Brenton

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The meaning of the name Brenton is not known. The name's origin is Old English and has something to do with Steep Hill. Another variant of its anglicization is Brandon, which means "burning and/or fiery hill and/or mountain" (volcano?). The female equivalent of the name Brenton/Brandon is Brenda.

The version Brent, well-known in North America (for example: Brent Tarleton in Gone with the Wind), therefore seems to be the short form of the English "Brenton". Also a third way of derivation is possible: from the old-Germanic name Brant (in the meaning "sword" used as name-additive in Hildebrandt, for example). Even in England up to Norman Conquest in 1066 the old Norse influence dominated, at least linguistically - especially when Danish King Canute conquered Anglia after his victory near Brentford in 1016.

Beside river and mountains named Brenta in northern Italy there also in the west of London flows a river named Brent, the London disctics of Brent, Brentford and Brentwood are situated there. More Brentwoods also exist several times, for instance in North America, likewise several places named Brandon. Also a British oil field in the North Sea (between Shetlands and Norway) has the name Brent. Under this mark it is traded as appoximate value for North Sea oil on the world market.

Beside the Virginia Brents also the first name (prenom) Brent became known by:

Brent Sadler, US journalist and CNN reporter, ex-colleague of war-correspondent Peter Arnett
Brent Scowcroft, security advisor of the US-presidents Reagan and Bush Senior 1989-1993
Brent Spiner, US actor (for example: "Data" in "Star Trek" or "Dr. Okun" in "Independence Day"
Brent N. Kennedy, US professor of ethnology (thesis: Turks discovered America before Columbus)
Brent W. Jett, Jr., US astronaut
Brent McCall, US musician
Brent Symonette, Bahamian politician
Brent Musburger, US journalist and sports commentator for ABC.

Although General Scowcroft is a Mormon and the other examples belong to Evangelist churches (except Kennedy), most people with the names Brent, Brenton and/or Brentano are - following Irish and Italian traditions - of Catholic faith. Although, however, Charles Brent was an anglican bishop in USA, Brentwood (Essex) in England is the seat of a roman-catholic bishop.

The English version Brenton was thought to derive from the Irish name Brendan. However, the name Brendan is actually derived from the Old Irish word Bréanainn meaning "prince." A Dictionary of First Names, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0192800507

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