BRAKE
Brake
Brake is a British surname of occupational origin, derived from the Old English word "bracu," which means an area covered with bracken. The name was commonly given to those who lived near or worked in an area where bracken ferns were prevalent.
Origins
The surname Brake is most commonly found in the southern regions of England, particularly in counties such as Somerset, Devon, and Cornwall. It is believed to have derived from early medieval times and has since been passed down through generations.
Variants
Variants of the Brake surname include Brack, Brac, and Brach. Over time, variations in spelling have emerged due to regional dialects and language changes.
Notable Individuals
John Brake (1789-1860) - An influential agriculturalist known for his contributions to crop rotation techniques in 19th-century England.
Emily Brake (b. 1975) - A contemporary British artist renowned for her abstract landscape paintings inspired by the Somerset countryside.
In Popular Culture
The surname Brake has been used in various works of literature and media, often as a character name or a reference to a character's background or heritage.
References
- Reaney, P. H., Wilson, R. M. (1997). A Dictionary of English Surnames. Oxford University Press.
- Hanks, P., Coates, R., McClure, P. (2016). The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland. Oxford University Press.
There are approximately 1,032 people named Brake in the UK. That makes it roughly the 7,187th most common surname in Britain. Around 16 in a million people in Britain are named Brake.
Surname type: Location or geographical feature
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Typical given names associated with the surname
Male
- Alan
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- John
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Richard
- Simon
- Stephen
Female
- Angela
- Celia
- Claire
- Emma
- Jane
- Julie
- Louise
- Pauline
- Rebecca
- Samantha
- Sarah
- Susan
- Victoria
Similar and related surnames
- Bracke
- Brack
- Braak
- Brackey
- Bracey
- Brace
- Braca
- Bracken
- Bracket
- Bracker
- Barke
- Brak
- Braka
- Barake
- Bracki
- Brackie
- Bracks
- Brackx
- Braes
- Braik
- Brakel
- Braken
- Braker
- Brakes
- Brakey
- Brako
- Break
- Breakes
- Breakey
- Breakie
- Breaks
- Breck
- Brecke
- Breek
- Breeks
- Breik
- Brek
- Breke
- Brekke
- Brex
- Braco
- Bracq
- Brae
- Braeken
- Brage
- Brakell
- Brakels
- Brakha
- Brakle
- Brase
- Braye
- Braze
- Breakel
- Breaken
- Breaker
- Breca
- Brecks
- Barrack
- Barrick
- Birk
- Borg
- Bourke
- Bracy
- Bragg
- Brigg
- Brook
- Brooke
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.