The earliest knwn ancestor, one Hamo, held the manor of Bredbury (now an exurb of Manchester; above is the parish church, St Mark's) in the neighborhood of Harden, Cheshire, in the twelfth century. His son Alexander de Bredbury died around 1225, and had a son Jordan de Bredbury (died c1250). His son was another Jordan de Bredbury (died c1309), who married Cicely; and their son was Adam de Bredbury (c1300-1356), who appears in a number of local records because he was a minor when he succeeded to the manor. In 1307 the Baroness Stockport, of whom he held Bredbury, signed over to him (or his guardian) a quitclaim to Bredbury, retaining only the feudal incidents of homage, escheat, marriage and wardship.

Adam de Bredbury married Alice, and appears to have had male relatives, though I have not found information on them. Some were later retainers of their cousins the Stanleys. Adam had a daughter and heiress Cicely, who married Peter de Arderne of Harden and Alvanley (1327-1389).