Brook Family Crest, Coat of Arms and Name History

Brook Origin:

England

Origin of Brook:

The Brook surname appears in the forms of Brook, Brok, Brock, Broeck, and Broke, listed in Germany, where it occasionally introduced by the elegant “von”, England, Scotland, France, and Ireland. In whatever place it originated it has pre 7th-century Anglo-Saxon origins and is habitational name for an individual who lived at one of the areas known as Brook or Brock, not only in England but also in Germany, or who lived by a broc(k). It may represent a region of hard or rocky land or a small river that flooded in winter. In few situations the name is a professional and a figurative name for an individual who supplied fresh and clean water, using a stone pot called a “broc.” The spelling form of Brooke frequently appears all over the England, in the form of Brook, which is the actual regional spelling, this spelling formation appears only in Yorkshire, where there are no alternative names of Brook. The surname is one of the most documented, and examples are William de la Broke of the province of Surrey in 1208, and Richard Brock of Worcestershire in the Hundred Rolls of that division in 1275. In Germany the earliest documentation is possibly that of Johan Broker of Kiel in 1367, and near the same time in Scotland Thomas Bruke was a resident of Aberdeen. Later documentation includes William Brook, of Rothwell, Yorkshire, in 1540, Johan Gerd Brook of Oerlinshausen in 1731, and Johann von Brook, authentically of Bremen, listed in Isensee, Hannover, Germany, in March 1827.

Variations:

More common variations of this surname are: Brooke, Broock, Brooky, Barook, Brooka, Brooki, Hbrook, Brok, Brookey, Brookie.

England:

The name Brook firstly appeared in Essex. Old instances of the name are Ate-Broc, Attenbroke, and more often than not the pluralized Brooks. Associated from the Norman word “Broc”, which means “a small river” or “at the branch,” one of the previous origins was Robert le Broc and Ranyllph le Broc, two having estates in Essex in the year 1119.

The very first recorded spelling of the family was shown to be that of Alan de Ralph Broc, dated 1119, in the Pipe Rolls of the town of Colchester, Essex. It was during the time of King Henry Ist, of England known as “The Lion of Justice,” 1100 – 1135. The origin of surnames during this period became a necessity with the introduction of personal taxation. It came to be known as Poll Tax in England. Surnames all over the country began to develop, with unique and shocking spelling varieties of the original one.

United States of America:

Individuals with the surname Brook settled in the United States in four different centuries respectively in 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th. Some of the people with the name Brook who settled in the United States in the 17th century included Rob and Elys Brook both arrived in New England in the same year in 1634. Robert Brook at the age of 25, landed in Barbados in 1635. Richard Brook and Elizabeth Brook both arrived in Maryland in the same year in 1637.

Some of the people with the name Brook who settled in the United States in the 18th century included Robert Brook who arrived in Virginia in 1704. Margaret Brook, who landed in Virginia in 1706. Zacharias Brook came to Virginia in 1719. David Brook at the age of 22, arrived in Pennsylvania in 1737 and Hanna Brook, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1796.

Some of the people with the name Brook who settled in the United States in the 19th century included Thomas Brook at the age of 36 arrived in New York, NY in 1804. Peter Brook at the age of 26, landed in New York in 1812 and Valentine Brook, who came to Missouri in 1840.

Some of the people with the name Brook who settled in the United States in the 20th century included Joseph Brook, who landed in Alabama in 1917. Louis Brook and Morris Brook both arrived in Alabama in the same year in 1922.

Canada:

Some of the people with the name Brook who settled in the Canada in the 18th century included Mr. Jesse Brook U.E. who settled in Carleton [Saint John City], New Brunswick in 1783.

Some of the people with the name Brook who settled in the Canada in the 19th century included Catherine Brook at the age of 24 and Hugh Brook at the age of 28, landed in Quebec in 1834. T Brook, who landed in Victoria, British Columbia in 1862.

Australia:

Some of the people with the name Brook who settled in the Australia in the 19th century included Charles Brook arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship “Baboo” in 1840. John Brook, Frederick Brook, Mark Brook and Martha Brook, all these came in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship “Hooghly” in the same year in 1846.

New Zealand:

Some of the people with the name Brook who settled in the New Zealand in the 19th century included John Brook, Sarah Brook, Alfred Brook, George Brook, and Ada Brook all of these people arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship “Zealandia” in the same year in 1861.

Here is the population distribution of the last name Brook: United States 6,441; England 11,083; Australia 3,552; Israel 707; Canada 1,382; South Africa 1,625; Ghana 399; Scotland 532; New Zealand 764; Wales 418.

Notable People:

Eric Brook (1907–1965), was an English football player.

Faith Brook (1922–2012), was an English artist.

Holly Brook (born 1986), was an American musician and composer.

Jayne Brook (born 1962), was an American artist.

Kelly Brook (born 1979), was an English model.

Michael Brook (born 1951), was a Canadian creator, director, and composer.

Blazons & Genealogy Notes

1) Notes: (granted to Richard Brook, Esq., of London). Blazon: Quarterly, azure and gules a cross engrailed per pale or and argent in the 1st and 4th quarters a leopard’s face, and in the 2nd and 3rd a chaplet of gold. Crest—A mount vert thereon in front of an oak tree a brock passant proper the dexter fore paw resting on a chaplet, as in the arms.
2) Notes: (Norton Priory, co. Chester, hart.). Motto —Faste without fraude. Blazon: Or, a cross engrailed per pale gules and sable. Crest—A brock or badger proper.