The
Anglo-Saxon name Holbrow comes from the family having resided in the region
of Holbrook in
Suffolk. The surname Holbrow 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 Holbrow family
The surname Holbrow 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 Holbrow family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Holbrow research.
Another 185 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1189, 1622 and 1635 are included under the topic Early Holbrow History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Holbrow Spelling Variations
Holbrow has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years,
spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Spelling variants included: Holbrook, Holbrow, Holbrooks, Holbroake and many more.
Early Notables of the Holbrow family (pre 1700)
More information is included under the topic Early Holbrow Notables in all our
PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Holbrow family to Ireland
Some of the Holbrow 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 Holbrow family to the New World and Oceana
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
Holbrow Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
- James Holbrow, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Excelsior" in 1871