Brimton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The history of the Brimton family goes back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It is derived from the family living in the village of Brinton in the county of Norfolk. Brinton appears in the Domesday Book as belonging to the Bishop of Thetford, and having a total value of thirty pounds.

Early Origins of the Brimton family

The surname Brimton was first found in Norfolk at Brinton, a parish, in the hundred of Holt. 1 The village dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 when it was first listed as Bruntuna. Literally the place name means "estate associated with a man called Bryni," from the Old English personal name + "-ing" + "tun." 2

One of the first records of the name was Thomas Brunton or Brinton (d. 1389), Bishop of Rochester, a monk of the Benedictine house at Norwich. "He is said to have studied both at Oxford and Cambridge, and is variously described as bachelor of theology and as ‘doctor decretorum’ of the former university. Having taken up his residence in Rome, he was made penitentiary of the holy see, and on 31 Jan. 1372-3 was appointed bishop of Rochester by Gregory XI, in the room of John Hertley, prior of Rochester, whose election was set aside by the Pope." 3

Early History of the Brimton family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Brimton research. Another 78 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1190, 1273 and 1585 are included under the topic Early Brimton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Brimton Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Brimton include Brinton, Brinston, Brinson, Brinstone, Bryenton, Brintnell and many more.

Early Notables of the Brimton family

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

Brimton migration to Canada +

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Brimton or a variant listed above:

Brimton Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Matthew Brimton, aged 21, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Eleanor Gordon" in 1834

The Brimton 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: Lux et Salus
Motto Translation: Light and safety.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print