Surname Brading - Meaning and Origin

Brading: What does the surname Brading mean?

The last name Brading is believed to be of English origin. It appears to derived from the Old English words brad or braden meaning 'broad' or 'wide' and ing, meaning 'meadow.' Together, the surname could refer to a person who lived near a wide meadow or flat plain - perhaps a farming family who kept a large area of land on which to grow crops or graze livestock.

The name could also have a more personal meaning, with braden being an Old English nickname for a person who was 'handsome' or 'fair of countenance.' This could indicate that the surname was adopted by a particular family who had a good-looking relative, or it could simply suggest that the Brading family was known for their physical attractiveness.

Etymologically, the surname may be connected to several other names including Brayden, Braden and Braddon which share the same Old English root words. Over the centuries the name has evolved and has changed its spelling or pronunciation in many local accents, becoming more recognisable as Bradinge, Braden, Bradford or Brayden.

It is not an especially common name in England, though it can also be found in Scotland and the United States. To this day, the Brading family – wherever they may be – may still carry with them a cultural legacy of the wide meadows their ancestors once called home.

Brading: Where does the name Brading come from?

The last name Brading is commonly found in areas with Scandinavian influences, particularly throughout northern Europe. In Denmark and Norway, there is an area along the northwest coast of Skagerrak known as Bradingstrand. This likely indicates the origin of the Brading surname. It is also quite common in Sweden and Finland.

In the United States, the last name Brading has become quite popular in states with high populations of Danish immigrants. These include Minnesota, Iowa, Oregon, and Washington. It is not as common in the eastern half of the country but can be found scattered among the states.

Brading is also one of the top ten surnames in New Zealand's capital, Wellington. It is likely that some Brading families emigrated to New Zealand from Europe during the mid-19th century.

Due to the spread of the Brading surname throughout northern Europe and other countries, it is likely that the name is now quite common all over the world.

Variations of the surname Brading

The surname Brading is an English surname of patronymic origin, derived from the first name of the father. Variants of this surname include Broaden, Broadin, Broadant, Broaden, Brawden, Bradding, Braddan, Braddon, Breading, Bradin, Breden, and Brodin. Spelling variants include Braading, Braedon, and Braidin.

The surname has an Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Olde English pre 7th Century personal name 'Brād' meaning 'Broad'. This name was popular in its native Yorkshire and Lancashire, where the name is still common.

The 1379 Poll Tax returns of Yorkshire list Hugo Braandon, William de Broadon, and John Braiden. Church records of this surname in the Yorkshire area include William Breading who married Margaretta Pickering in May 1594, at St. Pancras, Soper Lane in London, and Richard Breading who married Mabel Tull at St. George's Church in Hanover Square in June 1765.

The usual practice of contemporary versions of the surname is Breading, Braddon and Braden, followed by Brading and Bridon. Families of this surname have resided in the parish of Ledsham in West Cheshire since the mid-17th Century. In 1891, the national census of England and Wales recorded 6385 people with the name Breading, 690 with Braddon, 1027 with Braden, and 225 with Bridon.

The name Broadin is also present in Scotland during the nineteenth century. The earliest record of this spelling was found in the Edinburgh Burgh Police Register of 1827, which listed the names of members of the police force, and included Richard Broadin. Records of this name in the United States include Elizabeth Brading from New York, who migrated from England in 1854.

Famous people with the name Brading

• Pat Bradling: Former Major League Baseball pitcher.
• Justin Brading: Actor best known for his portrayal of John in the BBC drama series Silent Witness.
• Abigail Brading: British actress who has appeared in films such as Never Let Me Go, Byzantium and Fury.
• Bruce Bradling: Former construction coordinator and surveyor for a major engineering firm in San Diego.
• Jennifer Brading: English actress most known for her roles in the television series Luke Cage and Into the Badlands.
• Thomas Brading: Award winning documentary filmmaker and presenter.
• Kiki Brading: American fashion designer who is the founder of the ethical label Kiki Brading Designs.
• Robert Brading: Music producer and songwriter whose discography includes albums such as Kiki's Story and Dreamers & Believers.
• Scott Brading: Youtuber and makeup artist known for his tutorials and makeup transformations.
• Jay Brading: Professional motocross rider and X-Games competitor.

Other surnames

BradiganBradin