Branstone History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The name Branstone is an old Anglo-Saxon name. It comes from when a family lived in Brandeston, a parish in Suffolk on the River Deben or in one of the villages named below.

Early Origins of the Branstone family

The surname Branstone 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 Branstone family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Branstone 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 Branstone History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Branstone Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Branstone were recorded, including Branston, Brandeston, Branteston, Braunteston, Brancston, Braunston, Bramston and many more.

Early Notables of the Branstone family

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

Migration of the Branstone family to Ireland

Some of the Branstone 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 Branstone family

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Branstone family emigrate to North America: John Bramston who arrived in America in 1746; John Branston in America in 1773 and J. Branston in Philadelphia in 1856.

Citations +

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