Brightwin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Brightwin

What does the name Brightwin mean?

The name Brightwin is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from Brithwen, who held land in Hampshire when the Normans invaded in 1066.

Early Origins of the Brightwin family

The surname Brightwin was first found in Hampshire, where evidence suggests they held a family seat before the Norman Conquest of the 11th century.

Early History of the Brightwin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Brightwin research. Another 153 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1066, 1148, 1296, 1332, 1349, 1369 and 1586 are included under the topic Early Brightwin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Brightwin Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Brightwin include Brightwen, Brightwin, Britewin, Brihtewin, Brithwen, Brictwen, Bryctwyne, Bryghtwyne and many more.

Early Notables of the Brightwin family

More information is included under the topic Early Brightwin Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Brightwin migration to the United States +

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:

Brightwin Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

William Brightwin, who arrived in New Jersey in 1678 1

The Brightwin Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Dominus Illuminatio Mea
Motto Translation: The Lord is my light.

Sources +

Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)