Bradstreet History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The name Bradstreet is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when the family lived near a major road. The name literally means by the broad street, and would have been given to someone who lived by one of the major roads of the time. 1

Another source gives a slightly different rendition of the literal meaning of the name: "dweller in the broad street", from the Old English "brad" + "street." 2

Early Origins of the Bradstreet family

The surname Bradstreet was first found in Norfolk where the first record of the family was found in Norfolk where John de Bradstrete, was rector of Colby, in 1372. 3 Roger de Bradestret was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk in 1327. 2

Early records are indeed rare as we must move forward two centuries to find marriage records of London listing Thomas Boldero and Ann Broadstreet marrying there in 1595. 4

Early History of the Bradstreet family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bradstreet research. Another 277 words (20 lines of text) covering the years 1595, 1603, 1612, 1625, 1653, 1661, 1662, 1665, 1669, 1672, 1693, 1697, 1730, 1759, 1762, 1764 and 1924 are included under the topic Early Bradstreet History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bradstreet Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Bradstreet are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Bradstreet include: Bradstreet, Broadstreet and others.

Early Notables of the Bradstreet family

Notables of the family at this time include

Simon Bradstreet (1603-1697), colonial Governor of Massachusetts

Migration of the Bradstreet family to Ireland

Some of the Bradstreet family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 50 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bradstreet migration to the United States +

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Bradstreet or a variant listed above:

Bradstreet Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Simon Bradstreet, who settled in Boston in 1630 and later moved to Salem, where, in 1679 he became Governor of the Colony
Simon Bradstreet, from Lincolnshire, who sailed from Isle of Wight arriving in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship "Ambrose" as part of the Winthrop Fleet, settled in Cambridge 5
Mrs. Anne Bradstreet, From Lincolnshire, who sailed from Isle of Wight arriving in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship "Ambrose" as part of the Winthrop Fleet, settled in Cambridge 6
Mary Bradstreet, aged 1, from Suffolk, who landed in New England in 1634 aboard the ship "Elizabeth" 5
Miss Anna Bradstreet, aged 9, from Suffolk, who landed in New England in 1634 aboard the ship "Elizabeth" 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bradstreet Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Francis Bradstreet, who arrived in Virginia in 1741 5

Bradstreet Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

H M Bradstreet, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1850 5
B G Bradstreet, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1850 5

Contemporary Notables of the name Bradstreet (post 1700) +

James Jeffrey "Jeff" Bradstreet (1954-2015), American autism researcher and former Christian preacher
David Bradstreet, American astronomer, eponym of the Bradstreet Observatory, St. Davids, Pennsylvania
Tim Bradstreet (b. 1967), American comic book artist
William G. Bradstreet, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Michigan State House of Representatives from Lenawee County, 1962 7
Thomas Dudley Bradstreet (b. 1841), American Republican politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives, 1886; Member of Connecticut State Senate, 1903-05; Connecticut State Comptroller, 1907-13 7
Nehemiah C. Bradstreet, American politician, Mayor of Rochester, New York, 1863; Member of New York State Assembly from Monroe County 2nd District, 1868-69 7
Ken Bradstreet, American Republican politician, Member of Michigan State House of Representatives 105th District; Elected 1998 7
George P. Bradstreet, American politician, First Selectman of Thomaston, Connecticut, 1904-09 7
Angela Bradstreet, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from California, 2004 7
Albert P. Bradstreet, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Connecticut, 1880; Member of Connecticut State Senate, 1881-82 7
... (Another 12 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Bradstreet 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: Virtute et non vi
Motto Translation: By virtue and not by force.

Citations +

Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's. Retrieved January 6th 2023 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, February 3) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html