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![Show Contents]() Branscumb History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England
The name Branscumb has a long Anglo-Saxon heritage. The name comes from when a family lived in Devon, where they held a family seat at Branscombe in the 9th century. Shortly after the Norman Conquest the estates of Branscombe were owned by the Bishop of Exeter and according to the Domesday Book, [1] 150 sheep were part of the holdings contributed to the supplies of the Abbey of Exeter. Early Origins of the Branscumb familyThe surname Branscumb was first found in Devon at Branscombe, a village that dates back to the ninth century. At that time, the village was named Branecescumbe but by the Domesday Book of 1086, it was listed there as Branchescome. The estates of Branscombe were owned by the Bishop of Exeter and the 150 sheep which was part of the holdings contributed to the supplies of the Abbey of Exeter. [1] The place name literally means "valley of a man called Branoc," for the Celtic personal name + the Old English "Cumb." [2] One of the earliest records of the surname was Walter Branscombe (Bronscombe, Branescombe, Bronescombe, Bronescomb c. 1220-1280), born in Exeter, an early English priest, Bishop of Exeter from 1258 to 1280; he is buried in Exeter Castle. "The church [of Colon, Cornwall] is said to have been erected and endowed by Walter Bronscomb, bishop of Exeter, about the year 1250, and by him appropriated to the Augustine canons of his college of Glaseney near Penryn." [3] Early History of the Branscumb familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Branscumb research. Another 109 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 132 and 1327 are included under the topic Early Branscumb History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Branscumb Spelling VariationsSpelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Branscumb have been found, including Brancomb, Bronscombe, Branscom, Bronscom and others. Early Notables of the Branscumb family (pre 1700)More information is included under the topic Early Branscumb Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Branscumb familyFamilies began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Branscumb, or a variant listed above: James Branscomb who settled in Barbados in 1692.
- Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
- Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
- Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
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