The name Brooke is an English given name derived from the Old English word "broc," meaning a small stream or brook. The name has been around since at least the 12th century, with records showing it was used as both a surname and a given name during that time.

The earliest known person to bear the name Brooke was Brooke, a 12th-century English nobleman who lived during the reign of King Henry II. Another notable early bearer of the name was Sir Thomas Brooke, a 14th-century English soldier and knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War.

In literature, the name Brooke appears in several works, including Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales," where a character named Brooke is mentioned. The name also appears in Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet," where Brooke is the name of one of the characters.

One of the most famous historical figures with the name Brooke was Sir Fulke Greville, 1st Baron Brooke (1554-1628), an English poet, dramatist, and statesman who served as a close friend and councillor to Queen Elizabeth I.

Another notable bearer of the name was Sir John Brooke-Pechell (1724-1809), a British military officer and Member of Parliament who served in the American Revolutionary War.

In the 19th century, Brooke Foss Westcott (1825-1901) was an English bishop and biblical scholar who co-authored the Westcott and Hort text of the New Testament.

More recently, Brooke Shields (born 1965) is an American actress, model, and author who rose to prominence as a child actress in the 1970s and 1980s.

Overall, the name Brooke has a long and rich history, with roots dating back to the Middle Ages and a strong connection to English culture and literature.