Show ContentsBraidburey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The origins of the Braidburey name lie with England's ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It comes from when the family 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 Braidburey family

The surname Braidburey 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 Braidburey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Braidburey 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 Braidburey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Braidburey 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 Braidburey were recorded, including Bradbury, BradBerry, Braidbury and others.

Early Notables of the Braidburey 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 minister; and Mary Perkins Bradbury (1615-1700) was tried, convicted and sentenced to hang as a witch in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692, but the sentence was never carried out after...
Another 65 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Braidburey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Braidburey family

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 Braidburey family emigrate to North America: Ellinor Bradbury who settled in Maryland in 1682; with her husband Roger, three sons and two daughters; Thomas Bradbury settled in Maine in 1630; and another Thomas Bradbury settled in Boston in 1700..



  1. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  4. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  5. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)


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