Brighty Family History

Usually from the early Middle English female personal name Bright(y)eve Britiff (Old English Beorhtgifu, a compound of beorht ‘bright, fair’ + gifu ‘gift’). Possibly all the post-medieval surnames at (i) below derive from this name, but some examples of Bright(e)y could alternatively belong with (ii).

Occasionally, perhaps from the early Middle English male personal name Brightwy, representing either Old English Brihtwīg, Beorhtwīg or Old English Brihtwin; the two names were much confused.

They are compounds of Old English briht, beorht ‘bright’ + either wīg ‘battle’ or wine ‘friend’.