NameCensus.

UK surname

Broadhead

A locational surname referring to someone who lived near a wide ridge or near the head of a broad valley.

In the 1881 census there were 2,202 people recorded with the Broadhead surname, ranking it #2,013 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,570, ranked #2,574, down from #2,013 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Silkstone, Batley and Wakefield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Riding of Yorkshire, Barnsley and Leeds.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Broadhead is 2,908 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 16.7%.

1881 census count

2,202

Ranked #2,013

Modern count

2,570

2016, ranked #2,574

Peak year

1911

2,908 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Broadhead had 2,202 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,013 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,570 in 2016, ranked #2,574.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,908 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Broadhead surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Broadhead surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Broadhead 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 1,431 #2,006
1861 historical 1,594 #1,788
1881 historical 2,202 #2,013
1891 historical 2,457 #1,922
1901 historical 2,741 #2,024
1911 historical 2,908 #1,793
1997 modern 2,706 #2,364
1998 modern 2,772 #2,392
1999 modern 2,770 #2,411
2000 modern 2,763 #2,406
2001 modern 2,707 #2,401
2002 modern 2,719 #2,437
2003 modern 2,636 #2,458
2004 modern 2,597 #2,489
2005 modern 2,555 #2,494
2006 modern 2,541 #2,513
2007 modern 2,560 #2,518
2008 modern 2,569 #2,525
2009 modern 2,641 #2,519
2010 modern 2,705 #2,517
2011 modern 2,694 #2,493
2012 modern 2,622 #2,517
2013 modern 2,637 #2,547
2014 modern 2,629 #2,564
2015 modern 2,588 #2,572
2016 modern 2,570 #2,574

Geography

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Where Broadheads are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Silkstone, Batley, Wakefield, Sheffield and Kirkburton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Riding of Yorkshire, Barnsley, Leeds and Kirklees. 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 Silkstone Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Batley Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Wakefield Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Kirkburton Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Riding of Yorkshire 040 East Riding of Yorkshire
2 Barnsley 024 Barnsley
3 Leeds 107 Leeds
4 Barnsley 016 Barnsley
5 Kirklees 014 Kirklees

Forenames

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First names often paired with Broadhead

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Broadhead

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Broadhead 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

Broadhead 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

Broadhead 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 Broadhead 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 Broadhead, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Broadhead

The surname Broadhead is of Anglo-Saxon origin, deriving from the Old English words 'brad' meaning broad and 'heafod' meaning head. It is an ancient descriptive surname, initially referring to someone with a broad forehead or a large head.

The earliest known recorded instance of the Broadhead surname can be traced back to the 13th century in Yorkshire, England. It appears in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a census document commissioned by King Edward I, where it is listed as 'Bradhevyed'.

During the medieval period, the Broadhead surname was concentrated primarily in the northern counties of England, particularly Yorkshire and Lancashire. It is believed to have originated from the village of Broadhead near Burnley, Lancashire, which was first mentioned in historical records in 1241.

In the 16th century, the surname Broadhead appears in the Subsidy Rolls of 1523-1524 for the county of Yorkshire, indicating its continued presence in the region. Notable bearers of the name during this time include John Broadhead, who was born in 1542 in Oxenhope, Yorkshire.

The Broadhead surname is also found in the Domesday Book of 1086, the earliest surviving public record commissioned by William the Conqueror. It is listed under various spellings, such as 'Bradeheved' and 'Bradehefed', further confirming its ancient roots.

Throughout history, several prominent individuals have borne the Broadhead surname. One notable figure was Thomas Broadhead (1604-1677), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Wilsick in Yorkshire. Another was Henry Broadhead (1787-1834), a British naval officer who participated in several significant battles during the Napoleonic Wars.

Other notable Broadheads include William Broadhead (1815-1879), an American politician and lawyer who served as a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, and John Broadhead (1870-1949), a British trade unionist and Labour Party politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Northampton from 1923 to 1931.

The Broadhead surname continues to be found predominantly in the United Kingdom, particularly in the northern counties of England, as well as in other English-speaking countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Broadhead families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Broadhead 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 1,580 Broadheads recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.43x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 1,580 7.43x
Lancashire 144 0.57x
Warwickshire 69 1.28x
Cheshire 68 1.44x
Middlesex 56 0.26x
Nottinghamshire 51 1.76x
Derbyshire 50 1.49x
Staffordshire 28 0.39x
Durham 25 0.39x
Leicestershire 19 0.80x
Surrey 16 0.15x
Lincolnshire 14 0.41x
Hampshire 12 0.27x
Essex 9 0.21x
Peeblesshire 9 8.92x
Worcestershire 9 0.32x
Gloucestershire 6 0.14x
Northamptonshire 6 0.30x
Isle of Man 5 1.26x
Devon 4 0.09x
Lanarkshire 4 0.06x
Shropshire 4 0.22x
Kent 2 0.03x
Northumberland 2 0.06x
Somerset 2 0.06x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.12x
Cumberland 1 0.05x
Fife 1 0.08x
Royal Navy 1 0.39x
Sussex 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. East Ardsley in Yorkshire leads with 77 Broadheads recorded in 1881 and an index of 418.25x.

Place Total Index
East Ardsley 77 418.25x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 74 95.87x
Batley 72 35.64x
Barnsley 68 31.01x
Sheffield 64 9.46x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 56 73.75x
Leeds 50 4.17x
Ecclesall Bierlow 48 11.10x
Birmingham 46 2.55x
Bradfield 46 56.13x
Thornton In Bradford 40 56.53x
Dewsbury 38 17.43x
Nether Hallam 31 10.78x
West Ardsley 31 121.19x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 30 30.38x
Kirkheaton 28 81.23x
Thornhill 27 43.53x
Brightside Bierlow 25 6.00x
Nottingham St Mary 24 3.21x
Aston 23 1.54x
Horbury 23 61.86x
Lockwood 22 28.77x
Rainow 22 233.30x
Wolverhampton 22 3.95x
Swinton In Rotherham 21 37.36x
Darton 20 91.87x
Wakefield 20 12.26x
Kettleshulme 19 785.12x
Upper Hallam 19 102.87x
Wooldale 19 52.70x
Huddersfield 18 5.81x
Holy Trinity 17 3.32x
Hunslet 17 5.13x
Newton 17 8.67x
Gomersal 16 16.13x
Penistone 16 96.56x
Rotherham 16 13.35x
Austonley 15 124.69x
Ecclesfield 15 9.62x
Manchester 15 1.31x
Fulstone 14 90.03x
Kimberworth 14 11.87x
Hepworth 13 151.52x
Pontefract 13 28.39x
Shoreditch London 13 1.40x
Upperthong 13 71.90x
Ardsley 12 48.98x
Dalton In Huddersfield 12 25.20x
Manningham 12 4.58x
Holme In Huddersfield 11 220.88x
Hunshelf 11 105.57x
Portsea 11 1.28x
Saddleworth 11 6.71x
Worsbrough 11 17.66x
Eckington 10 12.26x
Heckmondwike 10 14.63x
Lepton 10 45.05x
Mirfield 10 8.57x
Morley 10 9.05x
Northowram 10 6.71x
Rastrick 10 16.94x
Salford 10 1.34x
South Crosland 10 44.68x
Staveley 10 16.77x
Ardwick 9 3.92x
Denby 9 78.47x
Gildersome 9 35.23x
Holbeck 9 6.39x
Lindley Cum Quarmby 9 16.78x
Oldham 9 1.10x
St Botolph Aldgate London 9 20.38x
Handsworth 8 14.24x
Hucknall Torkard 8 10.91x
Meltham 8 24.20x
Methley 8 26.73x
Peebles 8 26.83x
Radford 8 5.45x
Shepperton 8 84.57x
Spotland 8 2.83x
Unstone 8 60.61x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 154
Sarah 94
Elizabeth 83
Ann 58
Hannah 45
Emma 40
Jane 39
Alice 37
Annie 34
Eliza 30
Martha 28
Ellen 20
Clara 19
Emily 16
Harriet 16
Lucy 16
Florence 14
Charlotte 13
Fanny 13
Margaret 12
Maria 12
Ada 11
Agnes 10
Frances 9
Louisa 9
Anne 8
Sophia 8
Edith 7
Harriett 6
Lilly 6
Ruth 6
Caroline 5
Grace 5
Kate 5
Matilda 5
Priscilla 5
Rebecca 5
Selina 5
Eleanor 4
Elizth. 4
Gertrude 4
Julia 4
Lydia 4
Amy 3
Betty 3
Catherine 3
Elizebeth 3
Florance 3
Laura 3
Lois 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 122
William 105
George 82
Joseph 64
Thomas 49
James 44
Henry 34
Arthur 33
Charles 32
Alfred 28
Edward 26
Harry 24
Walter 22
Samuel 21
David 18
Albert 17
Benjamin 14
Herbert 14
Frank 12
Fred 11
Richard 11
Matthew 10
Robert 9
Wm. 9
Geo. 8
Joe 8
Frederick 7
Abraham 6
Ernest 6
Joshua 6
Tom 6
Andrew 5
Edwin 5
Fredrick 5
Mathew 5
Seth 5
Thos. 5
Willie 5
Ben 4
Edgar 4
Sam 4
Daniel 3
Horace 3
Isaac 3
Jim 3
Job 3
Levi 3
Mark 3
Morgan 3
Robt. 3

FAQ

Broadhead surname: questions and answers

How common was the Broadhead surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,202 people were recorded with the Broadhead surname. That placed it at #2,013 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Broadhead surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,570 in 2016. That gives Broadhead a modern rank of #2,574.

What does the Broadhead surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone who lived near a wide ridge or near the head of a broad valley.

What does the Broadhead map show?

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