Thomas Brugge was born in Coberley, Gloucestershire, England son of Giles Brugge, 4th Baron Chandos and Catherine Clifford, daughter of James Clifford of Frampton-on-Severn, Gloucestershire and widow of Anselm Guise.

Brugge was Knight of the Shire (MP) for Gloucestershire in 1460 and for Herefordshire in 1472.[3] He succeeded to the title of 5th Lord Chandos on 13 April 1467, de jure, on the death of his father