The ancestry of the name Bromton dates from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It comes from when the family lived in one of the settlements named Brampton, which were found in the counties of Cumberland, Derbyshire, Herefordshire, Huntingdonshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, Suffolk, Westmorland (now part of Cumbria), and the West Riding of Yorkshire.
Brompton literally means the "Broom Enclosure or Farm" from the Old English brom + tun, while Brampton literally means the "Bramble Enclosure or Farmstead" from the Old English bram + tun. [1]
The surname Bromton was first found in Norfolk where they held estates as far back as 1205, when Geoffery Brompton at that time. [2]
The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed Peter de Brampton in Derbyshire; Hugh de Brompton in Huntingdonshire; Geoffrey de Bampton, Huntingdonshire; Brian de Brampton, Gloucestershire; Alan de Bramtone, Cambridgeshire; and William de Brampton, Oxfordshire. [3]
The Placita de Quo Warranto, temp. Edward I-III listed Bryan de Brumpton, Herefordshire and Adam de Brumpton, Salop (Shropshire) 20 Edward I (during the twentieth year of King Edward I's reign.) [3]
Moving to the south in Devon, we found this interesting entry about the Braunton variant which we include in full: Across the Taw lies Braunton, presumably derived from Brannock's ' tun,' Brannock being the patron saint; and the legend of the foundation of the church averring that he was directed to build it where he next saw a sow and her litter, in witness whereof sow and farrows are to be seen duly carven on a boss. Legend further affirms that he obtained the timber from a forest which then grew upon the site of the sandy waste fringing the Taw, now known as Braunton Burrows, and drew it to the spot by deer. And it would be a remarkable coincidence if the remains had not suggested the tradition that a submerged forest does exist in Barnstaple Bay near the point indicated, and that cervine bones and antlers have been found therein. On the cliffs at Croyde, hard by, flint chips are so numerous as to indicate the existence there of a prehistoric implement-manufactory." [4]
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bromton research. Another 71 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1436, 1436, 1440, 1508, 1690 and 1751 are included under the topic Early Bromton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Bromton have been found, including Brampton, Bramton, Brompton, Brumton and others.
Notables of the family at this time include Sir Edward Brampton, KG (1440-1508), the Governor of Guernsey, a knight, adventurer, ship commander and the godson and protégé of...
Another 27 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bromton Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Some of the Bromton 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.
Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Bromton, or a variant listed above: