Holbroak History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

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]

"Holbrook is an ancient surname in the east of England. As Holebrok, we found 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]

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] Literally, the place name means "hollow brook", "brook in a hollow," from the Old English words "hol" + "broc." [1]

"Holbrook Hall is a fine old mansion, surrounded with 300 acres of land" [4] 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] Kirby's Quest listed Isota Holebrok, in Somerset, temp. 1 Edward III. [6] Later, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed William Holbroke. [5]

Early History of the Holbroak family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Holbroak research. Another 117 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1189, 1622, 1635, 1437, 1412, 1413, 1418 and 1421 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)

Distinguished members of the family include John Holbrook (d. 1437), Master of Peterhouse, Cambridge, a native of Suffolk. He was educated at Peterhouse, of which he became a fellow in 1412; during the same year took holy orders, receiving...
Another 38 words (3 lines of text) are 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 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.

Citations +

Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
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.