Brand's House
Early-attested site in the Parish of Hughenden
Etymology
The Brand who has left his name here was father of Robert son of Brand, who in 1196 was party to a final concord concerning land in Kingshill. (Hunter, Fines 156.) Brand's name was afterwards used as a surname by the family descended from him. From a plea of 1227 (Ass ) it appears that Brand, who belongs to the time of Henry II, was the son of a woman named Sayve (OE Sǣgifu ) and a man named Turkill (ON Þorkell ), and that Sayve had two brothers named respectively Sarich (OE sǣrīc ) and Svertrich (a hybrid compound of ON Svartr and OE rīc ). These people are interesting as a family, obviously of pre-Conquest descent, maintaining a good position until the 13th cent. The names Brand, Turkill, and Svertrich are evidence of a Scandinavian element among the 12th cent. landholders of this district, which bears upon the problems presented by the local names Fingest and Skirmett.