Surname Broad - Meaning and Origin

Broad: What does the surname Broad mean?

The surname Broad is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is derived from the Old English word "brad," which means "broad" or "wide." This name might have been a topographic name for someone who lived in a broad, wide valley or a broad, flat plain. Additionally, it could have been used as a nickname for someone who was broad or stout in physical appearance. The name could also come from place names including Broad, Broadclyne, Broadfield, Broadhempston, Broadoak, Broadwater, and many others. It is also possible that in some instances the name may come from the Old English word “brod” meaning “toad” and could have been a nickname. Like many surnames, the exact origin and meaning can vary based on the family and geographic location. The name Broad is most common in England, but can be found in many other countries due to emigration.

Broad: Where does the name Broad come from?

The surname Broad is of English origin and is derived from the Old English term "brad," which means "broad." It was typically used in medieval England as a nickname for a person who was broad or wide, possibly referring to someone who was stout or had a wide face or a wide area of land.

There are other places named Broad in England, such as Broad Clyst and Broad Hinton, suggesting this name may also have been a locative surname, given to those who lived in these places. Broad can also be an occupational name for a maker of broadcloth, a dense woolen cloth renowned for its use in making high-quality garments in the Middle Ages.

Today, the Broad surname is particularly common in Great Britain, especially in the southern and southwestern regions of England. According to Forebears, a genealogical data site, it ranks as the 1,046th most common surname in England. Outside of the United Kingdom, it can also be found in the United States, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.

Variations of the surname Broad

The surname Broad has variations in spelling which extends to include Broadt, Broadbent, Brode, Brodt, Breed, Brod, Braud, Brade, Bradt, and Broth. The similar surnames could have different origins and may not be related to Broad. For instance, Broadbent is an English origin surname deriving from two Old English words ‘brad, broad or wide’ and ‘bent, bent grass or reedy grass’.

The surname Broad is primarily of English origin and it was used as a descriptive nickname for someone who was broad or stout. Sometimes the surname may derive from a place name such as Broad in Devon or Norfolk. In these instances, the variations may also include Broadsof Devon and Broadsof Norfolk for individuals originating from these areas.

The English surname also spread to other countries such as Germany and Eastern Europe, wherein spelling changed due to language differences such as Brod, or Brodt in German.

Additional variants may include prefixes or suffixes like -son (Broadson) or -s (Broads), indicating a patrilineal descent, but these are less common. The surname can also evolve over time, undergoing orthographic changes based on regional dialects and phonetic spelling.

Famous people with the name Broad

• Stuart Broad: An English cricketer who has played for England and Nottinghamshire, and widely regarded as one of the best bowlers of his generation.
• Eli Broad: An American businessman and philanthropist, best known for building two Fortune 500 companies, KB Home and SunAmerica.
• Chris Broad: A former English cricketer and father of Stuart Broad, he has also served as an international cricket referee.
• Daryl Broad: An Australian footballer who played in the Queensland Australian Football League.
• Billy Broad: More commonly known as Billy Idol, he is an English musician, singer, and songwriter.
• Charlie Broad: A British philosopher known for his work in metaphysics, ethics, and history of philosophy.
• Michael Broad: A cricketer who played for Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club.
• Sue Broad: A British Conservative Party politician.
• Vicky Broad: A professional rugby union player representing New Zealand.
• Jason Broad: An American actor known for his appearances on popular shows such as "The Blacklist" and "Blue Bloods". Note: Some of the individuals listed are primarily known by different last names, but their birth name or an earlier name was Broad.

Other surnames

BroachBroacheBroadawayBroadbentBroaddusBroadenBroadfootBroadheadBroadhurstBroadieBroadleyBroadnaxBroadrickBroadstoneBroadstreetBroadtBroadusBroadwaterBroadwayBroadwellBroadwodBroadwoodBroadyBroatchBroatsBroatsch