Surname Brodhead - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'B'
Brodhead: What does the surname Brodhead mean?
The surname Brodhead is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is predominantly found in regions of East Anglia. It has been derived from a geographical locality, "at the broad-head", from a person who lived near a broad headland or wide hill. This could also refer to the head of a broad river or valley. Additionally, it could potentially denote someone with a physically broad or large head, as nicknames often became last names in medieval times. Because the surname appeared in various documents with different spellings, including Broadhead, Brodhead, and Bradhead, tracking the name's original meaning and ancestry can be challenging. As with many surnames, the meaning may have evolved or vary by regional dialects and family lines.
Order DNA origin analysisBrodhead: Where does the name Brodhead come from?
The surname Brodhead is of English origin and interestingly it has Dutch influences as well. It can be traced back to the era before the Norman conquest in 1066. The name was first found in Hampshire, England but it was prominently associated with the English puritan, John Brodhead, who moved to Dover, New Hampshire in the 17th century. Due to Dutch transcription errors, Brodhead was also randomly recorded instead of the original "Broadhead". Today, the surname is fairly common in the United States, more specifically in the regions of New Hampshire and Pennsylvania as a result of John Brodhead’s descendants. It is also present elsewhere in the English-speaking world, primarily in countries like Canada, England, and Australia. However, it remains quite rare globally.
Variations of the surname Brodhead
The surname Brodhead is relatively unique and has a few variants and misspellings, including Broadhead, Brodheed, Brodehead, and Brodhed. These variants typically result from both phonetic spelling and the anglicization of the name over time and in different regions.
The name Brodhead is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is said to be a locational surname, indicating a family's residence or occupation. The root of the name, "Broadhead", suggests an original reference to a geographical feature, such as a broad headland.
Spelling variations for similar locational surnames have been influenced by regional dialects, and the constant evolution of the English language over centuries. As such, it's not uncommon to find multiple spellings of the same original surname. However, there seem to be fewer variants of Brodhead compared to some other common surnames.
Despite the variations in spelling, all forms of the surname Brodhead share the same lineage and historical roots.
Famous people with the name Brodhead
- Garrett Brodhead: A famous American businessman, civil engineer, and politician who served as a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.
- Richard H. Brodhead: The ninth President of Duke University and an American scholar of 19th-century American literature.
- W. Romeyn Brodhead: An American Engineer Officer during the Civil War, later worked as the head of American explosive firm Laflin & Rand.
- John Brodhead: An American politician and lawyer who served as a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Hampshire.
- Charles Vernon Culver Brodhead: An officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War who was the recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions at Gap Mountain.
- Robert Brodhead: A manager, scout and executive in Major League Baseball who also served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
- John Romeyn Brodhead: An American diplomat and historian known for his collection and preservation of New York's colonial Dutch history.
- Daniel Brodhead IV: An American military and political figure during the American Revolutionary War and post-war period serving as a colonel and later a general.