This is an Olde English locational name which derives originally from the village of Shirbrook in Derbyshire and is first recorded as Scirebroc" in 1202. The name translates as "the dweller by the Bright Stream". The modern variant spellings including Sherebrooke, Alice Sherebrooke marrying John Arnold in 1586, oddly this would seem to be the same Alice Sherbrook baptised in 1567, so much for spelling. As Sherbrook, the name is recorded in 1614, whilst in 1612 Rachel Shoorbrooke was christened at St. Giles Cripplegate. Another variant spelling was Shorbrocke also found in London in 1606, but not subsequently. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Alice Sherbrooke. which was dated 1567 (baptised) at St. Bartholmew Exchange, 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.

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