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Bradbury History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Citations

Bradbury History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

In ancient Anglo-Saxon England, the ancestors of the Bradbury surname lived in the county of Chester, where they derived their name from the town of Bredbury. The town's name is derived from the Old English words bred or brade which means broad and byrig, the original form of burh, which means fort. Thus, the name denotes the dweller at the broad fort. 1

Early Origins of the Bradbury family

The surname Bradbury was first found in Greater Manchester at Bredbury, a suburban town within the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport. 2 Historically a township, in the parish and union of Stockport, hundred of Macclesfield, N. division of the county of Chester, Bredbury dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 when it was first listed as Brethberie. 3

"The manor was held under the Stockports, by the family of Bredbury, whose heiress brought a moiety of it to the Ardens." 4 Another reference claims the place name meant "stronghold or manor-house built of planks," from the Old English words "bred" + "burgh." 5

Some of the first listings of the family were found in Cheshire: Jordan de Bredbury in 1270; Adam de Bredbury in 1332. 2

Early History of the Bradbury family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bradbury research. Another 119 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1439, 1450, 1509, 1510, 1530, 1555, 1601, 1615, 1672, 1677, 1679, 1688, 1692, 1696, 1700, 1759, 1872, 1925 and 1950 are included under the topic Early Bradbury History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bradbury Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Bradbury are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Bradbury include: Bradbury, BradBerry, Braidbury and others.

Early Notables of the Bradbury family

Distinguished members of the family include

George Bradbury (d.1696), an English judge, appointed to the bench of the Court of Exchequer in 1688, and continued in office until his death; Thomas Bradbury (1677-1759), an English congregational mi...
Joan Leche (c. 1450-1530) was the wife successively of Thomas Bodley, and of Thomas Bradbury (c. 1439-1510), Lord Mayor of London in 1509. Her great-grandson, Sir John Leveson (1555-1615), was instrum...

Bradbury World Ranking

In the United States, the name Bradbury is the 4,137^th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 6 However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Bradbury is ranked the 215^th most popular surname with an estimated 200 people with that name. 7 And in the United Kingdom, the name Bradbury is the 579^th popular surname with an estimated 11,313 people with that name. 8

Bradbury migration to the United States +

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Bradbury or a variant listed above:

Bradbury Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Thomas Bradbury, who settled in Maine in 1630
John Bradbury, who arrived in Virginia in 1636 9
Thomas Bradbury, who landed in Salisbury, Massachusetts in 1639 9
John Bradbury, who landed in Virginia in 1650 9
John Bradbury, who arrived in Virginia in 1656 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bradbury Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Thomas Bradbury, who settled in Boston in 1700
Mich Bradbury, who arrived in Virginia in 1705 9
John Bradbury, who landed in America in 1760-1763 9

Bradbury Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Abraham Bradbury, aged 42, who arrived in New York in 1812 9
Matthew Bradbury, who landed in New York in 1824 9
James Bradbury, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1837 9
James Bradbury, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1837 9
Thomas Bradbury, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1844 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bradbury migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Bradbury Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

John Bradbury, of St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada in 1705 10
Isaac Bradbury, found in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland, Canada in 1750 10
Abraham Bradbury, found in Jugler's Cove, (Bay Roberts), Newfoundland, Canada in 1784, potentially land was in the family from 1708 10
Abraham Bradbury, of Collibou Tickle, Labrador, Canada in 1787, moved to Battle Harbour in 1789 10
Jacob Bradbury, found in Torbay, Newfoundland, Canada in 1794-1795 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bradbury Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Susanna Bradbury found in Bay Roberts, Newfoundland, Canada in 1828 10
James Bradbury, fisherman found in Beachy Cove, (Port de Grave), Newfoundland, Canada in 1860 10
J Bradbury, who landed in Victoria, British Columbia in 1862
Charles Bradbury, found in Coley's Point, Newfoundland, Canada in 1871 10
John Bradbury, fisherman found in Coley's Point, Newfoundland, Canada in 1871 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bradbury migration to Australia +

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

Bradbury Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. William Bradbury, English convict who was convicted in Derby, Derbyshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Baring" in December 1818, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
Mr. John Bradbury, English convict who was convicted in Stafford, Staffordshire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Asiatic" on 5th June 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
Mr. Thomas Bradbury, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 22nd September 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 13
Mr. Charles Bradbury, (b. 1802), aged 19, English convict who was convicted in Warwick, Warwickshire, England for 7 years for felony, transported aboard the "Claudine" on 20th May 1821, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 14
Mr. Thomas Bradbury, English convict who was convicted in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "David Lyon" on 29th April 1830, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 15
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bradbury 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:

Bradbury Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. William Bradbury, (b. 1833), aged 28, British farm labourer travelling from London aboard the ship "Mystery" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 7th January 1862 16
Miss Sarah Bradbury, (b. 1842), aged 19, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Mystery" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 7th January 1862 16
William Bradbury, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Annie Wilson" in 1863
Jane Bradbury, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Annie Wilson" in 1863
Mary Bradbury, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Annie Wilson" in 1863
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Bradbury (post 1700) +

Abraham Thomas Bradbury (1902-1992), American architect best known for his work in Atlanta during the mid-1900s "perhaps the most prominent architect of government buildings in the mid-twentieth century"
Bill Bradbury (1949-2023), American politician, 23rd Secretary of State of Oregon (1999-2009), 51st President of the Oregon State Senate (1993-1994)
John Morin "Jack" Bradbury (1914-2004), American animator and comic book artist, responsible for key scenes in the Disney movies Bambi, Fantasia, and Pinocchio
Norris Edwin Bradbury (1909-1997), American physicist, Director of the Los Alamos National Laboratory (1945-1970)
William Batchelder Bradbury (1816-1868), American Christian musician and hymn writer, best known for his tune Jesus Loves Me
Andy Bradbury (b. 1980), American professional football player
Raymond Douglas "Ray" Bradbury (1920-2012), American literary, fantasy, horror, science fiction, and mystery writer awarded a special citation in 2007 by the Pulitzer Prize jury
Robert North Bradbury (1886-1949), American film director and screen-writer
Garry Bradbury (1960-2022), English-born Australian electronic musician active in Sydney's experimental music scene from 1979 to 2022
John Swanwick Bradbury (1872-1950), English economist and public servant, created 1st Baron Bradbury in 1925, Joint Permanent Secretary to the Treasury from 1913 to 1919, treasury notes signed with his name have been known as "Bradburys" or "Bradbury Pounds"
... (Another 23 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Bradbury family +

SS Newfoundland

Mr. James Bradbury (d. 1914), Newfoundlander from Shearstown, who on the 30th March 1914 he was part of the Seal Crew of the "SS Newfoundland" leaving the ship to intercept the Stephano which took him to the hunting grounds, he disembarked to begin sealing, but was caught in a thickening storm, attempting to return to the Newfoundland he and the 132 crew made camp for two days the sealers were stranded on the ice in a blizzard attempting to return to the ship, he died during this time

SS Southern Cross

Mr. John Bradbury (1893-1914), Newfoundlander from Harbour Grace who was aboard the "SS Southern Cross" when it is suspected she sank between the 31st March 1914 and early April during the storm with a heavy load of pelts; no survivors were ever found

Citations +

Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
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)
Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 10th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th February 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/claudine
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd June 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/david-lyon
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html