Danbrook

This most interesting and unusual surname is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is a variant form of a locational name from Damsbrook, a hamlet near Bolsover in Derbyshire. The placename itself is composed of the Olde English "Dan", Dane, plus "broc", the Olde English element meaning "a stream", found in many English placenames. The surname could also be a topographical name for "a dweller by the stream on the hill, mountain", from the Olde English elements "dun", hill, mountain, and "broc", as above. Topographical surnames were among the earliest created, since both natural and man-made features in the landscape provided easily recognisable distinguishing names in the small communities of the Middle Ages. Edwarde and Anne, children of Edwarde Danbrooke, were christened at the Church of St. Martin's, Ludgate, London, on March 25th 1596, and January 22nd 1597, respectively. Mary, daughter of John Danbrook, was christened at South Parade, Halifax, on March 2nd 1789. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Edward Danbrooke, which was dated May 4th 1595, marriage to Mary Tarry, at St. Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury, London, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, known as "Good Queen Bess", 1558 - 1603. 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.