Contents [hide]

Broad History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Citations

Broad History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Broad is a name whose history is entwined with the ancient Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It was a name for a stout person. The surname Broad is derived from the Old English word brode, which means broad. This in turn is derived from the Old English word brad, which has the same meaning.

Early Origins of the Broad family

The surname Broad was first found in Cornwall in the parish of Helland. "The barton of Brodes or Broads, which appears to have been formerly possessed by a family of that name, was for some time subsequent to the reign of James I. a seat of a younger branch of the family of Glynn." 1

Early History of the Broad family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Broad research. Another 48 words (3 lines of text) covering the year 1233 is included under the topic Early Broad History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Broad Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Broad were recorded, including Broad, Brod and others.

Early Notables of the Broad family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

Reverend Thomas Broad

Broad Ranking

In New Zealand, the name Broad is the 926^th most popular surname with an estimated 803 people with that name. 2

Broad migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Broad family emigrate to North America:

Broad Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Tho Broad, who landed in Virginia in 1635 3
Thomazin Broad, aged 24, who landed in Virginia in 1635 3
Mr. Thomazin Broad, (b. 1611), aged 24, British settler traveling aboard the ship "Safety" arriving in Virginia in 1635 4
Thomas Broad, who arrived in Virginia in 1637 3
Ben Broad, who arrived in Virginia in 1662 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Broad Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Francis Broad, who arrived in New England in 1730 3
Mary Broad who settled in Virginia in 1738
Robert Broad, who settled in New England in 1773

Broad Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Mr. Martin R. Broad, (b. 1867), aged 33, Cornish slater travelling aboard the ship "Lucania" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 5th March 1900 en route to Argyle, Pennsylvania, USA 5
Mrs. Katie Broad, (b. 1875), aged 28, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "Philadelphia" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 10th October 1903 en route to Grass Valley, USA 5
Miss Hilda Broad, (b. 1900), aged 3, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "Philadelphia" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 10th October 1903 en route to Grass Valley, California, USA 5
Benjamin Broad, who landed in Mississippi in 1903 3
Mr. James Broad, (b. 1878), aged 27, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "Philadelphia" arriving at Ellis Island, New York in 1905 en route to Calumet, Michigan, USA 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Broad migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Broad Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

John Broad, aged 46, a farmer, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Atlas" in 1815
Isobel Broad, aged 47, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Atlas" in 1815
Michael Broad, aged 15, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Atlas" in 1815
James Broad, aged 13, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Atlas" in 1815
John Broad, aged 12, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Atlas" in 1815
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Broad migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Broad Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

Miss Mary Broad, (Bryant, Braund), (b. 1765), aged 22, Cornish convict who was convicted in Exeter, Devon, England for 7 years for assault, transported aboard the "Charlotte" on 13th May 1787, arriving in New South Wales, Australia delivered a daughter aboard the ship and named her Charlotte Spence 6

Broad Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. William May Broad, Cornish settler convicted in Cornwall, UK on 22nd March 1820, sentenced for life for burglary, transported aboard the ship "Hebe" in July 1820 to New South Wales, Australia 7
Mr. Elijah Broad, (b. 1807), aged 16, British blacksmith who was convicted in Stafford, Staffordshire, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Competitor"18th March 1823, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1867 8
Mr. William Broad, (b. 1816), aged 14, English tailor who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Florentia" on 11th August 1830, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
Mr. Alfred Broad, (Johnson, Frederick) who was convicted in Bedford, Bedfordshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Bengal Merchant" on 4th August 1836, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
Mrs. Harriet Broad, (Horder), (b. 1820), aged 21, English house maid who was convicted in Winchester, Hampshire, England for 7 years for theft, transported aboard the "Emma Eugenia" on 16th November 1841, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Broad migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Broad Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

G Broad, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1842
Charles Broad, aged 29, a labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Alma" in 1857
Sarah Broad, aged 22, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Alma" in 1857
Mr. T. Broad, British settler travelling from Plymouth aboard the ship "Joseph Fletcher" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 19th March 1858 12
Mrs. Broad, British settler travelling from Plymouth aboard the ship "Joseph Fletcher" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 19th March 1858 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Broad (post 1700) +

Molly Corbett Broad (1941-2023), American academic administrator, President of the American Council on Education and the University of North Carolina
Eli Broad (1933-2021), American billionaire entrepreneur and philanthropist, ranked the 233rd wealthiest person in the world according to Forbes in 2019
William J Broad, American journalist and author, who has twice shared the Pulitzer Prize
Henry Broad, American politician, U.S. Vice Consul in Santos, 1884 13
Stuart Christopher John Broad CBE (b. 1986), is a former English cricketer
William Broad (b. 1955), English singer, who uses the stage name "Billy Idol"
Graham Broad (b. 1957), English rock drummer
Charlie Dunbar Broad (1887-1971), English philosopher
Sir Charles Broad, English Army officer
Charles Broad (1828-1879), New Zealand (English born), justice of the peace, goldfields administrator, and magistrate
... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Broad family +

Air New Zealand Flight 901

Miss. Philippa Margaret Broad (1958-1979), New Zealander passenger, from Auckland, New Zealand aboard the Air New Zealand Flight 901 for an Antarctic sightseeing flight when it flew into Mount Erebus; she died in the crash 14
Dr. John Phillip Broad (1928-1979), New Zealander passenger, from Hamilton, North Island, New Zealand aboard the Air New Zealand Flight 901 for an Antarctic sightseeing flight when it flew into Mount Erebus; he died in the crash 14

Citations +

Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's. Retrieved October 5th 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/charlotte
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 30th May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_convicts.pdf
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/competitor
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 11th October 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/florentia
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 7th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bengal-merchant
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/emma-eugenia
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 23) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Mount Erebus, Memorial, Roll of Remembrance (Retrieved 2018, February 21st). Retrieved from http://www.erebus.co.nz/memorialandawards/rollofremembrance.aspx