The lineage of the name Holbroak begins with the
Anglo-Saxon tribes in Britain. It is a result of when they lived in the region
of Holbrook in
Suffolk. The surname Holbroak originally referred to a "sunken stream"or "hollow brook", "brook in a hollow" in Old English.
[1]CITATION[CLOSE]
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4) "Holbrook is an ancient surname in the east of
England. As Holebrok we find it six centuries ago in
Nottinghamshire,
Lincolnshire,
Suffolk, and also in Northamptonshire. There are parishes, etc., named Holbrook in the counties of Derby, Warwick, Gloucester,
Dorset, and Sussex."
[2]CITATION[CLOSE]
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print. Early Origins of the Holbroak family
The surname Holbroak was first found in
Suffolk at Holbrook, a parish, in the incorporation and
hundred of Samford or at Holbrook in
Derbyshire, a chapelry, in the parish of Duffield, union of Belper, hundred of Appletree. Both locations are listed in the
Domesday Book of 1086 as Holebroc
[3]CITATION[CLOSE]
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8) Literally, the place name means "hollow brook, brook in a hollow," from the Old English words "hol" + "broc."
[1]CITATION[CLOSE]
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4) "Holbrook Hall is a fine old mansion, surrounded with 300 acres of land"
[4]CITATION[CLOSE]
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print. built in the 17th century. The
Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 include some of the first entries for the family: William de Holebrok, Lincolnshire; Richard de Holebrokke, Suffolk; and Roger de Holebrokke,
Nottinghamshire.
[5]CITATION[CLOSE]
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6) Kirby's Quest listed Isota Holebrok, in
Somerset,
temp. 1 Edward III.
[6]CITATION[CLOSE]
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print. Later the
Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed William Holbroke.
[5]CITATION[CLOSE]
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Early History of the Holbroak family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Holbroak research.
Another 185 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1189, 1622 and 1635 are included under the topic Early Holbroak History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Holbroak Spelling Variations
Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Holbroak has undergone many
spelling variations, including Holbrook, Holbrow, Holbrooks, Holbroake and many more.
Early Notables of the Holbroak family (pre 1700)
More information is included under the topic Early Holbroak Notables in all our
PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Holbroak family to Ireland
Some of the Holbroak family moved to
Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 78 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Holbroak family to the New World and Oceana
To escape the unstable social climate in
England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Holbroak were among those contributors: Thomas Holbrook settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1630; Charles Holbrick settled in Washington Maryland in 1798; Anne Holbrooke settled in Barbados in 1654.