Brinkley History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsThe ancient history of the Brinkley name begins with the ancient Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from when the family resided in or near the settlement of Brinkley in the county of Cambridgeshire. Early Origins of the Brinkley familyThe surname Brinkley was first found in Cambridgeshire at Brinkley, a small village about 15 miles from Cambridge in the union of Newmarket, hundred of Radfield. 1 The village dates back to the late 12th century when it was first listed as Brinkelai and literally meant "woodland clearing of a man called Brynca," from the Old English personal name + "leah." 2 Early History of the Brinkley familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Brinkley research. Another 35 words (2 lines of text) covering the years 1546, 1550, 1583 and 1585 are included under the topic Early Brinkley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Brinkley Spelling VariationsUntil 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 Brinkley include Brinkley, Bringley, Bringle, Bringlow, Bringley, Brinklow, Brinkley and many more. Early Notables of the Brinkley familyNotables of this surname at this time include:
Brinkley RankingIn the United States, the name Brinkley is the 2,440th most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. 3 Migration of the Brinkley family to IrelandSome of the Brinkley family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
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 Brinkley or a variant listed above: Brinkley Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: Brinkley Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include: Brinkley Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
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: Mutabimur Motto Translation: Be changed
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