Brinicombe

This most interesting and unusual surname is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is a locational name from either Brimblecombe, thought to be a lost village in Devon; Brimcombe, a locality in Berkshire; or Brimscombe, near Stroud in Gloucestershire. Villages were lost as a result of the enforced clearing and dispersal of the former inhabitants to make way for sheep pastures at the height of the wool trade in the 14th Century. All of the above placenames were composed of the Olde English pre 7th Century elements "bremel", bramble, and "cumb", a narrow valley. The surname was recorded in Devonshire as "Brumelcome" in 1281 and as "Bremycomb" in 1330. On February 20th 1587, John Brimmacome was married in Westbury on Severn, Gloucestershire, while, William Brimblecombe married Millescant Browne on November 13th 1598 at Siston, Gloucestershire. Charels, son of William Brinnicome, was christened on January 28th 1614 at the church of St. David, Exeter, and Mary Brinicombe married Abraham Holman on August 9th 1785 at Dunsford, in Devon. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Alica Bremelcombe, which was dated April 20th 1540, christened at Iddesleigh, Devonshire, during the reign of King Henry V111, known as "Bluff King Hal", 1509 - 1547. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.