BRUMFIELD
The surname Brumfield is of English origin and is traditionally regarded as a locational name. It is derived from the Anglo‑Saxon elements brom—meaning broom or gorse—and feld, a term for open country or field. Thus the name originally denoted a person who lived near or on a field covered with these shrubs.
Documentary evidence of the name dates back to the eleventh and twelfth centuries. The place called Bromfield in Cumberland is recorded as Brumfeld in 1145, and a similarly named settlement in Shropshire appears in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Brunfelde. Other entries in the Domesday Book include Brumfelda in Essex, Brumfeld in Kent, and Brunfelle in Somerset. These early forms all carry the same meaning, namely a field beneath a cover of broom or gorse.
The earliest surviving individual bearing the surname is Hamo de Bromfeld, whose name is recorded in the Hundred Rolls of Kent in 1275, during the reign of King Edward I. Other medieval witnesses include William atte Bromeld in the 1296 Subsidy Rolls of Sussex and John de Bromfeld in the 1327 Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk. Such records indicate that the surname was established as a hereditary name by the late fourteenth century.
Over time the spelling of the name has varied, giving rise to the forms Broomfield, Bromfield and Brumfield. The differences arose in part because spelling was not standardised until the modern period, and scribes often wrote names phonetically. The modern surname is therefore best viewed as a single family name with historic orthographic variation.
In heraldic tradition the family was granted a coat of arms illustrated as a gold field, a red bend bearing three silver mullets, and a crest featuring a blue pheon. These symbols were originally associated with the Brumfeld of Kent, as recorded in early heraldic rolls.
In terms of geographic distribution, the surname first appears in English records of the thirteenth century. While it occurred among the gentry of England, the name is now far more common in the United States, particularly in states such as Louisiana, Mississippi, Kentucky and Indiana. In comparison, the surname is increasingly rare on the home island and is seldom encountered in contemporary English society.
Notable individuals who have carried the surname in modern times include Australian professional baseball player Lou Brumfield and American writer Horace Brumfield. Their achievements have brought international attention to the name, although the surname remains largely tied to its English heritage.
A secondary theory, supported by the medieval abandonment of certain villages, suggests that the name may have originated from a now‑lost settlement characterised by bramble or broom growth. While this theory remains unconfirmed, it is consonant with the literal meaning of the Old English components that form the name.
Typical given names associated with the Brumfield surname
Male
- Alastair
- Anthony
- Craig
- David
- George
- Graham
- John
- Michael
- Neil
- Paul
- Peter
- Randy
- Richard
Female
- Aimee
- Claire
- Dawn
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Jane
- Kate
- Katherine
- Margaret
- Michelle
- Patricia
- Rosemary
- Sheila
- Silvana
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Brumfield in...
Braille
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Morse
-....-...---..-.....-..-..
Semaphore
There are approximately 127 people named Brumfield in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around two in a million people in Britain are named Brumfield.
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
