Debrick

This interesting surname is English, but of French medieval locational origins. It derives from the surname of 'de Breucque' recorded heraldically in Picardy, or the similar 'de Bricque' from the province of Namur, in Flanders. The surname in England has very protestant associations. The first recording being that of Estienne de Breucque in the register of the French Huguenot church, Threadneedle Street, in the city of London, on June 3rd 1606. From this spelling the later 'English' forms took two directions, being to either Debrook or Debrick. Early examples of the recordings include a middle spelling of John Deborack at St Peters church, Pauls Wharf, on July 13th 1686, and a century later that of Thomas Debrick, whose daughter Rebecca was christened at the church of St Mary Whitechapel, Stepney, on November 1st 1777. The coat of arms of the original family of 'de Breucque' was three silver birds on a green field. The first recorded spelling of the family name is believed to be that of Johannes de Bricque. This was dated circa 1580 in Namur. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was sometimes known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.