Bradfeld History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Bradfeld

What does the name Bradfeld mean?

The family claims Suffolk as their ancient homestead, but parishes named Bradfield can be found in "Berkshire, Essex, Norfolk, and Suffolk, and smaller localities." 1 The oldest of the parishes was in Berkshire which was traced back to Saxon times when it was recorded as Bradanfeld c. 990-992. The place names literally mean "broad field of open land," from the Old English word "brad" + "feld." 2

Early Origins of the Bradfeld family

The surname Bradfeld was first found in Suffolk where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor of Bradfield. Conjecturally, the surname is descended from the tenant of the lands of Bradfield held by the Count of Mortain, his man Falk, who was recorded in the Domesday Book census of 1086. 3 It was taxed for 80 goats. The original village is now three separate villages.

Early rolls show Richard de Bradefeld at Bury St. Edmonds, Suffolk 1182-1198 and William de Bradefield in the Feet of Fines for Essex 1256-1257. Much later, we found Thomas Bradfield in Northamptonshire in 1454. 4

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 includes entries for: Cecile de Bradefeld, Suffolk; Robert de Bradfeld, Suffolk; and Walter de Bradfeld, Suffolk. 1 In Wiltshire, the earliest entry for the family is William de Bradefel who held lands Henry III-Edward I, according to the Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum 5 In Somerset, early rolls there show Richard de Bradfelde, 1 Edward III (during the first year of the reign of King Edward I. ) 6

Early History of the Bradfeld family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bradfeld research. Another 166 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1045, 1182, 1277, 1278, 1283, 1424, 1505, 1510, 1535, 1600, 1750, 1805, 1825, 1826 and 1852 are included under the topic Early Bradfeld History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bradfeld Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Bradfield, Bradfeld, Bradfeild, Breadfield and others.

Early Notables of the Bradfeld family

John Bradfield (or John de Bradfield), a medieval Bishop of Rochester believed to have come from Bradfield in Berkshire. He was a monk of Rochester Cathedral and precentor of Rochester before he was elected to the see of Rochester in 1278. Henry Joseph Steels Bradfield (1805-1852), was an English "surgeon and author, born on 18 May 1805 in Derby Street, Westminster, where his father, Thomas Bradfield...
Another 65 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bradfeld Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Bradfeld family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: the name represented in many forms and recorded from the mid 17th century in the great migration from Europe. Migrants settled in the eastern seaboard from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands..

Sources +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Testa de Nevill or "Liber Feodorum" or "Book of Fees," thought to have been written by Ralph de Nevill, for King John (1199–1216)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.