NameCensus.

UK surname

Broady

A locational surname derived from a broad meadow or clearing.

In the 1881 census there were 258 people recorded with the Broady surname, ranking it #10,836 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 392, ranked #12,052, down from #10,836 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, Manchester and Great Budworth (Witton with Twambrook), Davenham (Leftwich). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gloucester and Tewkesbury.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Broady is 439 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 51.9%.

1881 census count

258

Ranked #10,836

Modern count

392

2016, ranked #12,052

Peak year

1999

439 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Broady had 258 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,836 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 392 in 2016, ranked #12,052.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 418 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Broady surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Broady surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Broady 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 124 #14,792
1861 historical 178 #13,202
1881 historical 258 #10,836
1891 historical 299 #11,140
1901 historical 334 #10,818
1911 historical 418 #9,006
1997 modern 421 #10,589
1998 modern 425 #10,859
1999 modern 439 #10,673
2000 modern 426 #10,878
2001 modern 416 #10,898
2002 modern 419 #11,059
2003 modern 397 #11,316
2004 modern 402 #11,244
2005 modern 401 #11,165
2006 modern 389 #11,476
2007 modern 398 #11,411
2008 modern 410 #11,245
2009 modern 414 #11,407
2010 modern 422 #11,493
2011 modern 413 #11,560
2012 modern 395 #11,836
2013 modern 408 #11,740
2014 modern 409 #11,808
2015 modern 407 #11,760
2016 modern 392 #12,052

Geography

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Where Broadys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, Manchester, Great Budworth (Witton with Twambrook), Davenham (Leftwich), Coppenhall and Budworth, Great. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Gloucester and Tewkesbury. 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 Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet, Gloucestershire
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Great Budworth (Witton with Twambrook), Davenham (Leftwich) Cheshire
4 Coppenhall Cheshire
5 Budworth, Great Cheshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Gloucester 007 Gloucester
2 Tewkesbury 006 Tewkesbury
3 Gloucester 010 Gloucester
4 Tewkesbury 007 Tewkesbury
5 Gloucester 009 Gloucester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Broady

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Broady

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Broady is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Broady is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Broady falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Broady is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Broady

The surname Broady is of English origin, derived from a location name. It is believed to have originated in the county of Staffordshire in the West Midlands region of England during the medieval period.

The name Broady is likely a variant spelling of the place name Bradeley or Bradley, which means "broad clearing" or "broad meadow" in Old English. The earliest recorded spelling of the surname dates back to the 13th century in the Hundred Rolls of Staffordshire, where it appears as "de Brodeleye."

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a settlement called "Bradeleie" is mentioned, which is thought to be the place from which the Broady surname derives. This provides evidence of the name's antiquity and its connection to a specific geographic location.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Broady was William Broady, who was born in Staffordshire around 1450. He is mentioned in local parish records as a landowner and farmer.

Another notable figure was John Broady (c. 1520-1585), a merchant and alderman in the city of London. He is recorded as having been involved in trade with the Netherlands and other European countries.

In the 17th century, Thomas Broady (1635-1701) was a prominent clergyman and author from Worcestershire. He wrote several theological works and served as the rector of a parish church.

During the 18th century, the name appears in various records from counties in the West Midlands, such as Staffordshire, Worcestershire, and Warwickshire. One example is Samuel Broady (1745-1822), a farmer and landowner from Shropshire.

In the 19th century, the surname Broady spread to other parts of England, as well as to Scotland and Wales. One notable figure was James Broady (1835-1901), a Scottish mathematician and educator who taught at the University of Edinburgh.

The name Broady has been associated with various place names and localities over the centuries, reflecting its geographic origins. Some examples include Broadyhay, Broadyfields, and Broadymere, all of which were found in the West Midlands region of England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Broady families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Broady 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. Cheshire leads with 108 Broadys recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.52x.

County Total Index
Cheshire 108 19.52x
Lancashire 96 3.23x
Yorkshire 16 0.64x
Norfolk 11 2.85x
Durham 6 0.80x
Gloucestershire 6 1.22x
Staffordshire 4 0.47x
Warwickshire 4 0.63x
Flintshire 2 2.97x
Middlesex 1 0.04x
Montgomeryshire 1 1.74x
Rutland 1 5.43x
Suffolk 1 0.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Beswick in Lancashire leads with 18 Broadys recorded in 1881 and an index of 236.53x.

Place Total Index
Beswick 18 236.53x
Stretford 18 109.96x
Manchester 13 9.72x
Bowdon 12 545.45x
Brisley 11 3666.67x
Wharton 9 299.00x
Appleton 8 640.00x
Monks Coppenhall 8 38.31x
Runcorn 8 62.70x
Sale 8 117.82x
Holy Trinity St Mary 7 185.19x
Rusholme 7 88.27x
Burnley 6 23.95x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 6 66.67x
Great Budworth 6 612.24x
Leftwich 6 243.90x
Middlesbrough 6 18.55x
Salford 6 6.86x
Stranton 6 23.89x
Burland 5 892.86x
Lymm 5 124.38x
Prescot 5 92.94x
Weaverham Cum Milton 5 342.47x
Witton Cum Twambrooks 5 101.42x
Birmingham 4 1.90x
Bold 4 540.54x
Chorlton On Medlock 4 8.46x
Over 4 71.17x
Wolstanton 4 15.56x
Barrow 3 483.87x
Timperley 3 156.25x
Walton Superior 3 1428.57x
Alsager 2 144.93x
Alvanley 2 714.29x
Barton Upon Irwell 2 8.93x
Gorton 2 7.15x
Hulme 2 3.22x
Leeds 2 1.43x
Liverpool 2 1.11x
Moulton 2 392.16x
Toxteth Park 2 1.99x
Warrington 2 5.67x
Ashton On Mersey 1 34.97x
Carrington 1 263.16x
Didsbury 1 25.32x
Dunham Massey 1 58.82x
Flint 1 26.11x
Gorleston 1 12.89x
Guilsfield 1 47.85x
Hartford 1 80.00x
Kirkdale 1 2.00x
Linthorpe 1 6.75x
Mile End Old Town London 1 1.87x
North Meols 1 3.43x
Oakham Deanshold 1 121.95x
Whitford 1 28.65x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 19
Elizabeth 12
Jane 8
Margaret 8
Sarah 8
Alice 7
Ann 5
Eliza 5
Annie 4
Martha 4
Louisa 3
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Fanny 2
Harriet 2
Julia 2
Lucy 2
Maria 2
Agness 1
Amelia 1
Annah 1
Arena 1
Bella 1
Bessie 1
Bridget 1
Caroline 1
Celia 1
Charlotte 1
Christine 1
Dora 1
Eliz. 1
Elizth. 1
Esther 1
Evelyn 1
Hannah 1
Isabella 1
Kezia 1
Lillie 1
Lousia 1
Patience 1
Philis 1
Rach 1
Ruth 1
Schifra 1
Vada 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 19
Thomas 16
James 13
John 11
Henry 9
Joseph 9
Alfred 6
George 5
Samuel 5
Charles 4
Robert 4
Albert 3
Benjamin 2
Herbert 2
Isaac 2
Saml. 2
Thos. 2
Adam 1
Annie 1
Barnett 1
Dixon 1
Ellen 1
Frazer 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Hugh 1
Israel 1
Jacob 1
Lawrence 1
Louis 1
Mathew 1
Michael 1
Oswald 1
Peter 1
Richd. 1
Tady 1

FAQ

Broady surname: questions and answers

How common was the Broady surname in 1881?

In 1881, 258 people were recorded with the Broady surname. That placed it at #10,836 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Broady surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 392 in 2016. That gives Broady a modern rank of #12,052.

What does the Broady surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a broad meadow or clearing.

What does the Broady map show?

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