Brightey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Brightey

What does the name Brightey mean?

Brightey is an ancient Anglo-Saxon surname that came from the baptismal given name the Brighteve. The Brighteves lived for several centuries in the county of Norfolk at the as the villages of Brightey and Brighty. It is thought the name came from the Old English word Beorhtgifu meaning "fair gift."

Brightiff is from the metathesized form Brihtgifu, a woman's name still in use in the 13th century. 1

Early Origins of the Brightey family

The surname Brightey was first found in the Domesday Book of 1086 where the singular names Bricteva and Britheue were recorded. 2 Later, Godric Brihteve filius was recorded at Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk c. 1095 and the name Birghiva was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls for Hertfordshire in 1208. Angerus filius Brihtiue was recorded in the Assize Rolls for Lincolnshire in 1219 and Adam Brightyeue and Thomas Brytheue were both listed in the Feet of Fines for Suffolk 1326, 1327. 1 Edmund Brightyeve or Britiff was listed in Norfolk in 1467 3.

John Beriffe was listed as holding lands in Essex in 1496 and later, Richard Brygthewe, Brighteve was listed in Norfolk in 1479, 1508. 1

Back in Norfolk, we found John Brightif listed there in 1559. 3

Early History of the Brightey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Brightey research. Another 550 words (39 lines of text) covering the years 1095, 1219, 1327, 1349, 1369, 1377, 1467, 1497, 1550, 1559, 1660, 1665, 1666, 1671, 1681, 1702, 1705, 1715, 1716, 1726, 1733, 1734, 1737, 1741, 1743, 1749, 1758, 1770 and 1777 are included under the topic Early Brightey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Brightey Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Brightey has been recorded under many different variations, including Brighteve, Brihteue, Brihtieu, Brightyeue, Brytheue, Brightyeve, Britiff, Brightif, Britiffe and many more.

Early Notables of the Brightey family

John Brightif, the Rector of Francham Magna in Norfolk in the 1550s. Robert Brightiffe or Britiffe (c. 1666-1749), of Baconsthorpe, Norfolk, was an English lawyer and Whig politician. He sat in the House of Commons from 1715 to 1734 and...
Another 39 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Brightey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Brightey family

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Brightey or a variant listed above: a number of settlers who arrived by the 19th century.

Sources +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)