Surname Broadley - Meaning and Origin
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Broadley: What does the surname Broadley mean?
The last name Broadley is a variation of the family name 'Bradley.' The name is is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is believed to derive from the Old English pre 7th Century words 'brad,' meaning 'broad,' and 'leah,' which was a term used for a clearing in the woods and was also used to refer to a district or a settlement.
The place-name Bradley is found primarily in Ireland, Northern England, and the Midlands. The suffix 'ey' denoted 'island' in Old Norse, hence Bradley could also have meant, literally 'broad island.' The place names implies that Brodley was an 'island of broad land.'
Notable people who bear the name include James Broadley (1736-1808), a British historian and biographer; and Austin Broadley (b. 1950s), an English soccer player.
Broadley could then be interpreted to mean 'broad land,' as derived from the Old English pre 7th Century words, or more broadly, 'island of broad land.' It could also be related to placenames—either those implying broad, open land, or a broader 'island' of large, open land.
Order DNA origin analysisBroadley: Where does the name Broadley come from?
The Broadley surname is primarily found in Great Britain and Ireland.
In England, the Broadley surname originated in Lancashire and was later found in Northamptonshire, Hampshire, and other English counties. Today, Broadleys are widely dispersed throughout the country, with the greatest concentrations in Lancashire, Herefordshire, Suffolk, and Northamptonshire.
In Scotland, the Broadley surname appears to have originated in Fife, where records indicate the family had large estates in the 16th century. This surname is still commonly found in Scotland today, with clusters of Broadleys living in Fife, Edinburgh, Angus, and Aberdeenshire.
In Ireland, the Broadley surname is thought to have originated in the south of the country near County Cork, where it is still most commonly found today. It has spread throughout Ireland, however, and is now found in Northern Ireland as well.
Overall, the Broadley surname is still quite common in all three countries. In Great Britain alone, there are over 35,000 people with the surname Broadley.
Variations of the surname Broadley
Broadley is an Anglo-Saxon surname of European origin, which has variations throughout Europe. The most common spelling of the surname is “Broadley”, but other variations may include: Brodley, Brodly, Brodlye, Breadley, Bradly, Braudly, Brawdly, Brawley, and Braidley. In some cases, the surnames “Bradely” and “Bradlee” may be used interchangeably.
The Broadley surname is derived from several Old English words, such as “brad” meaning “broad”, and “leah” meaning “wood” or “clearing”. This likely refers to a family that originated in a broad wooded area. The surname likely originated in the East of England in counties such as Suffolk, Essex, and Norfolk. It is also associated with the northern English city of Leeds, where it is thought to have been adopted by a family that moved from the east of England to the city in the 17th century.
In addition to their primary surnames, Broadley families may have adopted several other surnames which may have the same origin. Some of these variants include Bralley, Braly, Bralley, Brawley, Brailey, Bradie, Bradlye, Brodly, and Browdie.
The Broadley surname is known to be connected to several prominent families. Historical figures such as the English politician John Broadley, the British admiral Sir Stephen King-Hall Broadley, and the Australian soldier Major Robert Broadley are all known to have used the surname.
Famous people with the name Broadley
- Peter Broadley: British former professional footballer
- Chris Broadley: former professional rugby league footballer from New Zealand
- John Broadley: English actor, composer and professor
- Isobel Broadley: British botanical illustrator
- Paul Broadley: British geochemist
- Liz Broadley: Scottish actor
- Tim Broadley: British composer, conductor and multi-instrumentalist
- Heather Broadley: Scottish actress
- Matthew Broadley: English dramatist 10.Howard Broadley: British cinematographer and film director