Brodies History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

Etymology of Brodies

What does the name Brodies mean?

The chronicles of the Brodies family reach back into Scottish history to an ancient tribe known as the Picts. The ancestors of the Brodies family lived in the lands of Brodie, in the barony of Moray where the family at one time held territories. King Alexander III had granted their lands. Checking further we found the name was derived from the Gaelic word broth which means ditch.

Early Origins of the Brodies family

The surname Brodies was first found in Moray, where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Brodies family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Brodies research. Another 147 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1311, 1386, 1466, 1550, 1617, 1645 and 1680 are included under the topic Early Brodies History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Brodies Spelling Variations

When the first dictionaries were invented in the last few hundred years, spelling gradually became standardized. Before that time, scribes spelled according to sound. Names were often recorded under different spelling variations every time they were written. Brodies has been written Brodie, Brody, Brodey, Brodye, Broadie, Broffee, Broffy, Brophie, Brophey, Brothie, Brophy, Brodley, Brothy and many more.

Early Notables of the Brodies family

Another 34 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Brodies Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Brodies family to Ireland

Some of the Brodies 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.

Migration of the Brodies family

The crossing to North America did not seem so great in comparison with the hardships many Scots endured at home. It was long, expensive, and cramped, but also rewarding. North America offered land and the chance for settlers to prove themselves in a new place. And many did prove themselves as they fought to forge a new nation in the American War of Independence. The ancestors of those Scots can now experience much of their once-lost heritage through the Clan societies and highland games that have sprung up across North America in the last century. A search of immigration and passenger lists revealed many important, early immigrants to North America bearing the name of Brodies: Andrew Brodie who arrived in Philadelphia in 1811; Robert Brodie with wife and six children arrived in New York in 1775; Edward Brodie arrived in Philadelphia in 1813.

The Brodies 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: Unite