This name is locational and originates from the Parish of Brackenbury near Louth in Lincolnshire. The origin is Olde English pre 9th Century. The meaning of the word being 'the bracken covered hill'. Usually locational names are given to former inhabitants moving to another area, this is not the case with Brackenbury where the first recording clearly indicates that the original name holder was the Lord of the Manor. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Jordan de Brakenberhe which was dated 1273, the Testa de Neville Rolls, Lincoln. during the reign of King Edward 1 The Hammer of the Scots 1272 - 1307 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.