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![Show Contents]() Broadwat History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England
The present generation of the Broadwat family is only the most recent to bear a name that dates back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name comes from having lived near a wide body of water; this may have been either a river or a lake. The surname Broadwat may also be derived from residence in the old parish of Broadwater, which now a suburb of Worthing in Sussex. This parish was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, under the name of Bradewatre. This land, which was held by William de Braose at that time, was the site of a church and a mill. Early Origins of the Broadwat familyThe surname Broadwat was first found in Sussex, at Broadwater, originally a parish, in the union of Preston and in the hundred of Brightford. 1 St. Mary's Church, Broadwater, is a Church of England parish church that is listed in the Domesday Book. It is thought to have been built over and ancient Saxon church as in 1939, a Saxon doorway in the south wall of the chancel was discovered. Saxon doorjambs and window arches are preserved within the walls of the present tower. Thomas Bradwardine (1290?-1349), was Archbishop of Canterbury and is commonly called Doctor Profundus. His surname is variously spelt Bragwardin (Gerson), Brandnardinus (Gesner), Bredwardyn (Birchington), and Bradwardyn (William de Dene). "In public documents he is usually designated as Thomas de Bradwardina or de Bredewardina. His family may have originally come from Bradwardine near Hereford, but he himself says that he was born in Chichester, and implies that his father and grandfather were also natives of that city. " 2 Early History of the Broadwat familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Broadwat research. Another 210 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1273, 1290, 1349, 1500, 1590, 1610 and 1623 are included under the topic Early Broadwat History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Broadwat Spelling VariationsUntil the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Broadwat include Broadwater, Bradewatre, Brawatere, Brawdwater, Bradwater, Broadwatter and many more. Early Notables of the Broadwat familyAnother 36 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Broadwat Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Broadwat familyThousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Broadwat were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: Hugh Broadwater, who came to Virginia in 1663; John Broadwater, who arrived in America in 1671; as well asThomas Broadwater who arrived in Jamaica in 1684..
- Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
- Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
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