The name Brockly arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Brockly 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]
The surname Brockly 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]
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Brockly research. Another 255 words (18 lines of text) covering the years 1220, 1214, 1275, 1769, 1812, 1812, 1504, 1539, 1554, 1611, 1625, 1619, 1663, 1687, 1755, 1687, 1708, 1727 and 1739 are included under the topic Early Brockly History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
A multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Broc, Brock, Brocke, Brockes, Brocks, Brock, Brockx, Broch and many more.
Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Marianus Brockie, D.D. (1687-1755), a Scottish Benedictine monk. He was "born at Edinburgh on 2 Dec. 1687, and joined the Scotch Benedictines at Ratisbon in 1708. He was doctor...
Another 37 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Brockly Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Some of the Brockly 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.
Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Brockly or a variant listed above: Hans Brock who landed in Canada in 1619; Henry Brock landed in Massachusetts in 1640; James Brock settled in Virginia in 1651; John Brock settled in Delaware in 1682.