Show ContentsBrookman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Brookman family

The surname Brookman was first found in Kent where "the family occur as Brokeman, in the 14th century." [1] The surname has the same origin a Brookam and in some case Brooker as "broc" is an Old English word for draught horse and badger. [1] As a trade name, the name was used for either a horseman or one who hunts badgers.

Early History of the Brookman family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Brookman research. Another 144 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1196, 1432, 1455, 1487, 1510, 1548, 1595, 1600, 1633 and 1654 are included under the topic Early Brookman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Brookman Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Brockman, Broockman, Brookman, Brockmen, Brookmen and many more.

Early Notables of the Brookman family

Another 29 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Brookman Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Brookman Ranking

In the United States, the name Brookman is the 16,613rd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [2]


Australia Brookman migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Brookman Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • John Brookman, English convict from Wiltshire, who was transported aboard the "Argyle" on March 5th, 1831, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia [3]
  • Andrew Brookman, aged 19, a printer, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Dirigo" [4]
  • Christina Brookman, aged 28, a dressmaker, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Grand Trianon"
  • Elizabeth Brookman, aged 18, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1859 aboard the ship "Clara"
  • Thomas Brookman, aged 24, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1859 aboard the ship "Lady Ann"

New Zealand Brookman 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:

Brookman Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Andrew Brookman, (b. 1844), aged 30, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Peter Denny" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 26th July 1874 [5]
  • Mrs. Rosa Brookman, (b. 1847), aged 27, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Peter Denny" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 26th July 1874 [5]
  • Miss Nelly Brookman, (b. 1864), aged 10, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Peter Denny" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 26th July 1874 [5]
  • J. G. Brookman, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Zealandia" in 1878
  • Howden Brookman, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Zealandia" in 1878
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Brookman (post 1700) +

  • Lester George Brookman (1904-1971), American stamp dealer, an expert on 19th century United States postage stamps and postal history
  • Herman S. Brookman (1891-1973), American architect in Portland, Oregon
  • Harry Norman Brookman (1884-1949), Australian farmer and politician in South Australia, second son of Sir George Brookman
  • Sir George Brookman KBE (1840-1927), South Australian businessman who made a fortune from a gold discovery in Western Australia and later became a benefactor to the University of Adelaide
  • David Keith Brookman (b. 1937), Baron Brookman, a British steel worker and trade unionist, General Secretary of the Iron and Steel Trades Confederation (1993-1999)
  • David Norman Brookman (1917-2000), Australian politician in the State of South Australia
  • Lieutenant-Commander Alan Brookman Beddoe (1893-1975), Canadian war artist and first President of the Heraldry Society of Canada

RMS Titanic
  • Mr John Brookman (d. 1912), aged 27, English Steward from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking [6]


  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  3. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2015, January 8) Argyle voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1831 with 251 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/argyle/1831
  4. South Australian Register Thursday 23rd November 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Dirigo 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/dirigo1854.shtml
  5. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  6. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html


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