Brasher

Brasher
This interesting English surname is of pre 7th century Anglo-Saxon origins. It is topographical and describes someone who lived by a piece of land that was newly cultivated. The derivation is from the word 'braec', a derivative of the ancient 'brecan', and meaning 'to break', and thus by implication to describe land 'broken' by the plough or possibly land cleared of forestry and used for grazing. With only a small population estimated at two or three million, the need for new agricultural lands would not have been great. However this changed after the Norman Conquest of 1066 and the development of the major monasteries, who were the land developers of their day and equally ruthless. Residential and topographical surnames were among the earliest created, since either natural or man-made features in the landscape provided easily recognisable terms for distinguishing people in the small communities of medieval England. The modern surname can be found as Bracher, Brasher, Bratcher, Breacher, Brecher and Britcher. Early examples of the the name recordings taken from surviving church registers of the period include Isaac Bracher, who married Johan or Joan Best, at St Augustine's church, Watling Street, London, on May 1st 1575, Mary Britcher, who married Robert Davies at Maidstone, Kent, on November 24th 1630, and Sarah Brasher, the daughter of Abraham Brasher, christened at St Olave's church, Southwark, London, on June 7th 1640. The first recorded spelling of the family name is believed to be that of Robert le Brechere, which was dated 1245, in the register of Oseney Abbey, Oxfordshire. This was during the reign of King Henry 11, known as 'The Frenchman', 1216-1272. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

Surnames reference. 2013.

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  • Brasher — can refer to:Places* Brasher, New York * Brasher Falls Winthrop, New YorkPeople* Chris Brasher (1928 2003), British athlete * Tim Brasher, Australian rugby league player …   Wikipedia

  • Brasher — ist der Familienname von Chris Brasher (1928–2003), britischer Leichtathlet Brasher heißt der Ort Brasher (New York), Stadt im US Bundesstaat New York Diese Seite ist eine Begriffsklärung zur Unterscheidung mehrer …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Brasher Falls — Winthrop, NY U.S. Census Designated Place in New York Population (2000): 1140 Housing Units (2000): 542 Land area (2000): 4.458346 sq. miles (11.547062 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.106173 sq. miles (0.274987 sq. km) Total area (2000): 4.564519 sq …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Brasher Falls, NY — Brasher Falls Winthrop, NY U.S. Census Designated Place in New York Population (2000): 1140 Housing Units (2000): 542 Land area (2000): 4.458346 sq. miles (11.547062 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.106173 sq. miles (0.274987 sq. km) Total area… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Brasher Falls-Winthrop — Brasher Falls Winthrop, NY U.S. Census Designated Place in New York Population (2000): 1140 Housing Units (2000): 542 Land area (2000): 4.458346 sq. miles (11.547062 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.106173 sq. miles (0.274987 sq. km) Total area… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Brasher Falls-Winthrop, NY — U.S. Census Designated Place in New York Population (2000): 1140 Housing Units (2000): 542 Land area (2000): 4.458346 sq. miles (11.547062 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.106173 sq. miles (0.274987 sq. km) Total area (2000): 4.564519 sq. miles… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Brasher, New York — Infobox Settlement official name = Brasher, New York settlement type = Town nickname = motto = imagesize = image caption = image |pushpin pushpin label position = pushpin map caption =Location within the state of New York pushpin mapsize =… …   Wikipedia

  • Brasher Doubloon (coin) — The Brasher Doubloon is a rare American coin, privately minted in and after 1787. History In 1787, Ephraim Brashear [http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/ silversmiths/makers/silversmiths/68194.htm] , a goldsmith and silversmith, was granted a …   Wikipedia

  • Brasher Falls-Winthrop, New York — Infobox Settlement official name = Brasher Falls Winthrop, New York settlement type = CDP nickname = motto = imagesize = image caption = image pushpin pushpin label position = pushpin map caption =Location within the state of New York pushpin… …   Wikipedia

  • Brasher, Christopher William — ▪ 2004 “Chris”        British athlete, journalist, and businessman (b. Aug. 21, 1928, Georgetown, British Guiana [now Guyana] d. Feb. 28, 2003, Chaddleworth, Berkshire, Eng.), on May 6, 1954, set the pace for the first two laps of Roger Bannister …   Universalium

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