The ancestors of the name Bradefarte date back to the days of the
Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from their residence in or near one of the many places called
Bradford in
England, which were found in
Wiltshire,
Dorset,
Somerset,
Devon,
Northumberland, and the West Riding of
Yorkshire. The surname Bradefarte literally means
broad ford.Early Origins of the Bradefarte family
The surname Bradefarte was first found in
Yorkshire where they held a
family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the
Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.
Early History of the Bradefarte family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bradefarte research.
Another 205 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1206, 1590, 1657, 1624 and 1703 are included under the topic Early Bradefarte History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Bradefarte Spelling Variations
Bradefarte has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few
hundred years,
spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Many variations of the name Bradefarte have been found, including Bradford, Bradeford, Braidford, Bradforde and others.
Early Notables of the Bradefarte family (pre 1700)
Another 50 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bradefarte Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Bradefarte family to Ireland
Some of the Bradefarte 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.
Migration of the Bradefarte family to the New World and Oceana
In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in
England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Bradefartes to arrive on North American shores: William Bradford of
Yorkshire who arrived at Plymouth in 1621, aboard the Mayflower and, on the death of John Carver in 1621, was chosen leader of the Pilgrims, 2nd Governor of the Plymouth colony. His wife Dorothy died at sea, en-route to the Colony. Other settlers include: Henery Bradford, who came to Virginia in 1625.
The Bradefarte Motto
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Fier et sage
Motto Translation: Proud and Wise.