Show ContentsBrandston History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Brandston is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when the family lived in Brandeston, a parish in Suffolk on the River Deben or in one of the villages named below.

Early Origins of the Brandston family

The surname Brandston was first found in various shires including Leicestershire, Lincolnshire and Staffordshire where we find today villages and civil parishes named Branston. These place names were derived from the Old English personal name Brant + "tun," as in "a farmstead or a village of a man called Brant." 1 All three locals were listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Brantestone (Leicestershire) Branztune (Lincolnshire) and Bronstinson (Staffordshire.)

Early History of the Brandston family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Brandston research. Another 340 words (24 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1200, 1210, 1221, 1273, 1287, 1288, 1500, 1568, 1731, 1778, 1800 and 1827 are included under the topic Early Brandston History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Brandston Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Brandston are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Brandston include: Branston, Brandeston, Branteston, Braunteston, Brancston, Braunston, Bramston and many more.

Early Notables of the Brandston family

Another 30 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Brandston Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Brandston family to Ireland

Some of the Brandston family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Brandston family

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Brandston or a variant listed above: John Bramston who arrived in America in 1746; John Branston in America in 1773 and J. Branston in Philadelphia in 1856.



  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)


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