Brooks History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancestors of the Brooks family brought their name to England in the wave of migration after the Norman Conquest of 1066. They lived in Essex. The name, however, derives from the family’s former residence in Broc, in the area of Anjou, France. [1]

Early Origins of the Brooks family

The surname Brooks was first found in Essex. Medieval forms of the name are Ate-Broc, Atte-Broc, Attenbroke and was more often than not pluralized to Brooks and Brookes in modern times. [2]

Originally from the Norman “Broc,” meaning “a stream” or “at the brook,” one of the first references was of Robert le Broc and Ranyllph le Broc, two knights having estates in Essexin the year 1119. A few years later, Eustace delbroc was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Northumberland in 1130 and Rand de Broc was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Hampshire in 1157. [3]

The Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum, temp. Henry III-Edward I, listed Edelina del Brok. Henry III-Edward I [4]

Early in the 13th century, William de la Broke was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls of Surrey in 1208 and Emma de Brokes was listed in the same source but in Suffolk in 1220. [3] The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list Alice de la Broke and Laurence del Broc. [5] In Somerset, William atte Brouke was listed there, 1 Edward III (during the first year of King Edward III’s reign.) [6]

Early History of the Brooks family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Brooks research.

Brooks Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Brooks were recorded, including Brook, Brooke, Brookes, Brooks, Brecks, Broocks and others.

Early Notables of the Brooks family (pre 1700)

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Richard Brooke (died 1569), Sheriff of Cheshire in 1563, he bought the manor of Norton, Cheshire from Henry VIII in 1545 following the dissolution of the monasteries; John Brooke, (died 1660) 1st Baron Cobham, an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1614 and 1643; Sir Henry Brooke, 1st Baronet (died 1664), an English soldier and politician; Robert Brooke, Sr.

Brooks World Ranking

In the United States, the name Brooks is the 73^rd most popular surname with an estimated 256,161 people with that name. [7] However, in Canada, the name Brooks is ranked the 247^thmost popular surname with an estimated 16,458 people with that name. [8] And in Australia, the name Brooks is the 138^th popular surname with an estimated 20,231 people with that name. [9] New Zealand ranks Brooks as 290^th with 2,091 people. [10] The United Kingdom ranks Brooks as 127^th with 39,840 people. [11]

 Migration of the Brooks family to Ireland

Some of the Brooks family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.

 Brooks migration to the United States +

The unstable environment in England at this time caused numerous families to board ships and leave in search of opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad in places like Ireland, Australia, and particularly the New World. The voyage was extremely difficult, however, and only taken at great expense. The cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels caused many to arrive diseased and starving, not to mention destitute from the enormous cost. Still opportunity in the emerging nations of Canada and the United States was far greater than at home and many went on to make important contributions to the cultures of their adopted countries. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Brooks arrived in North America very early: 

Brooks Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• Cutberd Brooks, who arrived in Virginia in 1622 [12]
• James Brooks, who landed in Virginia in 1623 [12]
• Sibile Brooks, who landed in Virginia in 1623 [12]
• Thomas Brooks, aged 23, who arrived in Virginia in 1623 aboard the ship “Southampton” [12]
• William Brooks, who arrived in Virginia in 1623 [12

Brooks Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Robin Brooks, who arrived in Virginia in 1705 [12]
• Fra Brooks, who arrived in Virginia in 1705 [12]
• Margaret Brooks, who arrived in Virginia in 1717 [12]
• Benja Brooks, who landed in Virginia in 1720 [12]
• Fran Brooks, who landed in Georgia in 1738 [12]