Brente History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsThe history of the Brente family name begins after the Norman Conquest of 1066. They lived in Somerset in the area of Brent, from where their family name is taken. The Brente family was originally from Conteville, in the arrondissement of Eure in Normandy. Early Origins of the Brente familyThe surname Brente was first found in Somerset where they are conjecturally descended from Ralf de Conteville who was Lord of the manor of Brent, and an undertennant of the Abbot of Glastonbury, as shown in the Domesday Book in 1086. They were originally of Conteville in the arrondisement of Eure in Normandy. Sir Falkes de Breauté (died 1226) also known as Fulk de Brent was loyal to both King John and later King Henry III. He played a key role in the Battle of Lincoln Fair in 1217. "At the Conquest [the parish of Luton, Bedofrdshire] was held in royal demesne; and in 1216 came into the possession of Baron Fulk de Brent, who built a strong castle there." 1 Early History of the Brente familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Brente research. Another 96 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1309, 1573, 1589, 1593, 1594, 1598, 1601, 1607, 1623, 1652 and 1671 are included under the topic Early Brente History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Brente Spelling VariationsAnglo-Norman names are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. When the Normans became the ruling people of England in the 11th century, they introduced a new language into a society where the main languages of Old and later Middle English had no definite spelling rules. These languages were more often spoken than written, so they blended freely with one another. Contributing to this mixing of tongues was the fact that medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, ensuring that a person's name would appear differently in nearly every document in which it was recorded. The name has been spelled Brent, Brente and others. Early Notables of the Brente familyOutstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir Nathaniel Brent (1573?-1652), warden of Merton College, Oxford, the son of Anchor Brent of Little Wolford, Warwickshire. His grandfather's name was Richard, and his great-grandfather was John Brent of Cosington, Somersetshire. "He became 'portionist,' or postmaster, of Merton College, Oxford, in 1589; proceeded B.A. on 20 June 1593; was admitted probationer fellow there in 1594, and took the degree of... Migration of the Brente familyFor many English families, the political and religious disarray that plagued their homeland made the frontiers of the New World an attractive prospect. Thousands migrated, aboard cramped disease-ridden ships. They arrived sick, poor, and hungry, but were welcomed in many cases with far greater opportunity than at home in England. Many of these hardy settlers went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Among early immigrants bearing the name Brente or a variant listed above were: Margaret Brent (born c. 1600, Gloucestershire, England - died 1669/71, Westmoreland county, Virginia) who arrived in Maryland in 1638 and obtained a patent for 70 acres.
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