Brockhaus History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

The ancestral home of the Brockhaus family is in the German state of Bavaria. The name Brockhaus is an occupational hereditary surname, a type of surname that was taken from a word describing or common to the profession of the original bearer. It is a name for a person who was physically powerful. This surname was originally derived from the Old German word brock which refers to those individuals who had a stocky or strong build. The surname Brockhaus also has local origins, being derived from the Old German word brok which denotes that the original bearer of the surname lived near a marshy area.

Early Origins of the Brockhaus family

The surname Brockhaus was first found in the Rhineland, where the family became noted for its many branches within the region, each house acquiring a status and influence which was envied by the local princes. In their later history the family became a power unto themselves and were elevated to the ranks of nobility as they grew into this most influential family. The name may derives from the term "Brook" or "Brauk," which means a marshy landscape and was therefore common in the northern regions.

Early History of the Brockhaus family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Brockhaus research. Another 105 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1533, 1680 and 1747 are included under the topic Early Brockhaus History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Brockhaus Spelling Variations

Many cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Brockhaus include Brock, Brocke, Brocken, Brockes, Brock, Brokke, Braeuck, Braucker and many more.

Early Notables of the Brockhaus family

Another 32 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Brockhaus Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Brockhaus migration to the United States +

Between the 17th and 20th centuries, hundreds of thousands of Europeans came to North America, and many Rhinelanders were among them. They had many various reasons for making the choice: to escape poverty and persecution, for adventure, and for the opportunity to own their own land. Ellis Island, one of the main American immigration centers, saw many settlers as they moved on to the states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, and New York. In Canada, they found homes in Ontario, and on the great plains of the Midwestern provinces. The Brockhaus were among of the early German families that came to North America:

Brockhaus Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Jacob Brockhaus who arrived in Missouri in 1840
Jacob Brockhaus, aged 31, who arrived in Missouri in 1840 1
Herm Gerh Brockhaus, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1850 1
Bernard Brockhaus who, accompanied by his family, who arrived in New Orleans in 1850
Bernh Brockhaus, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1850 1
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Brockhaus Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Anna Brockhaus, aged 48, who arrived in America from Madgeburg, Germany, in 1914
Kurt Brockhaus, aged 3, who arrived in America from Madgeburg, Germany, in 1914

Contemporary Notables of the name Brockhaus (post 1700) +

Hermann Brockhaus (1806-1877), Dutch-born, German Orientalist, son of Friedrich Arnold Brockhaus, brother-in-law to composer Richard Wagner
Friedrich Arnold Brockhaus (1772-1823), German publisher of encyclopedias, best known for his Conversations-Lexikon, which is now published as the Brockhaus encyclopedia

Citations +

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)