State Assembly 1st District, 1856-58; Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Louisiana, 1876 10
Joseph L. Brent, American politician, U.S. Vice Consul in Sault SAINTE Marie, 1927; Cairo, 1929; Paris, 1932; U.S. Consul in Istanbul, 1938 10
J. J. Brent, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Mississippi, 1940 10
J. H. Brent, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Mississippi, 1944 10
Innes B. Brent, American politician, Postmaster at Lexington, Kentucky, 1794-98 10
H. M. Brent, American politician, U.S. Consul in Callao, 1884 10
... (Another 10 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)