Surname Brockett - Meaning and Origin
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Brockett: What does the surname Brockett mean?
The last name Brockett is of English origin and is believed to have originated from Brixworth, an ancient village in the county of Northamptonshire. The name Brockett most likely derived from the Old English word 'brycce', meaning a small, stumpy hill or outcrop.
The name Brockett appears in many documentary records from the Middle Ages, most notably as the surname of Hugh de Brixhulle, a witness in a charter from 1172. During the 16th century, there were several reputable Brockett families found in Buckinghamshire and Norfolk.
Today, the surname Brockett is well-established in several countries, including the United States, England, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Additionally, there are a handful of people in Europe who bear the Brockett surname, particularly in Belgium, Sweden and Denmark.
The Brockett surname has come to be associated with strength, independence and ambition, as evidenced by several renowned figures who have adopted the name, including the American former MLB pitcher Bob Brockett and the New Zealand national rugby sevens team coach Clark Brocket. Other individuals with the surname have contributed to science, entertainment, and the arts.
In summary, the Brockett surname carries with it centuries of history and has become symbolic of strength, independence and ambition through the achievements of those individuals who have carried it.
Order DNA origin analysisBrockett: Where does the name Brockett come from?
The last name Brockett is particularly common in England and Wales. It is the 599th most common surname in Britain, with 227 Brocketts per million people in 2018.
In England, the surname is most common in the West Midlands region of England, with over a thousand people having this as a last name. It is especially common in connected locales such as the city of Birmingham, Dudley, Coventry and Stoke-on-Trent.
The surname has also been recorded in Scotland, with a handful of people recorded as having this name throughout the country.
In the United States, Brockett is also a relatively common name. According to the US Census Bureau, there are 2,176 people with this last name spread across the country in 2019. There are especially high concentrations of Brocketts in the states of New York, California, Texas, and Massachusetts. The highest concentration of Brocketts are in the state of Texas which, according to the same Census bureau report, has 389 Brocketts in 2019.
The last name is also present in other parts of the world including Canada, Australia, and France, among other countries.
Variations of the surname Brockett
The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Brockett are: Brocket, Brockit, Brackett, Broket, Brokete, Broketts, Brokett, Bracket, Brocceti, Brocketor, and Brooket.
Brockett originates from Old French and is derived from the Old Norman word for a badger or “broc.” The family may have been originally known for their bravery, resourcefulness, or ferocity, similar to a badger. It is uncertain when exactly the surname Brockett first appeared but it is likely to have been around as early as the 12th century when surnames were first used in England.
Brockett can also be found in Scotland, most likely arriving sometime around the 13th century, after the Norman Conquest. The spelling variant Brocket is the more commonly found name in Scotland, usually indicating Scottish descent, with the spelling Brockett seen in England and America primarily.
Variants on the original spelling Brockett are often derived from regional dialects, such as the Lancashire dialect's "Bracket," or the Channel Island dialect of "Brocceti.” Other variations have arisen due to mistakes in recording or transcription, such as "Brocketor" which can be found in the U.S.
Another frequently used surname derived from Brockett is Brackett, which came from a Middle English nickname, as did Brokete and Broketts. It might also be derived from the Middle English word “braket,” which meant to “strike or break.”
Brocket and Brockit may also be found, likely as misspellings of Brockett over time. The spelling Brooket is a variation which may have derived from the Dutch “brukke,” meaning “rugged” or “rough.”
Therefore, variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Brockett could be Brocket, Brockit, Brackett, Broket, Brokete, Broketts, Brokett, Bracket, Brocceti, Brocketor, and Brooket.
Famous people with the name Brockett
- Jeff Brockett: American professional arborist, climber, tree surgeon, high ropes/challenge course builder, and treehouse designer.
- Gordon Brockett: British playwright and dramatist.
- Ervin Brockett: American race car driver, NASCAR champion.
- Andrew Brockett: British footballer who played for Southampton, Luton Town, and Watford.
- William Edward Brockett Sr.: American scientist and inventor who specialized in chemical engineering and biochemistry.
- Candace Brockett: One of the top ski jumpers in American school history.
- Margaret Brockett: American athlete who became a world record-holder in women’s high jump.
- Robert Brockett: Australian sprinter who won a Commonwealth Games gold medal in the 200m in 1966.
- M.J. Brockett: British artist, writer, and entrepreneur who wrote the book “Creative Habits of Successful Musicians”.
- Arthur Brockett: American landscape painter and illustrator who was elected to the National Academy of Design.