NameCensus.

UK surname

Broadbelt

A surname suggesting a large or stout person.

In the 1881 census there were 179 people recorded with the Broadbelt surname, ranking it #13,787 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 178, ranked #21,160, down from #13,787 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Knaresborough (Bilton and Harrogate, Scriven with Tentergate, Knaresborough), Pannall and Battersea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ashfield, Kingston upon Hull and Harrogate.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Broadbelt is 209 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 0.6%.

1881 census count

179

Ranked #13,787

Modern count

178

2016, ranked #21,160

Peak year

1911

209 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Broadbelt had 179 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,787 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 178 in 2016, ranked #21,160.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 209 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Broadbelt surname distribution map

The map shows where the Broadbelt surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Broadbelt surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Broadbelt over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 134 #14,033
1861 historical 122 #18,036
1881 historical 179 #13,787
1891 historical 192 #15,383
1901 historical 188 #15,742
1911 historical 209 #14,557
1997 modern 190 #18,199
1998 modern 202 #17,991
1999 modern 196 #18,464
2000 modern 179 #19,494
2001 modern 180 #19,161
2002 modern 183 #19,354
2003 modern 177 #19,549
2004 modern 171 #20,079
2005 modern 175 #19,727
2006 modern 168 #20,368
2007 modern 157 #21,546
2008 modern 157 #21,766
2009 modern 170 #21,095
2010 modern 174 #21,259
2011 modern 172 #21,248
2012 modern 166 #21,683
2013 modern 175 #21,320
2014 modern 174 #21,561
2015 modern 174 #21,449
2016 modern 178 #21,160

Geography

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Where Broadbelts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Knaresborough (Bilton and Harrogate, Scriven with Tentergate, Knaresborough), Pannall, Battersea, Bradford and Bishop Wearmouth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ashfield, Kingston upon Hull, Harrogate and Leeds. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Knaresborough (Bilton and Harrogate, Scriven with Tentergate, Knaresborough), Pannall Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Battersea London (South Districts)
4 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Bishop Wearmouth Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ashfield 004 Ashfield
2 Kingston upon Hull 031 Kingston upon Hull, City of
3 Ashfield 005 Ashfield
4 Harrogate 012 Harrogate
5 Leeds 035 Leeds

Forenames

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First names often paired with Broadbelt

These lists show first names that appear often with the Broadbelt surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Broadbelt

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Broadbelt, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Broadbelt surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Broadbelt household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Broadbelt is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Broadbelt is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Broadbelt falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Broadbelt is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Broadbelt, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Broadbelt

The surname BROADBELT has its origins in England, dating back to the late medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "brad" and "belt," which together mean "broad belt" or "wide belt." This name was likely given as a descriptive surname to someone who wore a particularly broad or wide belt, perhaps as part of their occupation or trade.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the BROADBELT surname can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where a John Brodbelt is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already in use by the 14th century in the West Midlands region of England.

In the 15th century, the BROADBELT name appears in various historical records, such as the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire, where a Richard Brodbelt is mentioned in 1435. Additionally, the surname is found in the Feet of Fines for Hertfordshire in 1485, which lists a Robert Brodbelt.

Notable individuals with the BROADBELT surname include William Broadbelt (1587-1658), a prominent merchant from Bristol who served as the city's Mayor in 1643. Another notable figure was John Broadbelt (1620-1692), a successful landowner and farmer from Oxfordshire who was known for his contributions to agricultural innovation.

In the 18th century, the BROADBELT name appears in records from various parts of England, with variations in spelling such as Brodbelt, Brodebeltt, and Brodebelt. One example is Thomas Broadbelt (1734-1812), a respected lawyer and judge from Lincolnshire who presided over several high-profile cases during his career.

Another notable BROADBELT was Elizabeth Broadbelt (1755-1826), a philanthropist and social reformer from Lancashire who founded several schools and orphanages in her hometown. She was also a vocal advocate for women's education and rights during a time when such views were considered progressive.

During the 19th century, the BROADBELT surname continued to be found across various regions of England, with some family members migrating to other parts of the British Empire, such as Canada and Australia. One example is James Broadbelt (1819-1892), a successful businessman and entrepreneur from Yorkshire who established a thriving textile manufacturing company in Toronto, Canada.

While the BROADBELT surname may not be among the most common in modern times, its historical roots and associations with various occupations, trades, and notable individuals make it a unique and intriguing part of English genealogy and onomastic history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Broadbelt families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Broadbelt surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Yorkshire leads with 137 Broadbelts recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.92x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 137 7.92x
Durham 17 3.27x
Lancashire 9 0.43x
Middlesex 6 0.34x
Surrey 5 0.59x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.85x
Warwickshire 2 0.45x
Hampshire 1 0.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Boroughbridge in Yorkshire leads with 31 Broadbelts recorded in 1881 and an index of 5344.83x.

Place Total Index
Boroughbridge 31 5344.83x
Embsay Cum Eastby 16 2285.71x
Chapel Allerton 10 386.10x
Halifax 10 39.37x
Leeds 10 10.24x
Stockton On Tees 10 39.94x
Knaresborough 8 294.12x
Bishopwearmouth 7 15.70x
Crompton 7 118.64x
Bewerley 6 845.07x
Headingley Cum Burley 6 53.86x
York St Mary 6 83.68x
Battersea 5 7.78x
Hunslet 5 18.53x
Chelsea London 4 7.60x
Easingwold 4 327.87x
Linthorpe 4 38.72x
Manningham 4 18.76x
Scotton In 3 1764.71x
Birmingham 2 1.36x
Bramley In Bramley 2 30.21x
Mansfield 2 24.57x
Morley 2 22.22x
Alverstoke 1 7.72x
Alwoodley 1 370.37x
Clifton In York 1 27.62x
Ferrensby 1 1428.57x
Flaxby 1 2000.00x
Gildersome 1 48.08x
Hackney London 1 1.02x
Hipperholme Cum 1 13.16x
Keighley 1 5.42x
Liverpool 1 0.79x
North Stainley Cum 1 400.00x
Pendlebury 1 22.88x
Skipton 1 18.35x
Tadcaster West 1 72.99x
Westminster St Margaret 1 11.88x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Broadbelt surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 16
Sarah 8
Annie 6
Elizabeth 6
Jane 6
Eliza 5
Hannah 4
Emily 3
Emma 3
Ann 2
Gertrude 2
Harriet 2
Margaret 2
Maria 2
(Mrs) 1
Ada 1
Beatrice 1
Charlotte 1
Dorinda 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Elizaboth 1
Elizibth 1
Florence 1
Ida 1
Isabella 1
Jessie 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
Marie 1
Selina 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Broadbelt surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 15
Robert 6
William 6
Arthur 5
Charles 5
George 5
James 4
Alfred 3
Henry 3
Peter 3
Edward 2
Frederick 2
Richard 2
Sam 2
Tom 2
Willie 2
Alexander 1
Charlie 1
Daniel 1
Edgar 1
Edwin 1
Enoch 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Harvy 1
Hawxwel 1
Herbert 1
Jno. 1
Jonathan 1
Joseph 1
Louis 1
Mark 1
Martin 1
Ralph 1
S...ie 1
S.H. 1
Stephen 1
Thomas 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Broadbelt surname: questions and answers

How common was the Broadbelt surname in 1881?

In 1881, 179 people were recorded with the Broadbelt surname. That placed it at #13,787 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Broadbelt surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 178 in 2016. That gives Broadbelt a modern rank of #21,160.

What does the Broadbelt surname mean?

A surname suggesting a large or stout person.

What does the Broadbelt map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Broadbelt bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.