The
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]CITATION[CLOSE]
Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. PrintEarly Origins of the Bragge family
The surname Bragge was first found in
Cambridgeshire where they held a
family seat from very early times. The
Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list Henry Brag as holding estates in
Cambridgeshire. The Register of the University of Oxford list Edward Bragge in 1573 and Edmund Bragge in 1601.
[2]CITATION[CLOSE]
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Early History of the Bragge family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bragge research.
Another 177 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 110 and 1100 are included under the topic Early Bragge History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Bragge Spelling Variations
A 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 family (pre 1700)
More information is included under the topic Early Bragge Notables in all our
PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Bragge family to Ireland
Some of the Bragge 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.
Migration of the Bragge family to the New World and Oceana
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
- Mary Bragge, who settled in Virginia in 1774
Bragge Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
- Mills Bragge, who settled in Pouch Cove, Newfoundland in 1814 [3]CITATION[CLOSE]
Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0 - Joseph Bragge, who settled in Fortune Bay, Newfoundland in 1815 [3]CITATION[CLOSE]
Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0 - Elizabeth Bragge, who settled in Pouch Cove, Newfoundland in 1835 [3]CITATION[CLOSE]
Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0 - Charles Bragge, who settled in Greenspond, Newfoundland in 1841 [3]CITATION[CLOSE]
Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
Contemporary Notables of the name Bragge (post 1700)
- William Bragge F.S.A., F.G.S. (1823-1884), English civil engineer, antiquarian, and author from Birmingham
- James Bragge (1833-1908), English-born, New Zealand photographer from South Shields, Durham
The Bragge 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.