Parbrook

This is a very rare English surname, and one that would seem to have an unusual origin. It is clearly locational, and probably originates from either the village of Parbrook in the county of Somerset, or from Parbrook in the county of West Sussex. The place name would seem to mean "the pear orchard by the brook" from the pre 7th century Olde English "per-broc". Locational surnames are usually "from" names. That is to say surnames which were originally given to former inhabitants who for whatever reason, left their homsteads and moved elsewhere. In so doing they either took, or were given, as easy indentification, the name of their former home. However it is also usual to find such names still recorded in their original county, or if not, certainly in the surviving registers of the city of London. In this case the surname is not found in the registers of any of these places. It is however recorded in the county of Stafford, and from the early 19th century at the parish church of the town of Cannock. Even then there is a considerable mystery. From Boxing Day 1813 when John Parbrook was christened, to Christmas Day 1830 when a child called Anne Parbrook was christened, at least six children seem to have been born to a Susanna Parbrook. All were christened at the same place, but no father is shown. This would normally suggest that all were natural born, except that it seems most unlikely that so many would be born to an unmarried mother, and in anycase at this particular church and at this period fathers in general seem to have been omitted from the baptismal records!