Broodnell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Broodnell family

The surname Broodnell was first found in Northamptonshire at Deene, parish, in the union of Oundle, hundred of Corby. "The church [of Deene] contains portions of the early and decorated English styles, and has windows exhibiting some superior tracery, and several ancient monuments to the Brudenell family." 1

The family was likely descended from Alençon, Normandy and one of the first records was that of Hugo de Bretinolles, temp. Henry I., who held a knight's fee in Berkshire in 1165. "The change of the name from Bretignolles to Bredenell, Bredenhill, and Brudenel, appears from various records." 2

"Amongst the old Leicestershire names now rare in the county is that of Brudenell. The Brudenells were a very distinguished family in the 16th and 17th centuries, and from them sprang the noble house of Cardigan." 3

Early History of the Broodnell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Broodnell research. Another 177 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1102, 1136, 1139, 1151, 1193, 1234, 1391, 1429, 1455, 1461, 1487, 1510, 1520, 1530, 1531, 1532, 1533, 1547, 1593, 1600, 1607, 1663, 1692, 1703 and 1732 are included under the topic Early Broodnell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Broodnell Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Brudenell, Brudnell, Brudenall, Brudnall, Brudenhall, Brewdenell, Brewdenall, Brewdnell, Broodnel, Brudnel, Brudnal, Broodnell, Broodnall, Bruddenell, Bruddenall, Birkenell, Brykenell, Brykenell and many more.

Early Notables of the Broodnell family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir Thomas Brudenell, High Sheriff of Rutland; Sir Robert Brudenell KS (1461-1531), Chief Justice of the Common Pleas (1520-1530.) He was descended from William Brudenell, who was settled at Dodington and Adderbury in Oxfordshire, and Aynhoe, Northamptonshire, in the reign of Henry III, and from an Edmund lirudenell who was Attorney-General to Richard II...
Another 61 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Broodnell Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Broodnell family

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Broodnell or a variant listed above: the name represented in many forms and recorded from the mid 17th century in the great migration from Europe. Migrants settled in the eastern seaboard from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands..

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
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)
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.