Show ContentsBroaden History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Broaden family

The surname Broaden was first found in South Northamptonshire at Bradden, a village that dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 when it was first listed as Bradene. Literally the place name means "broad valley," from the Old English words "brad" + "denu." 1 The parish church is dedicated to St Michael and was built in the 13th century.

Early History of the Broaden family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Broaden research. Another 94 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Broaden History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Broaden Spelling Variations

The name Broaden, appeared in many references, and from time to time, the surname was spelt Braden, Braddene, Bradens, Braiding, McBradden and many more.

Early Notables of the Broaden family

More information is included under the topic Early Broaden Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Broaden family to Ireland

Some of the Broaden family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Broaden migration to the United States +

The New World beckoned as many of the settlers in Ireland, known as the Scotch/Irish, became disenchanted. They sailed aboard the armada of sailing ships known as the "White Sails" which plied the stormy Atlantic. Some called them, less romantically, the "coffin ships." Amongst the early settlers who could be considered kinsmen of the Broaden family, or who bore a variation of the surname Broaden were

Broaden Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Anne Broaden, who arrived in Virginia in 1703 2
Broaden Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John Broaden, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1850 2


  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. 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)


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