Surname Broaden - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'B'
Broaden: What does the surname Broaden mean?
Broaden is an English surname with possible origins from the English word "broad," referring to someone who either lived near a broad and open place, or who had a wide or stout physical appearance. Additionally, it may derive from the Old English word “brad” which means "large or open" and “denu” which means "valley". Thus, the surname could potentially refer to someone dwelling by a large valley. However, it's important to note that surnames often have multiple origins and meanings, evolving over centuries based on migration, regional dialects, and other social factors. It may have various interpretations in different cultures and languages. Like many surnames, Broaden could also be a variant of similar sounding surnames. The exact historical origin and early ancestors of individuals with this surname may be best determined through genealogical research.
Order DNA origin analysisBroaden: Where does the name Broaden come from?
The surname Broaden is of English origin. The name is believed to have been derived from the term "at the broad den", meaning a broad valley or wide depression between hills. It is a topographical surname, given to people based on their residential locality.
In the early stages, it was observed in the eastern counties of England, mainly Norfolk and Suffolk. It later spread to different parts of the United Kingdom. In modern times, this surname is distributed relatively evenly across the UK, but is present quite widely in Australia, the United States, and Canada as well.
Due to the process of anglicization during the immigration era, it was often spelled in different ways, including Broden, Borden, and Brodin, etc. Such modified versions of the name are also quite common in the United States.
However, it's noteworthy that Broaden isn't a very common surname worldwide. Its prevalence is quite low compared to other surnames. Even in the countries where it is most common, such as the US, UK, Canada, and Australia, people with the surname Broaden make up a small proportion of the population.
Variations of the surname Broaden
The surname Broaden is not very common and there's limited information on its origin and related variations. However, it seems to possibly be associated with the surnames Broad and Borden, which have similar phonetics and spelling.
For Broad, variations include Brod, Brode, Broadd, Broade, Bread, Breed, Brade, and Broadbent. This surname could be of English origin with 'broad' referring to someone who lived near a broad piece of land or water.
Borden, on the other hand, can be switched up as Bordon, Burden, Burdon, and Bordun. It could be of both English and French origin. In English, it may refer to someone living near a boar's den, while in French, it could mean 'one who worked as a bordar', an official in charge of maintaining the border patrols and defenses.
The surname Broaden could potentially be a derivative or misspelling of these surnames. But please consult a professional genealogist or use genealogical databases for a more accurate investigation.
Famous people with the name Broaden
- Harry Broaden: British actor, best known for his roles in the television series Bad Girls, Kingsman: The Secret Service (2015), and White Lines (2020).
- John Broaden: American author, best known for his series of four books about finding life's purpose.
- Louis Broaden: American attorney and Chief Legal Officer of the NFL Players Association.
- Glen Broaden: American football player, who played for the Oakland Raiders and Seattle Seahawks.
- Tim Broaden: American voice actor and actor, best known for Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2003), Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004), and Grand Theft Auto V (2013).
- Steven Broaden: American entrepreneur, investor and media personality, best known for his role on the CNBC show " Closing Bell".
- James Broaden: English actor, best known for the BBC drama series Vera (2011–present).
- Richard Broaden: British singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, best known for his live performances, bedroom recordings, and collaborations with underground electronic musicians.
- Evelyn Broaden: British actor, best known for her roles in the television series Call the Midwife (2012–present), The Royals (2016–2017), and The Bodyguard (2018).
- Miranda Broaden: English actor, best known for her roles in the television series Grey's Anatomy (2005–present) and Midsomer Murders (1997–present).