Show ContentsBaddeley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Baddeley is part of the ancient legacy of the Anglo Saxon tribes of Britain. The first people to bear this distinguished name lived at Badley, a parish, in the union and hundred of Bosmere and Claydon, E. division of Suffolk, 1 or at Baddeley Green in Staffordshire. The latter dates back to 1227 when it was known as Baddilige and literally meant "woodland clearing or a man called Badda." 2

Other sources note that the family could have originated at Baddiley, a parish in Cheshire, near Nantwich. 3 4 5

Early Origins of the Baddeley family

The surname Baddeley was first found in Hampshire where Robert de Badelea was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1187. Later, Gilbert de Badele was found in the Assize Rolls for Lancashire in 1227 and John de Baddyleye in the Subsidy Rolls for Staffordshire in 1327. 6

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 include William de Badeleye, Essex and Geoffrey de Badele, Suffolk. 3

Robert de Badele, Norfolk, Henry III— Edward I was listed in the Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum, temp. Henry III-Edward I. 7

Early History of the Baddeley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Baddeley research. Another 93 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1608, 1646, 1648, 1650, 1653, 1688, 1703, 1704 and 1708 are included under the topic Early Baddeley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Baddeley Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Baddeley include Baddely, Baddeley, Baddiley, Badley, Badly, Badely, Badgely, Badlely and many more.

Early Notables of the Baddeley family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • Richard Baddeley was a London bookseller within Middle Temple Gate, 1650-1653. He was probably a native of Durham, as on October 29th, 1650, he took as an apprentice Richard Baddeley, son of Richard B...


Baddeley migration to Australia +

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

Baddeley Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Baddeley, English convict who was convicted in Chester, Cheshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Augusta Jessie" on 10th August 1838, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 8
  • Mr. James Baddeley, English convict who was convicted in Leicester, Leicestershire, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Emerald Isle" on 28th June 1843, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 9
  • Herbert Baddeley, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Lord Ashburton" in 1850 10

Baddeley 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:

Baddeley Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Sarah A. Baddeley, aged 12, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Tongariro" in 1888

Contemporary Notables of the name Baddeley (post 1700) +

  • Aaron Baddeley (b. 1981), American-born, Australian professional PGA golfer
  • Walter Hubert Baddeley (1894-1960), English seventh Anglican Bishop of Melanesia, serving from 1932 to 1947, recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
  • Sir John James Baddeley, English noble, created 1st Baronet Baddeley of Lakefield, Surrey in 1922
  • Hermione Baddeley (1908-1986), English actress
  • Sophia Baddeley (1745-1786), English actress and singer
  • Professor James Baddeley, Microbiologist
  • Herbert Baddeley (1872-1931), British twin tennis player, who won the Wimbledon Championships three times
  • Wilfred Baddeley (1872-1929), British twin brother tennis player


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  4. Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
  5. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  6. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  7. Testa de Nevill or "Liber Feodorum" or "Book of Fees," thought to have been written by Ralph de Nevill, for King John (1199–1216)
  8. Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 23rd August 2020 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/augusta-jessie
  9. Convict Records Voyages to Australia. Retrieved 25th March 2022 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/emerald-isle
  10. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) LORD ASHBURTON 1850. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850LordAshburton.gif


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