Hello, my name is Luke and I am 7 years old.

I live in London, ENGLAND, with my Mum, Dad and sister Siân.

The reason my Dad wrote this site is because my Granddad told me that I am the  last of the BRIZELDEN's and that there is only himself, my Dad and Me left in  the world. (There is still my sister, but one day she will get married and  change her name, so she does not count.)

One day, when my Dad was surfing the Internet, he found 3 other BRIZELDEN's.  There were also a lot of BRISELDEN's and as there are some mentioned in our  family tree we wondered if we were related.

Our family tree was researched by Alan Tompkins who is my granddads third  cousin once removed.

So, the reason for this website is to find any other BRIZELDEN's around the  globe and try to complete our family tree.

If you are a BRIZELDEN, BRISELDEN or any other spelling Please either complete  our mail form or fill out our guest book.

Thank you very much

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A little History.

The surname BRIZELDEN is one of the most notable Anglo-Saxon surnames, and its  historical trail has emerged from the mists of time to become an influential  surname of the Middle Ages and of the present day.

In an in-depth research of such ancient manuscripts as the Doomsday Book  compiled in 1086 AD, by Duke William of Normandy, the Ragman Rolls (1291-1296)  collected by King Edward I of England, the Curia Regis Rolls, the Pipe Rolls,  the Hearth Rolls, parish registers, baptismals, tax records and other ancient  documents, researchers have found the first record of the name BRIZELDEN in  Kent. The Saxon influence of English history diminished after the Battle of  Hastings in 1066. The language of the courts was French for the next three  centuries and the Norman ambience prevailed. But Saxon surnames survived and  the family name was first referenced in the 13th century when they held estates. Confusing to most, many different spellings in the archives researched were  found. Although the name, BRIZELDEN, occurred in many manuscripts, from time to  time the surname was also spelt BRISSENDEN, BRISSENDON, BRYSENDEN, BRISENDEN,  BRISELDEN, BRISSELDEN, and these changes in spelling frequently occurred, even  between father and son. There is one record of a father and eight sons. In the  graveyard where they are buried, all nine have different spellings of their  surnames. Many reasons were revealed for these spelling variations but mainly  church officials and scribes spelt the name as it was told to them.

The family name BRIZELDEN emerged as a notable English family name in the  county of Kent where they were anciently seated. Later, in 1274 they were also  shown on tax records as BRISSENDEN, where they held seats in Sussex and  Berkshire. From their early beginnings, for the next few centuries, the family  name acquired other estates or manors and branches established themselves  throughout England. Several major conflicts, the War of the Roses, the  Cromwellian War, found them sometimes to be in opposing camps with conflicting  interests. Many changes in spelling the surname were accidental, some were  deliberate, to declare a cause, or to distance a branch from the main stem.  Notable amongst the family at this time was the BRISSENDEN family of Kent. 	
 For the next two or three centuries the bearers of the BRIZELDEN name  flourished and played a significant role in the political development of  England. During the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries England was ravaged by  religious and political conflict. Puritanism, Catholicism, Royalist and  parliamentary forces shed much blood. Many families were freely "encouraged" to  migrate to the "colonies". Some were rewarded with grants of land, while others  were simply banished.

As the New World beckoned, migration continued. Kinsmen of the family name  BRIZELDEN were amongst those who sailed aboard the armada of small sailing  ships, known as "White Sails", which plied the stormy Atlantic. Principal  amongst the settlers, were kinsmen of the surname BRIZELDEN, or a variable  spelling of the family name. These families are recorded in the great migration  from Europe in the mid 17th century and settled in the eastern seaboard from  Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas and to the Islands. The trek  from the port of entry was arduous and many joined the wagon trains to the  prairies or to the West Coast. During the American War of Independence, many  royalists made their way north to Canada and became known as the United Empire  loyalists.