Braks History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• Germany

Etymology of Braks

Bavaria, one of the oldest and largest of the German states, is the birthplace of the Braks family. After the 12th century, hereditary surnames were adopted according to fairly general rules. Names derived from occupations were particularly common in this region. Braks is an occupational surname for master of hunting dogs. Further research showed the name was derived from the German word bracke. The surname Braks was also a nickname for a person that resembled a hunting dog. Moreover, the surname Braks is a nickname for a boisterous person, which is derived from the German word braht, which means loud or noise.

Early Origins of the Braks family

Early History of the Braks family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Braks research. Another 90 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1637 and 1742 are included under the topic Early Braks History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Braks Spelling Variations

In the medieval era, many different cultural groups lived in the German states. There are thus many regional variations of German surnames from that era. Westphalians spoke Low German, which is similar to modern Dutch. Many German names carry suffixes that identify where they came from. Others have phrases attached that identify something about the original bearer. Other variations in German names resulted from the fact that medieval scribes worked without the aid of any spelling rules. The spelling variations of the name Braks include Brack, Bracke, Brach, Brache, Brak, Brakk, Brakke, Bracken, Brakken, Brachen, Bracker, Brakker, Bracher, Brackner, Brakkner, Brachner, Brackel, Brackell, Brachel, Brachell, Brakkel and many more.

Early Notables of the Braks family

More information is included under the topic Early Braks Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Braks family

The great European flow of migration to North America, which began in the middle of the 17th century and continued into the 20th century, was particularly attractive to those from Bavaria who wished to escape either poverty or religious persecution. For many Bavarian tenant farmers, the chance to own their own land was a major incentive. So the widespread colonization of the United States began in 1650, when many immigrants from Germany settled in pockets in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. In Canada, German settlement centered in Ontario and the prairie Among those of this surname listed in various historical records were: James Bracke who settled in Virginia in 1666; Rudolph Brack, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1733; Anne Brack, age 30; who arrived in New York in 1851 with Jacob, age 9 months.