Contents [hide]

Brockie History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Brockie History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

The name Brockie was brought to England by the Normans when they conquered the country in 1066. The ancestors of the Brockie family lived in Essex. The name, however, derives from the family's former residence in Broc, in the area of Anjou, France. 1 Alternatively, the name could have been from the Saxon Broc, meaning a badger. "Broch, in Gaelic or Irish, Cornish-British and Welsh, all have the same meaning." 2

Early Origins of the Brockie family

The surname Brockie was first found in Essex where Ralph Broc was granted lands in Colchester in 1119, and it is thought he was invited to England to support the need for industrialists and trades people. 3

However, some of the family claim Great Oakley, Northampton as their ancient homestead. "Oakley Hall, the seat of Sir Arthur de Capell Broke, Bart., is a picturesque specimen of an old English manor-house. Sir Arthur is lord of the manor, and possesses a right of free warren, granted shortly after the Conquest. The collection of family deeds is one of the finest and most curious in the kingdom, and in beautiful preservation; the dates of some of them are not much later than William I.'s reign. " 4

Ancient rolls include older spellings of the name and some of the first records of the family's holdings. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed: Gilbert le Brok, Oxfordshire; Henry le Brok, Devon; Walter le Broc, Gloucestershire; Laurence del Broc, Hertfordshire; Joceus de la Brok, Kent; Geoffrey de la Brok, Kent; and William del Brok, Essex. 5

Kirby's Quest listed Robert le Brokk, Somerset, 1 Edward III; and William le Broc, Somerset, 1 Edward III (during the first year's reign of King Edward III.) 6

Robert le Broc and Ranulph de Broc were listed in the Rotuli de Oblatis et Finibus, King John. 7

Much further to the north in Scotland, there is a Brock in East Renfrewshire and one of the first records there was Henry Brok who had provision of a canonry and prebend of Dunkeld in 1328. 8

Early History of the Brockie family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Brockie research. Another 255 words (18 lines of text) covering the years 1214, 1220, 1275, 1504, 1539, 1554, 1611, 1619, 1625, 1663, 1687, 1708, 1727, 1739, 1755, 1769 and 1812 are included under the topic Early Brockie History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Brockie Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, Anglo-Norman surnames like Brockie are characterized by many spelling variations. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages such as Norman French and Latin, even literate people regularly changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Brockie include Broc, Brock, Brocke, Brockes, Brocks, Brock, Brockx, Broch and many more.

Early Notables of the Brockie family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Marianus Brockie...

Migration of the Brockie family to Ireland

Some of the Brockie family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Brockie migration to the United States +

Faced with the chaos present in England at that time, many English families looked towards the open frontiers of the New World with its opportunities to escape oppression and starvation. People migrated to North America, as well as Australia and Ireland in droves, paying exorbitant rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, but those who did see the shores of North America were welcomed with great opportunity. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America carried the name Brockie, or a variant listed above:

Brockie Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Frank Brockie, aged 16, originally from Liverpool, who arrived in New York in 1893 aboard the ship "Majestic (1890)" from Liverpool & Queenstown 9
William Brockie, aged 28, originally from England, who arrived in New York in 1893 aboard the ship "Paris" from Southampton, England 9

Brockie Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Adam Brockie, aged 54, who arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Mauretania" from Southampton, England 9
Elizabeth Brockie, aged 21, who arrived in New York in 1921 aboard the ship "Olympic" from Southampton, England 9
Alexander Brockie, aged 63, originally from Aberdeen, Scotland, who arrived in New York in 1921 aboard the ship "Celtic" from Liverpool, England 9

Brockie migration to New Zealand +

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:

Brockie Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. William Brockie, (b. 1835), aged 27, Scottish ploughman, from Kincardineshire travelling from London aboard the ship "Queen of Mersey" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, Southland, South Island, New Zealand on 20th October 1862 10

Contemporary Notables of the name Brockie (post 1700) +

Clarena Brockie (b. 1949), American politician, Democratic member of the Montana House of Representatives (2013-)
William Brockie (1811-1890), Scottish writer, newspaper editor, poet and songwriter
Vince Brockie (b. 1969), Scottish former professional footballer
Robert Ellison Brockie MNZM (b. 1932), New Zealand cartoonist, scientist, columnist and graphic artist
Jenny Brockie (b. 1954), Australian journalist and documentary-maker
Jeremy Russell Brockie (b. 1987), New Zealand professional footballer
David Murray "Dave" Brockie (1963-2014), Canadian musician, best known as the lead vocalist of the metal band Gwar

The Brockie 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: Virescit vulnere virtus
Motto Translation: Courage grows stronger at the wound.

Citations +

The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html