Bragge History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsThe Norman Conquest of England in 1066 brought many new words to England from which surnames were formed. Bragge was one of these new Norman names. It was specifically tailored to its first bearer, 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 Bragge familyThe surname Bragge 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 Bragge familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bragge research. Another 177 words (13 lines of text) covering the year 1100 is included under the topic Early Bragge History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Bragge Spelling VariationsA multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Bragg, Brag, Braggs, Bragge and others. Early Notables of the Bragge familyOutstanding amongst the family at this time was
Migration of the Bragge family to IrelandSome of the Bragge family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Bragge or a variant listed above: Bragge Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Bragge Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
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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