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"residing near a stream or brook" |
Brooks is a surname of Germanic/French origin, that is thought to have been derived from the condition of either residing near a stream (or brook). The first known reference to the name "Brooks" comes from one of the barons (deBruc) who accompanied William the Conqueror (1066) in the invasion of Britain. The word "brook" derives from the Old English broc and appears in the Medieval predecessors of "Brooks" such as "Ate-Broc" and "Atte-Broc". The surname arrived in North America from England in the mid-seventeenth century.
The surname is recorded in Ireland from the 1600s. O'Laughlin reports that "some of the name could stem from Irish origins, the name being changed into the English word 'Brook' or Brooks." The surname is also found among English-speaking Ashkenazi Jews, deriving from the male Hebrew given name Boruch, meaning "blessed".
The surname Brooks is shared by many notable people:
A. Brooks (Middlesex cricketer) (b. c. 1800), English cricketer
Aaron Brooks (disambiguation)
Abraham Brooks (1852–1925), English cricketer
Adam Brooks (disambiguation)
Adrian Brooks (b. 1957), English soccer player
Ahmad Brooks (b. 1984), American football linebacker
Ahmad D. Brooks (b. 1980), American football player and sports broadcaster
Aimee Brooks (b. 1974), American actress
Albert Brooks (b. 1947), American actor, comedian, and director
Alden Brooks (1882–1964), American writer
Alex Brooks (b. 1976), American ice hockey player
Alfred Brooks (disambiguation)
Alison Brooks (b. 1962), Canadian architect
Allan Brooks (1869–1946), Canadian bird artist
Allette Brooks (fl. 1996–2001), American folk singer
Allison Brooks (1917–2006), American aviator
Alvin Brooks, American basketball coach
Amanda Brooks (b. 1981), American actress
Amber Brooks (b. 1991), American soccer player
Ameal Brooks (1904–1971), American baseball player
Andy Brooks, British Communist leader
Angel Brooks, character on the Australian soap opera Home and Away
Angela Brooks, American architect, partner in Brooks + Scarpa
Angelle Brooks (b. 1967), American actress
Angie Brooks (1928–2007), Liberian diplomat and jurist
Annabel Brooks (b. 1962), British actress
Anne Brooks (b. 1938), American physician and nun
Anne Rose Brooks (b. 1963), American actress
Anthony Brooks (1922–2007), British undercover agent
Anthony Michael Brooks (b. 1993), American speedcuber
April Brooks, the real name of professional wrestler AJ Lee
April Brooks, a fictional character in the British television series Emmerdale
Archie Brooks, fictional character from the British soap opera Emmerdale
Art Brooks, see Arthur Brooks (disambiguation)
Arthur Brooks (disambiguation)
Avery Brooks (b. 1948), American film/TV actor
Barney Brooks, American physician
Barrett Brooks, American football player
Barry Brooks (disambiguation)
Beau Brooks, member of The Janoskians
Ben Brooks, see Benjamin Brooks (disambiguation)
Benjamin Brooks (disambiguation)
Bert Brooks (1920–1968), Canadian race car driver
Beverley Brooks, stage name of British actress Pamela Harmsworth, Viscountess Rothermere
Bill Brooks (disambiguation)
Billy Brooks (b. 1953), American football player
Bob or Bobby Brooks, see Robert Brooks (disambiguation)
Bonnie Brooks (b. 1953), Canadian department store executive
Brandon Brooks (disambiguation)
Brendan Brooks (b. 1978), Canadian ice hockey player
Brittany Brooks (b. 1985), American musician
Bruce Brooks (b. 1950), American author
Bryant Butler Brooks, American politician
Bubba Brooks (1922–2002), American saxophonist
Bucky Brooks (b. 1971), American sportswriter
Bud Brooks, American football player
Byron Alden Brooks, author of the 1893 novel Earth Revisited
Carlos Brooks, writer and director of the 2008 movie Quid Pro Quo
Caroline Shawk Brooks (1840–1913), American sculptor
Cecil Brooks III, American jazz drummer
Cecil Joslin Brooks (1875–1953), British metallurgical chemist and naturalist
Cedric Brooks (1943–2013), Jamaican saxophonist and flautist
Chandler McCuskey Brooks (1905–1989), American physiologist
Chandra Brooks (b. 1972), American artist
Charles Brooks (disambiguation)
Charlie Brooks (b. 1981), Welsh actress
Charlie Brooks (racehorse trainer) (b. 1963), British racehorse trainer
Charlotte Brooks (b. 1918), American photojournalist
Charmaine Brooks (b. 1970), Canadian singer-songwriter
Chase Brooks, American soccer player and coach
Cherryl Brooks, fictional character from Atlas Shrugged
Chet Brooks (b. 1966), American football player
Chris Brooks (disambiguation)
Clifford Cleveland Brooks, American politician
Cindy Brooks, American model
Claire Brooks (1931–2008), British politician
Cleanth Brooks (1906–1994), American literary critic
Clifford Brooks (b. 1949), American football player
Clive Brooks (b. 1949), English drummer
Coby G. Brooks (b. 1969), American businessman
Colin Brooks (disambiguation)
Collin Brooks (1893–1959), British journalist, writer and broadcaster
Conrad Brooks (b. 1931), American actor
Constance "Connie" Brooks (see Our Miss Brooks), fictional English language teacher
Corey Brooks, American politician
D. W. Brooks (1901–1969), American farmer and businessman
Dallas Brooks, Australian general and politician
Daniel Brooks, American clothier, one of the Brooks Brothers
Daniel Brooks (born 1958), Canadian theatre director, actor and playwright
Danny Brooks (born 1951), Canadian blues musician
Darin Brooks, American actor
Darren Brooks (born 1982), American professional basketball player
David Brooks (disambiguation)
Dean Brooks (1916–2013), American physician and actor
Deanna Brooks, American model
Delray Brooks (born 1965), American basketball player and coach
De'Mon Brooks, (born 1992), American basketball player
Derrick Brooks (born 1973), American professional football player
Derrius Brooks (born 1988), American football player
Desley Brooks, American politician
Dianne Brooks (1939–2005), American jazz singer
Dick or Dickie Brooks, see Richard Brooks (disambiguation)
Dolores "LaLa" Brooks (born 1947), former member of girl group The Crystals
Don Frank Brooks (1947–2000), American blues harmonica player
Donald Brooks, American fashion designer
Donnie Brooks (born 1936), American pop music singer
Douglas Jackson Brooks (born 1956), American country music singer, known as Doug Stone
Dudley Brooks (1913–1989), American jazz pianist
Durant Brooks (born 1985), American football player
Dustin Brooks, two unrelated fictional characters from Power Rangers Ninja Storm and Zoey 101, respectively
Duwayne Brooks (born 1974), English politician
Earl Brooks (1929–2010), American race car driver
Earl Brooks, title character of the film Mr. Brooks
Ed Brooks, see Edward Brooks (disambiguation)
Edgar Brooks (b. 1914), English rugby league football player
Edmund Wright Brooks (1834–1928), English Quaker philanthropist and cement maker
Edward Brooks (disambiguation)
Edwin Brooks (b. 1929), British-Australian politician and academic
Edwin B. Brooks (1868–1933), American politician
Edwy Searles Brooks (1889–1965), British novelist
Elbridge Streeter Brooks (1846–1902), American author, editor and critic
Elisabeth Brooks (1951–1997), Canadian actress
Elisha Brooks, American clothier, one of the Brooks Brothers
Elizabeth Carter Brooks (1867-1951), American architect, educator and social activist
Elkie Brooks (b. 1945), British singer
Ellen Brooks (b. 1946), American photographer
Elmore Brooks (1918–1963), American blues guitarist, better known as Elmore James
Erastus Brooks (1815–1886), New York newspaper editor and politician
Eric Brooks (disambiguation)
Ernest Brooks (disambiguation)
Errol Brooks (b. 1951), Antiguan bishop
Ethan Brooks (b. 1972), American football player
Eugene C. Brooks (1871–1947), American educator
Farmer Brooks, Canadian professional wrestler
Foster Brooks, American comedian
Francis Gerard Brooks (1924–2010), Northern Irish Roman Catholic bishop
Frank Brooks (disambiguation)
Frank Leonard Brooks, Canadian artist
Frankie Brooks, fictional character in the Australian soap opera Home and Away
Franklin E. Brooks (1860–1916), American politician
Frederick Brooks (disambiguation), also includes Fred and Freddie Brooks
Gabriel Brooks (1704–1741), English calligrapher
Gareth Brooks (b. 1979), New Zealand field hockey player
Garth Brooks (b. 1962), American musician
Gary Brooks (b. 1980), Jamaican Association football player
Gene Edward Brooks (1931–2004), American judge
Geoffrey Michael Brooks, British writer
George Brooks (disambiguation)
Georgia Brooks, fictional character from the soap opera Neighbours
Gerald Brooks (1905–1974), Belizean bishop
Geraldine Brooks (disambiguation)
Glenn Brooks, Canadian politician
Golden Brooks, American actress
Gord Brooks (b. 1950), Canadian ice hockey player
Gordon Brooks (1938–2004), Australian cricketer
Greg Brooks (disambiguation)
Gregory Brooks, American poker player
Guy Brooks, American fiddle player
Gwendolyn Brooks, (1917–2000), award-winning African American woman poet
H. Allen Brooks (1925–2010), American architectural historian
H. H. Brooks, co-founder of the Herff-Brooks Corporation
Hadda Brooks, American pianist
Halbert W. Brooks (b. 1985), American politician
Hannibal Brooks, fictional character from the film of the same name
Harold Brooks (disambiguation)
Harriet Brooks, Canadian physicist
Harry Brooks (disambiguation)
Harvey Brooks (bassist), American bassist
Harvey Brooks (physicist) (1915–2004), American physicist
Harvey Oliver Brooks (1899–1968), American pianist and composer
Hazel Brooks (1924–2002), American actress
Helen Brooks, pseudonym of the British novelist Rita Bradshaw
Hellen M. Brooks, American educator and politician
Henderson Brooks, Indian general, co-author of the Henderson Brooks–Bhagat Report
Henry Brooks (disambiguation)
Herb Brooks, American ice hockey coach
Hillery Brooks, American planter, for whom Brooks, Georgia, was named
Holly Brooks, fictional character on the TV show Malcolm & Eddie
Holly Brooks (b. 1982), American skier
Horace Brooks (1814–1894), American army officer
Horatio G. Brooks, American rail engineer
Hubert Brooks (1921–1984), Canadian air force officer and hockey player
Hubie Brooks, American baseball player
Ian James Brooks (b. 1928), New Zealand politician
Irvin Brooks (1891–1966), American baseball player
J. Brooks (fl. 1892), English cricketer
J. Stewart Brooks (1910–2000), Canadian politician
J. Twing Brooks (1884–1956), U.S. congressman from Pennsylvania
Jack Brooks (disambiguation)
Jai Brooks, member of Australian group "The Janoskians"
Jamal Brooks (b. 1976), American football player
James Brooks (disambiguation)
Jamie Brooks (disambiguation)
Janice Young Brooks, birth name of American mystery writer Jill Churchill
Jason Brooks (disambiguation)
Javille Brooks (b. 1984), Anguillan footballer
Jay Brooks, fictional character from the movie I'm Through with White Girls (The Inevitable Undoing of Jay Brooks)
JC Brooks, lead singer of JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound
Jean Brooks, American actress
Jeff Brooks (disambiguation)
Jehiel Brooks (1797–1886), American soldier and politician
Jeremy Brooks (1926–1994), British writer
Jerry Brooks (b. 1967), American baseball player
Jerry Brooks (b. 1966), American actor and writer, known by the stage name J. B. Smoove
Jess Lee Brooks (1894–1944), American actor
Jessica Brooks (b. 1981), English actress
Jim or Jimmy Brooks, see James Brooks (disambiguation)
Joanna Brooks, American author and professor
Jody Brooks, American country music singer, better known as Jody Miller
Joe Brooks, see Joseph Brooks (disambiguation)
Joel Brooks (b. 1949), American actor
John Brooks (disambiguation)
Johnny Brooks (b. 1931), English footballer
Jon Brooks (disambiguation)
Joseph Brooks (disambiguation)
Joshua Brooks (disambiguation)
Josie Brooks, fictional character from the British soap opera Brookside
Juanita Brooks, American writer
Julia Evangeline Brooks (1882–1948), American educator
Justin Brooks (b. 1965), American attorney
K. S. Brooks (b. 1963), American writer and photographer
Karen Brooks (b. 1954), American country music singer
Karen Brooks (author), Australian fantasy author
Kate Brooks (b. 1977), American photojournalist
Kate Brooks (astronomer), Australian astronomer
Katherine Brooks (b. 1976), American film writer and director
Kelly Shane Brooks (b. 1974), American singer-songwriter and pastor, known by the stage name Shane Stockton
Kevin Brooks (disambiguation)
Kimberly Brooks (b. 1981), American actress
Kix Brooks (b. 1955), American musician from Brooks & Dunn
Koleen Brooks (b. 1965), American politician and model
Kristi Brooks, American science fiction author
Lance Brooks (b. 1984), American discus thrower
Larry Brooks (b. 1950), American football player
Lawrence Brooks (fl. 1940s–1960s), American singer and actor
Lee Brooks (b. 1983), American composer
Lela Brooks (1908–1990), Canadian skater
Leo Brooks (1947–2002), American football player
Leo A. Brooks, Jr. (b. 1957), American general
Leo A. Brooks, Sr., American general
Leslie Brooks (1922–2011), American actress
Lexie Brooks, fictional character on the American soap opera Days of Our Lives
Linton Brooks (b. 1938), American diplomat
Linus Brooks, early settler in Brooks, Oregon
Lonnie Brooks (b. 1933), American blues musician
Lorie Brooks, fictional character on the soap opera The Young and the Restlessrxx sczooks]] (1906–1985), American actress
Louise Cromwell Brooks (c. 1890–1965), American socialite
Louise Susannah Brooks, fictional character from the British sitcom Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps
Luke Brooks (b. 1994), Australian rugby league footballer
Luke Brooks (singer), member of the Australian group The Janoskians
Lyall Brooks (b. 1978), Australian actor
Lydia Brooks (1818–1905), Labradorian diarist, better known by her married name, Lydia Campbell
Lyman Brooks (1910–1984), American educator
Macey Brooks (b. 1975), American football player
Maggie Brooks (b. 1955), American politician
Malcolm Brooks (b. 1930), Australian politician
Mandy Brooks (1897–1976), American baseball player
Maria Gowen Brooks, American poet
Marion E. Brooks, American environmentalist, for whom Marion Brooks Natural Area was named
Mark Brooks (disambiguation)
Markell Brooks, see Edward, Sr. and Markell Brooks House
Marshall Brooks, British sportsman
MarShon Brooks (b. 1989), American basketball player
Martha Brooks (b. 1944), Canadian writer
Martin E. Brooks (b. 1925), American actor
Marva Jean Brooks, Muddy Waters's wife
Mary Brooks (1907–2002), director of the U.S. Mint
Matilda Moldenhauer Brooks (1888–1981), American botanist
Matty Brooks (b. 1986), English rugby league player
Maurice Brooks, American naturalist
Max Brooks, American novelist
McKenna Brooks, fictional character from American Girl
Mehcad Brooks, American actor
Mel Brooks (b. 1926), American comic actor, writer, director, and theatrical producer
Meredith Brooks (b. 1958), American musician
Merv Brooks (1919–2011), Australian rules football player
Micah Brooks (1775–1857), American politician
Michael Brooks (disambiguation)
Michele Brooks, American politician
Mike Brooks, see Michael Brooks (disambiguation)
Milton Brooks (1901–1956), American photographer
Mo Brooks (b. 1954), American politician
Morgan Brooks (1861–1947), American engineer
Nan Brooks, American illustrator
Natalie Brooks (shooting victim), American school shooting victim
Nate Brooks (b. 1933), American boxer
Nathan C. Brooks, American educator
Ned Brooks, American broadcaster
Neil Brooks, Australian swimmer
Nicole Paige Brooks, contestant on American reality TV show RuPaul's Drag Race (season 2)
Nigel Brooks (b. 1936), English composer
Noah Brooks, American journalist
Noel Edgell Brooks, Canadian railway engineer, for whom Brooks, Alberta, was named
Nona L. Brooks (1861–1945), American minister
Norman Brooks (disambiguation)
Oland J. Brooks, American financier, founder of Brooks Steam Motors
Oliver Brooks, British soldier
Oswald Brooks (b. c. 1935), Jamaican trumpet player
Overton Brooks, American politician
Paige Brooks, American actress
Pamela Brooks (b. 1966), British writer
Pamela Brooks (b. 1956), American composer and performer, known by the stage name Pamela Z
Patricia Brooks (1937–1993), American opera singer
Pattie Brooks, American singer
Patty Brooks, fictional character in the American TV show 24
Paul Brooks (b. 1959), British film producer
Paul Brooks (cricketer) (1921–1946), English cricketer
Paula Brooks, fictional DC Comics supervillain
Paula Brooks (politician) (b. 1953), American politician
Perry Brooks (1954–2010), American football player
Peter Brooks (disambiguation)
Philip Brooks (disambiguation)
Phillips Brooks, American Episcopalian bishop and writer
Phyllis Brooks (1915–1995), American actress and model
Preston Brooks, American politician
Priest Joseph Brooks (b. 1972), American hip hop producer and rapper, known by the stage name Soopafly
Quincy Brooks IV (b. 1977), American rapper, known by the stage name San Quinn
R. L. Brooks, American singer-guitarist in the band Flee the Seen
R. Leonard Brooks, British mathematician
Ralph D. Brooks, Colorado School of Mines benefactor, for whom Brooks Field was named
Ralph G. Brooks, American politician
Ramy Brooks, American dog racer
Rand Brooks (1918–2003), American actor
Randi Brooks (b. 1956), American actress
Randy Brooks (disambiguation)
Ray Brooks (disambiguation)
Rebekah Brooks, British journalist
Reggie Brooks (b. 1971), American football player
Reva Brooks (1913–2004), Canadian photographer
Rich Brooks, see Richard Brooks (disambiguation)
Richard Brooks (disambiguation)
Rob Brooks, American ice hockey team owner
Robert Brooks (disambiguation)
Robin Brooks (disambiguation)
Rodney Brooks (b. 1954), director of the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory
Rodregis Brooks (b. 1978), American football player
Romaine Brooks, American painter
Ron Brooks (b. 1988), American football player
Ron Brooks, American rapper, known by the stage name Money-B
Ronnie Brooks (Law & Order: UK), fictional character from Law & Order: UK
Ronnie Baker Brooks (b. 1967), American blues guitarist
Rory and Elizabeth Brooks, British philanthropists after whom the Brooks World Poverty Institute was named
Rosa Brooks, American law professor
Ross Brooks (b. 1937), Canadian ice hockey player
Roy Brooks (1938–2005), American jazz drummer
Ruby Brooks (1861–1906), American banjoist
Rusty Brooks (b. 1958), American professional wrestler
Ryan Brooks (b. 1988) American basketball player
Sacha Brooks, British DJ
Sammy Brooks (1891–1951), American actor
Sammy Brooks (footballer) (1890–1960), English footballer
Samuel Brooks, Manchester (UK) businessman
Samuel Brooks (politician) (c. 1793–1849), Canadian politician
Samuel Hamilton Brooks, after whom the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art was named
Samuel Palmer Brooks (1863–1931), American educator
Scott Brooks, American basketball player
Scott Martin Brooks (b. 1972), American actor
Shanon Brooks, American university president
Sharmarh Brooks (b. 1988), Barbadian cricketer
Sheila Brooks, American journalist
Shelton Brooks, American popular music composer
Shepher Brooks, owner of the Shepherd Brooks Estate
Sheri-Ann Brooks (b. 1983), Jamaican sprinter
Shirley Brooks (1816–1874), English journalist and novelist
Shirley Brooks, plaintiff/appellee in Flagg Brothers, Inc. v. Brooks
Sidney Johnson Brooks, Jr. (d. 1917), American aviator for whom Brooks Air Force Base was named
Simon Brooks (disambiguation)
Siobhan Brooks, American sociologist and activist
Stacy Brooks, public critic of the Church of Scientology
Stan Brooks (radio broadcaster) (1927–2013), American radio broadcaster
Stanley Brooks, American film and television producer
Stella Brooks (1910–2002), American jazz vocalist
Stennett H. Brooks (d. 2004), American pastor
Stephen Brooks (disambiguation)
Steve Brooks, see Stephen Brooks (disambiguation)
Stratton D. Brooks (1870–1949), American educator
Stuart M. Brooks (b. 1936), American pulmonary doctor
Sue Brooks (b. 1953), Australian film director and producer
Sumner Cushing Brooks, American biologist, husband of Matilda Moldenhauer Brooks
Susan Brooks (b. 1960), American politician
Susan Brooks, plaintiff in Brooks v. Canada Safeway Ltd.
Sydney Brooks (1872–1937), British author and critic
Sylvia Brooks, American jazz musician
Tamara Brooks (1941–2012), American choral conductor
Ted Brooks (1898–1960), English cricketer
Terrance Brooks (1963–2011), American football player and coach
Terrence Brooks (b. 1991), American football player
Terron Brooks, American singer and actor
Terry Brooks (b. 1944), American author
Terry Brooks (basketball), American basketball player
Theodore Marley Brooks, fictional character from Doc Savage
Thomas Brooks (disambiguation)
Tia Brooks (b. 1990), American shot putter
Tiffany Brooks, American baseball player
Tim Brooks (disambiguation)
Timothy L. Brooks (b. 1964), American attorney
Tina Brooks, American jazz saxophonist
Tom or Tommy Brooks, see Thomas Brooks (disambiguation)
Tony Brooks (racing driver), British racing driver
Tony Brooks (American football) (b. 1969), American football player
Tracey Brooks, American politician
Traci Brooks, Canadian professional wrestler
Travis Brooks, Australian field hockey player
Trevor Brooks (b. 1975), British alleged terrorist, also known as Abu Izzadeen
Van Wyck Brooks, American writer
Vaushaun Brooks (b. 1980), American hip hop record producer, known by the stage name Maestro
Vic Brooks (b. 1948), English cricketer
Victor Brooks (actor) (1918–2000), English actor
Victor Brooks (athlete) (born 1941), Jamaican long jumper
Vincent Brooks (disambiguation)
Wallis Brooks, American politician
Walter Brooks (1837–1902), English organist
Walter R. Brooks, American children's writer
Wayne Baker Brooks, American blues musician
Wiley Brooks, founder of the Breatharian Institute of America
Wilks Brooks, owner of the Wilks Brooks House
Will Brooks (b. 1986), American mixed martial artist
William Brooks (disambiguation)
Wyndham Brooks, pen name of American horror author Wayne Robbins
Zoey Brooks, title character of the American TV show Zoey 101
Harold Brooks-Baker, American journalist
Rob Brooks-Bilson, technical writer
Ruth Brooks Flippen (1921–1981), American screenwriter
Reginald Brooks-King (1861–1938), Welsh archer
Corrin Brooks-Meade (b. 1988), English footballer
Emmerson Brooks-Meade (b. 1983), Anguillan footballer
Renel Brooks-Moon (b. 1958), American public address announcer
Ellenese Brooks-Simms, Louisiana school official
John Brooks Close-Brooks (1850–1914), English banker and amateur rower, who competed as John Brooks Close
Caroline St John-Brooks, British journalist and academic
Birnie Stephenson-Brooks, Guayanese judge
Brooks (surname) Wikipedia (Text) CC BY-SA