NameCensus.

UK surname

Broadbridge

A topographic surname denoting someone who lived near a broad bridge.

In the 1881 census there were 487 people recorded with the Broadbridge surname, ranking it #6,914 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 409, ranked #11,694, down from #6,914 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Wimbledon and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Chichester, Fareham and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Broadbridge is 659 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 16.0%.

1881 census count

487

Ranked #6,914

Modern count

409

2016, ranked #11,694

Peak year

1901

659 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Broadbridge had 487 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,914 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 409 in 2016, ranked #11,694.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 659 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Broadbridge surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Broadbridge surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Broadbridge 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 325 #7,157
1861 historical 342 #7,460
1881 historical 487 #6,914
1891 historical 566 #6,713
1901 historical 659 #6,572
1911 historical 652 #6,430
1997 modern 479 #9,615
1998 modern 499 #9,600
1999 modern 508 #9,535
2000 modern 496 #9,689
2001 modern 493 #9,574
2002 modern 503 #9,591
2003 modern 487 #9,677
2004 modern 477 #9,833
2005 modern 466 #9,935
2006 modern 442 #10,388
2007 modern 442 #10,495
2008 modern 436 #10,710
2009 modern 448 #10,719
2010 modern 454 #10,833
2011 modern 438 #11,017
2012 modern 417 #11,346
2013 modern 418 #11,533
2014 modern 422 #11,516
2015 modern 412 #11,642
2016 modern 409 #11,694

Geography

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Where Broadbridges are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Wimbledon, Lambeth, St John Hackney and Brighton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Chichester, Fareham, Cornwall, Canterbury and Arun. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Wimbledon Surrey
3 Lambeth London (South Districts)
4 St John Hackney London (North Districts)
5 Brighton Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Chichester 013 Chichester
2 Fareham 005 Fareham
3 Cornwall 057 Cornwall
4 Canterbury 010 Canterbury
5 Arun 018 Arun

Forenames

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First names often paired with Broadbridge

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Broadbridge

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Broadbridge, 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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Broadbridge surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Broadbridge household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Broadbridge is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Broadbridge is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Broadbridge falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Broadbridge is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Broadbridge

The surname Broadbridge is of English origin, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "brad" meaning broad and "brycg" meaning bridge, referring to someone who lived near a wide bridge or a location with a broad bridge.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275, where it appears as "Bradebrigge." This suggests that the name was established in the West Midlands region of England during the medieval period.

In the 14th century, variations of the spelling included "Brodebrugge" and "Brodebrigge," as found in tax records from Oxfordshire and Somerset respectively. These regional variations highlight the name's widespread use across different parts of England.

The Broadbridge surname is not mentioned in the Domesday Book, the comprehensive survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. However, it is possible that the name emerged from place names or descriptive references to local landmarks in the centuries following the Norman Conquest.

Notable individuals with the surname Broadbridge include William Broadbridge (1542-1603), an English landowner and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire in the late 16th century. Another prominent figure was Sir Thomas Broadbridge (1617-1682), a wealthy merchant and philanthropist who funded the construction of several churches and almshouses in London.

In the 18th century, John Broadbridge (1720-1795) was a renowned clockmaker and inventor from London, known for his innovative timepiece designs. His contemporary, Sarah Broadbridge (1738-1814), was a notable writer and poet whose works were published in various literary journals of the time.

During the Victorian era, Thomas Henry Broadbridge (1821-1899) was a celebrated architect responsible for designing several iconic buildings in London, including the Royal Albert Hall and the Natural History Museum.

These examples highlight the diverse contributions of individuals bearing the Broadbridge surname throughout English history, spanning various fields such as politics, business, literature, and architecture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Broadbridge families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Broadbridge 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. Sussex leads with 141 Broadbridges recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.53x.

County Total Index
Sussex 141 17.53x
Middlesex 102 2.14x
Kent 95 5.84x
Surrey 66 2.84x
Lancashire 29 0.51x
Yorkshire 10 0.21x
Durham 9 0.63x
Essex 9 0.96x
Lincolnshire 6 0.79x
Worcestershire 5 0.80x
Shropshire 4 0.97x
Gloucestershire 2 0.21x
Staffordshire 2 0.12x
Warwickshire 2 0.17x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.23x
Devon 1 0.10x
Hampshire 1 0.10x
Hertfordshire 1 0.30x
Leicestershire 1 0.19x
Northumberland 1 0.14x
Royal Navy 1 1.76x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brighton in Sussex leads with 30 Broadbridges recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.49x.

Place Total Index
Brighton 30 18.49x
Hackney London 26 9.72x
Battersea 16 9.12x
Sittingbourne 15 116.73x
Oving 13 477.94x
Preston 13 92.59x
Madehurst 11 3548.39x
Mitcham 10 68.07x
North Mundham 10 1250.00x
St Pancras London 10 2.60x
Stoke Newington London 10 26.92x
Hastings St Clement 9 118.89x
Hove 9 25.50x
Linthorpe 9 31.90x
Liverpool 9 2.62x
Streatham 9 25.43x
Lambeth 8 1.92x
Great Crosby 7 45.37x
Kirkdale 7 7.35x
Milton In Gravesend 7 28.68x
Ramsgate 7 26.35x
Rochester St Margaret 7 40.79x
Tunstall 7 1590.91x
Washington 7 507.25x
West Ham 7 3.37x
Croydon 6 4.65x
Elham 6 309.28x
Fulham London 6 8.67x
Mile End Old Town London 6 5.91x
Paddington London 6 3.42x
Worth 6 102.74x
Arundel 5 111.11x
Charlwood 5 224.22x
Crook Billy Row 5 27.52x
Deptford St Paul 5 3.98x
Greenwich 5 6.59x
Leigh 5 66.14x
Lewisham 5 5.76x
Sanderstead 5 793.65x
Stretford 5 16.06x
Bromley London 4 3.81x
Finchley 4 21.87x
Islington London 4 0.87x
Kensington London 4 1.51x
Madeley 4 26.47x
Marden 4 104.71x
Newington 4 2.27x
Slindon 4 481.93x
St Marylebone London 4 1.57x
Boughton Under Blean 3 109.89x
Canterbury St Dunstan 3 106.76x
Canterbury St Mildred 3 77.72x
Chatham 3 6.70x
Chilham 3 129.31x
Clapham 3 769.23x
Cuckfield 3 36.95x
Hastings St Mary 3 14.99x
St George Hanover Square 3 3.57x
Swineshead 3 119.52x
Aston 2 0.60x
Canterbury St Gregory 2 93.46x
Chelsea London 2 1.39x
Chigwell 2 22.50x
Eastbourne 2 5.40x
Faversham 2 12.89x
Haxey 2 61.73x
Kirdford 2 71.68x
Littlehampton 2 31.15x
Ratcliffe London 2 7.59x
Reigate Foreign 2 7.95x
Rochester St Nicholas 2 39.53x
St George Bloomsbury 2 7.31x
St George In East London 2 4.46x
St Martin In Fields 2 7.00x
Stockton On Tees 2 2.92x
Westminster St Margaret 2 8.69x
Westoe 2 2.49x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 3.21x
Newcastle On Tyne St 1 2.72x
Twineham 1 208.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 24
Ann 13
Elizabeth 11
Alice 10
Edith 10
Emily 10
Sarah 10
Ellen 9
Emma 9
Annie 7
Eliza 7
Harriet 7
Jane 7
Caroline 6
Clara 6
Frances 6
Harriett 6
Louisa 6
Maria 6
Charlotte 5
Margaret 5
Ada 3
Agnes 3
Amy 3
Florence 3
Amelia 2
Anne 2
Fanny 2
Lydia 2
Matilda 2
Maud 2
Philadelphia 2
Rosalie 2
Rose 2
Ruth 2
Elizth.L. 1
Emely 1
Flora 1
Frend 1
Georgina 1
Gertrude 1
Josephine 1
Kate 1
Laura 1
Lillian 1
Lipporah 1
Lizzie 1
Lucy 1
Mahola 1
Sussannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 35
George 22
Charles 18
Henry 18
James 15
Frederick 14
John 11
Edward 9
Thomas 7
Alfred 6
Richard 6
Walter 6
Harry 5
Albert 4
Arthur 4
Benjamin 4
Lutman 3
Percy 3
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Geo. 2
Harold 2
Jules 2
Lewis 2
Robert 2
Sidney 2
Wm. 2
Chas. 1
Chas.G. 1
Chs. 1
Claude 1
David 1
Edgar 1
Edw. 1
F.W. 1
Fredk. 1
Fredric 1
Herbert 1
Infant 1
Ivan 1
J. 1
Joseph 1
Leonard 1
Mark 1
Reginald 1
Robt. 1
Samuel 1
Sydney 1
Terence 1

FAQ

Broadbridge surname: questions and answers

How common was the Broadbridge surname in 1881?

In 1881, 487 people were recorded with the Broadbridge surname. That placed it at #6,914 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Broadbridge surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 409 in 2016. That gives Broadbridge a modern rank of #11,694.

What does the Broadbridge surname mean?

A topographic surname denoting someone who lived near a broad bridge.

What does the Broadbridge map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Broadbridge 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.