Branfield Family History

from Bramfield (Herts Suffolk). Both place-names end in feld ‘open land’. The Herts name may have Old English brand ‘fire’ or a form related in meaning perhaps indicating land cleared by burning; the Suffolk name has brōm ‘broom’.

occasionally perhaps from Brafield on the Green (Northants) whose name contains feld as in (1) preceded perhaps by Old English brægen ‘brain crown of the head’ used as a transferred topographical term or by a pre-English district name of uncertain origin.

Compare Brayfield. Post-medieval bearers may alternatively belong at (1). if not from (1) or (2) above by migration possibly an altered form of Branford.