Show ContentsColbrand History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Colbrand name is an important part of the history of the ancient Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. Colbrand is derived from the Old Norse personal name Kolbrandr and the Old Swedish forename Kolbrand. The names Colbrand and Colebran appeared in the Domesday Book survey of 1086. [1] Many Scandinavian personal names were left in the British Isles as a legacy of the Viking raids which plagued the coastal regions of Britain from the 8th to 10th centuries, and many of these eventually became Anglo-Saxon surnames.

Early Origins of the Colbrand family

The surname Colbrand was first found in Sussex where the family 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.

Colbrand (Colbron) was a legendary giant from English folklore. Some sources claim he was a Viking giant. According to legend, Guy of Warwick defeated him to prove his love for Lady Felice. The legend dates back to at least the 13th century and was even popular into Shakespearean times when he mentions Colbrand in Henry VIII and King John.

By the 18th century, Colbrand became a nickname for someone of considerable size or strength.

Colban, Earl of Fife ( c. 1247-1270) was ruler of Fife in Scotland. He was the son of Earl Malcolm and his wife Elen ferch Llywelyn and succeeded his father while still a teenager on Malcolm's death in 1266.

Early History of the Colbrand family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Colbrand research. Another 85 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1544, 1571, 1572, 1597, 1600, 1627, 1640, 1664, 1667, 1785, 1806 and 1815 are included under the topic Early Colbrand History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Colbrand Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Colbrand were recorded, including Colbrond, Colbron, Colbrand, Colbran and others.

Early Notables of the Colbrand family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

  • James Colbrand (c. 1544-1600), of Chichester, Sussex, an English politician, Member of the Parliament for Ludgershall in 1571 and 1572 and for Appleby 1597. Continuing the line was Sir John Colbrand...
  • Sir Richard Colbrand, 3rd Baronet (died 1664)

Migration of the Colbrand family

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Colbrand family emigrate to North America: William and his wife Marjorie Colbron who settled in Salem Massachusetts in 1630.


Contemporary Notables of the name Colbrand (post 1700) +

  • Sir Robert Colbrand (d. 1709), 5th Baronet of Boreham in the County of Sussex; he was the last of the line of baronets that dated back to Sir John Colbrand, 1st Baronet


  1. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print


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