Bradley Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Bradley last name means, where the surname began and where it was first recorded.
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Meaning and origin of the Bradley last name
Meaning of the Bradley last name: broad clearing. Bradley is a habitational name from one of the many English places called Bradley, from Old English brād, "broad", and lēah, "woodland clearing". Such places are found in Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Yorkshire, Hampshire and elsewhere, so families of the name have many separate origins. In Ireland the name was also adopted for Ó Brolacháin of Derry and Tyrone. The place name was very common because broad clearings in woodland were a frequent feature of the early English landscape. Medieval forms such as de Bradeley and de Bradelegh appear in English tax and court rolls, showing the name was taken from the place where a family lived or held land. In Scotland the name also arose from similar places. Bradley families emigrated early to the American colonies, especially to New England, Virginia and Maryland, and the surname is now one of the more common English names in the United States, Canada and Australia.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Bradley name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Bradley name in England. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, Ireland and Australia; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
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Bradley name FAQ
What does the Bradley name mean?
Broad clearing. Common variants include Bradly, Bradleigh, Bradlee.
Where does the Bradley surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Ireland and Australia.
Is there a Bradley coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Bradley crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Bradley coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; MacLysaght, The Surnames of Ireland; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).