NameCensus.

UK surname

Broadley

A habitational surname derived from a broad, open meadow or clearing.

In the 1881 census there were 2,028 people recorded with the Broadley surname, ranking it #2,170 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,626, ranked #2,539, down from #2,170 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Halifax, Leeds and Glasgow. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Harrogate, Scarborough and Bradford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Broadley is 2,695 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 29.5%.

1881 census count

2,028

Ranked #2,170

Modern count

2,626

2016, ranked #2,539

Peak year

2010

2,695 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Broadley had 2,028 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,170 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,626 in 2016, ranked #2,539.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,638 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Broadley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Broadley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Broadley 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 1,072 #2,617
1861 historical 1,153 #2,443
1881 historical 2,028 #2,170
1891 historical 2,352 #1,997
1901 historical 2,638 #2,093
1911 historical 2,377 #2,157
1997 modern 2,568 #2,471
1998 modern 2,631 #2,494
1999 modern 2,611 #2,525
2000 modern 2,583 #2,540
2001 modern 2,526 #2,537
2002 modern 2,573 #2,551
2003 modern 2,548 #2,525
2004 modern 2,564 #2,512
2005 modern 2,533 #2,518
2006 modern 2,540 #2,515
2007 modern 2,547 #2,526
2008 modern 2,523 #2,569
2009 modern 2,652 #2,508
2010 modern 2,695 #2,528
2011 modern 2,651 #2,536
2012 modern 2,629 #2,509
2013 modern 2,676 #2,512
2014 modern 2,668 #2,535
2015 modern 2,626 #2,543
2016 modern 2,626 #2,539

Geography

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Where Broadleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Halifax, Leeds, Glasgow, Bradford and Whalley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Harrogate, Scarborough, Bradford, Castlemilk and Kingston upon Hull. 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 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Leeds Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Glasgow Lanark
4 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Whalley Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Harrogate 001 Harrogate
2 Scarborough 001 Scarborough
3 Bradford 002 Bradford
4 Castlemilk Glasgow City
5 Kingston upon Hull 010 Kingston upon Hull, City of

Forenames

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First names often paired with Broadley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Broadley

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Broadley, 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 Broadley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Broadley 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, Broadley 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

Broadley is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Broadley

The surname Broadley is of English origin, derived from a toponymic name referring to a geographical location. It is believed to have originated in the early medieval period, possibly around the 11th or 12th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Brallie" in reference to a settlement or place name. This suggests that the name may have been derived from an Old English or Anglo-Saxon word related to a broad meadow or clearing.

During the Middle Ages, the name was commonly spelled in various forms, such as Brodeleye, Brodelee, and Bradeley, reflecting regional variations in pronunciation and spelling conventions. These variations often corresponded to different locations where the name was found.

In the 13th century, the name Broadley appeared in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, indicating the presence of individuals bearing this surname in that region. This connection to Yorkshire suggests that the name may have originated from a place name in that area.

One notable individual with the surname Broadley was Sir Thomas Broadley (c. 1520-1585), an English landowner and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He played a significant role in local affairs and served as a justice of the peace in Lincolnshire.

Another prominent figure was Sir Henry Broadley (1670-1741), a British soldier and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Lincolnshire. He was also a respected military officer and fought in the War of the Spanish Succession.

In the 18th century, John Broadley (1711-1788) was a renowned English clockmaker and inventor. He is credited with developing the cylinder escapement, a crucial component in the design of pendulum clocks, which significantly improved their accuracy.

The Broadley family also had a presence in the United States, as evidenced by the life of William Broadley (1773-1845), an American farmer and politician from Virginia. He served as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates and played an active role in local government.

In the 19th century, George Broadley (1819-1898) was a prominent English architect and surveyor. He was responsible for designing several notable buildings in London, including churches and schools, and contributed significantly to the architectural landscape of the city.

Overall, the surname Broadley has a rich history rooted in English toponymic origins, with branches extending across various regions and professions throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Broadley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Broadley 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 1,038 Broadleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.30x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 1,038 5.30x
Lancashire 369 1.57x
Lanarkshire 258 4.03x
Lincolnshire 58 1.83x
Dunbartonshire 42 7.90x
Renfrewshire 37 2.41x
Middlesex 30 0.15x
Surrey 23 0.24x
Kent 20 0.30x
Warwickshire 18 0.36x
Ayrshire 16 1.08x
Cheshire 15 0.34x
Cornwall 14 0.63x
Fife 11 0.94x
Leicestershire 9 0.41x
Staffordshire 9 0.13x
Durham 8 0.14x
Derbyshire 6 0.19x
Hampshire 6 0.15x
Cumberland 5 0.29x
Devon 5 0.12x
Hertfordshire 5 0.37x
Kirkcudbrightshire 4 1.40x
Midlothian 4 0.15x
Stirlingshire 3 0.41x
Worcestershire 3 0.12x
Angus 2 0.11x
Gloucestershire 2 0.05x
Northumberland 2 0.07x
Royal Navy 2 0.85x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.04x
Somerset 1 0.03x
West Lothian 1 0.34x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 108 Broadleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.67x.

Place Total Index
Barony 108 6.67x
Clayton Le Moors 58 127.42x
Keighley 57 27.29x
Hipperholme Cum 56 65.05x
Glasgow 50 4.40x
Accrington 49 22.97x
Hunslet 49 16.04x
Manningham 47 19.47x
Leeds 43 3.89x
Cleckheaton 41 56.80x
Bradford 37 7.80x
Batley 35 18.80x
Heaton 34 161.52x
Nafferton 34 407.19x
Govan 32 2.02x
Mirfield 29 26.96x
Dumbarton 27 36.51x
Ashton Under Lyne 25 4.88x
Bothwell 22 12.69x
Idle 22 24.22x
Padiham 22 38.81x
Bingley 20 16.03x
Blatchinworth 19 35.57x
Bowling 19 9.79x
Church 19 57.35x
Elland Cum Greetland 19 21.52x
Cowpe Lench Newhall Hey 17 67.81x
Dewsbury 17 8.46x
Armley 16 18.51x
Manchester 16 1.52x
Aston 15 1.09x
Halifax 15 5.21x
Oldham 15 1.98x
Kirkheaton 14 44.05x
Falmouth 13 16.41x
Higher Booths 13 30.73x
Northowram 13 9.46x
Old Kilpatrick 13 20.70x
Burnley 12 6.07x
Shoreditch London 11 1.28x
Soyland 11 46.79x
Alford 10 51.05x
Blackburn 10 1.60x
Carnock 10 139.66x
Ecclesall Bierlow 10 2.51x
Gorbals 10 26.34x
Newton Upon Ouse 10 250.00x
Norland 10 74.35x
Wilberfoss 10 354.61x
York Holy Trinity 10 59.07x
Abbey 9 3.85x
Bolton In Bradford 9 71.66x
Cambusnethan 9 6.34x
Chorley 9 6.84x
Fridaythorpe 9 414.75x
Louth 9 12.42x
Masham 9 124.14x
Neilston 9 11.70x
York St Cuthbert 9 50.17x
Laverton 8 388.35x
Liversedge 8 9.17x
Lockwood 8 11.35x
Maryhill 8 6.39x
Nantwich 8 15.77x
Old Park 8 128.82x
Oswaldtwistle 8 9.65x
Sculcoates 8 2.58x
Selby 8 19.54x
Skipton 8 12.97x
Southowram 8 13.38x
Spotland 8 3.07x
Warsill 8 2000.00x
Bermondsey 7 1.19x
Old Monkland 7 2.76x
Rastrick 7 12.86x
Rutherglen 7 7.46x
Salford 7 1.01x
St Nicholas Lincoln 7 23.16x
Tottington Higher End 7 26.21x
York St Margaret 7 57.61x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 145
Sarah 76
Elizabeth 55
Ellen 36
Ann 35
Jane 34
Annie 31
Alice 30
Hannah 29
Margaret 27
Martha 27
Emily 17
Ada 16
Clara 15
Emma 15
Eliza 14
Edith 9
Ruth 8
Susannah 8
Fanny 7
Harriet 7
Lucy 6
Rebecca 6
Esther 5
Gertrude 5
Isabella 5
Matilda 5
Agnes 4
Charlotte 4
Eleanor 4
Florence 4
Grace 4
Leah 4
Lydia 4
Maria 4
Nancy 4
Caroline 3
E. 3
Elizth. 3
Eva 3
Frances 3
Harriett 3
Lilly 3
Minnie 3
Miriam 3
Priscilla 3
Anne 2
Annis 2
Dorothy 2
Louise 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 129
William 86
James 62
George 46
Joseph 41
Thomas 36
Arthur 27
Charles 23
Richard 22
Henry 18
Robert 16
Benjamin 15
Alfred 14
Fred 12
Albert 10
Edward 9
Harry 8
Samuel 8
Tom 8
Walter 8
Ernest 7
Geo. 7
Thos. 7
Wm. 7
Frederick 6
Isaac 6
Miles 6
David 5
Edwin 5
Herbert 5
Jas. 5
Frank 4
Jonathan 4
Lancelot 4
Chas. 3
Daniel 3
Edmund 3
Francis 3
Peter 3
Christopher 2
Dan 2
Edgar 2
Joshua 2
Luke 2
Mark 2
Matthew 2
Paul 2
Rawson 2
Rhodes 2
Titus 2

FAQ

Broadley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Broadley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,028 people were recorded with the Broadley surname. That placed it at #2,170 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Broadley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,626 in 2016. That gives Broadley a modern rank of #2,539.

What does the Broadley surname mean?

A habitational surname derived from a broad, open meadow or clearing.

What does the Broadley map show?

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