Surname Braidt - Meaning and Origin
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Braidt: What does the surname Braidt mean?
The last name Braidt is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German word “breit” meaning “broad” or “wide.” The surname likely began as a descriptive nickname for someone who was broad or wide in stature. The spelling of the word likely changed over generations when translating from German to English.
As surname Braidt spread across the world, individuals of this surname began to inhabit different countries, developing different versions of the spelling. During the medieval period, people often left their homelands and settled in other countries, which meant immigration officers had to phonetically transcribe names upon arrival. This variation of the spelling of Braidt has continued to be seen in various forms in countries including Britain, the United States, Canada, and Germany.
Today, Braidt is a common surname, and the holders of this surname have diverse cultural backgrounds. Members of this surname may have German, English, French, Dutch, Canadian, American or other European ancestry.
Despite the varying forms of the spelling of this last name, the root of the surname has origins to the word “breit” meaning “broad” or “wide,” and still maintains its original translation today.
Order DNA origin analysisBraidt: Where does the name Braidt come from?
The last name Braidt is most commonly found today in Germany and Austria, particularly in the communities of Sachsen-Anhalt, Brandenburg, Bavaria, and Thüringen. Documented families bearing this name date back to as early as the 16th century. In the United States, the surname is most commonly found in the Midwest and southern states, including Ohio, Texas, Illinois, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. The Braidt family is of Germanic origin, and the name is derived from a personal name, Braitho, or Braodo.
The largest concentrations in the United States of families with the last name are located in the St. Louis, Missouri metro area, as well as in the cities of Cleveland, Ohio and New Haven, Connecticut. In Canada, the surname is most commonly found in the provinces of Ontario and Alberta. According to data collected by the Immigration Department in 2002, roughly 9 percent of the German population bears the last name Braidt.
Overall, the last name Braidt is still relatively common in areas of Europe and North America. People bearing this surname likely share a common ancestry that can be traced back centuries to Germany and its neighboring countries.
Variations of the surname Braidt
The surname Braidt is an anglicized form of the German surname ‘Braith’ or ‘Braithwaite’, both of which mean ‘broad meadow’. It is also an old English word meaning ‘a band or ribbon of woven fabric’.
Braidt can be spelled in a variety of ways, including Braydt, Breit, Braid, Brayd, Brayed, and Brade.
Variants of the surname Braidt include Braith, Brate, Bride, Breed, Breede, Breid, Breiet, and Britten.
Braidt is also related to the surnames Braithwaite, Bratte, Brat, Bracht, and Brachtmann. The Dutch surnames Braat, Braaten, Brantsen, Brattinga, and Bredtsen are also variants.
Surnames derived from Braidt include Bradey, Braidly, Brades, Braidford, Breidy, and Braddy. There are also names derived from locations where the Braidt surname was found such as Braidebeck, Braunbeck, and Breidbach.
The Braidt surname is found in many countries, with the largest population concentrations being in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Netherlands, and the United States.
Famous people with the name Braidt
- Dave Braithwaite: British sports broadcaster known for his work with Sky Sports and BT Sport
- Kirk Braithwaite: former American football player for the Jacksonville Jaguars
- Matt Braithwaite: Canadian-born sketch comedy writer and comedian
- Mark Braithwaite: former Australian politician
- Anna Braithwaite: New Zealand journalist
- George Braithwaite: Barbadian supercentenarian and oldest living man in the Caribbean
- Robert Braithwaite: British boat-builder and inventor who founded the company Sunseeker
- Lia Braithwaite: Dutch fashion model and former Miss Netherlands
- Keshon Braithwaite: Canadian track and field athlete
- Barry Braithwaite: English former professional football player