Show ContentsBruch History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Bruch evolved in Germany in the historic state of Prussia. It is a patronymic name. Patronymics are derived from the given name of the father of the bearer. Names derived from the name of the mother of the bearer, which are less common, are called metronymic names. Patronymic names were generally formed from traditional, German given names, rather than from the names of saints or biblical figures, as is the custom in many other European cultures. Bruch comes from beside a dyke. Bruch is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. Habitation names form the other broad category of surnames that were derived from place-names. They were derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. Other local names are derived from the names of houses, manors, estates, regions, and entire counties.

Early Origins of the Bruch family

The surname Bruch was first found in the Rhineland, where the name Bruch contributed greatly to the development of an emerging nation and played a large role in the tribal and national conflicts of the area. In later years the name branched into many houses, where family members continued to play a significant role in the local social and political affairs.

Early History of the Bruch family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bruch research. Another 59 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bruch History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bruch Spelling Variations

One can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames: in early times, spelling in general, and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized; and later, spellings would change with branching and movement of families. Variations of the name Bruch include Bruch, Bruche, Bruck, Brucke, Bruk, Brukke, Brouch, Brouche, Brouck, Brouke, Bruech, Brueck, Bruek, Brok, Brokke, Broech, Broeck, Broech, Broeche, Broek and many more.

Early Notables of the Bruch family

Notables with the name Bruch during this period were

  • the Bruch family of the Rhineland

Bruch Ranking

In the United States, the name Bruch is the 15,901st most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1


United States Bruch migration to the United States +

The state of Prussia was a great influence on the shape of modern Germany. After the Second World War, Prussia's land was divided among the Soviet Union, Poland, East Germany and West Germany and the state was abolished. Some Prussians remained in those countries after the war, while many others migrated to North America in search of a new start. Philadelphia was their primary point of entry to the United States, after which many of them moved on to Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. A large number of Prussians also migrated to Ontario and the prairie provinces as United Empire Loyalists. Analysis of immigration records has shown some of the first Bruchs to arrive in North America, and among them were:

Bruch Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • John Bruch, who arrived in Virginia in 1663 2
Bruch Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Hans Henrig Bruch who, accompanied by his wife and four children, who arrived in New York state in 1709
  • Hans Henrig Bruch, who arrived in New York in 1709 2
  • Johan Mathias Bruch, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1736 2
  • David Bruch, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1737 2
  • Thomas Bruch, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1740 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Bruch Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Dorothea Bruch, aged 36, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1805 2
  • Dorothea Bruch who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1805
  • Heinrich Bruch who arrived in New Orleans, La. in 1823
  • Martin Bruch, who landed in Texas in 1840-1850 2
  • Friedrich Bruch, who landed in Brazil in 1846 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Bruch Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Peter Bruch, who arrived in Arkansas in 1904

Contemporary Notables of the name Bruch (post 1700) +

  • Walter Bruch (1908-1990), German engineer, famous for inventing the PAL color television system
  • Max Bruch (1838-1920), German composer
  • Brigadier-General Albert Bruch (1882-1952), French General Officer Commanding 2nd Armored Division (1940) 3


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  3. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, October 3) Albert Bruch. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Bruch%C3%A9/Albert-Charles-Emile/France.html


Houseofnames.com on Facebook