Show ContentsBroadley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Anglo-Saxon name Broadley comes from the family having resided in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, where the family resided in Broadley. The place-name Broadley means "broad meadow," from the Old English brade or brode, which means broad, and lea, for meadow or clearing. The surname literally means "one who lives near the broad meadow."

Early Origins of the Broadley family

The surname Broadley 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 Broadley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Broadley research. Another 76 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Broadley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Broadley Spelling Variations

Broadley 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. Spelling variants included: Broadley, Broadly, Bradley and others.

Early Notables of the Broadley family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • Isaac Broadley of Brantingham in the East Riding of Yorkshire whose daughter Ann Elizabeth married into the Creames of Sewerby House, in Yorkshire


United States Broadley migration to the United States +

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 Broadleys to arrive on North American shores:

Broadley Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Margery Broadley who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1772
  • Margery Broadley, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1772 [1]
Broadley Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • James Broadley, aged 34, who arrived in Delaware in 1812 [1]
  • R. B. Broadley who arrived in New York in 1878

Australia Broadley migration to Australia +

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

Broadley Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Francis Broadley, Scottish convict who was convicted in Glasgow, Scotland for 14 years, transported aboard the "Henry Tanner" on 27th June 1834, settling in New South Wales, Australia [2]
  • Mr. William Broadley, English convict who was convicted in West Riding, Yorkshire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Elphinstone" on 20th January 1836, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1840 [3]

New Zealand Broadley 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:

Broadley Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Miss Ann Broadley, (b. 1841), aged 20, Scottish dairy woman from Lanarkshire travelling from London aboard the ship "Victoria" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 30th March 1862 [4]
  • Mr. George Broadley, (b. 1830), aged 43, English engineer from Yorkshire travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Surat" going to Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand in 1873, the ship sunk at the Catlins River all the passengers were transported to Dunedin via various rescure vessels [4]
  • Mrs. Martha Broadley, (b. 1833), aged 40, English settler from Yorkshire travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Surat" going to Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand in 1873, the ship sunk at the Catlins River all the passengers were transported to Dunedin via various rescure vessels [4]
  • Mr. Charles Broadley, (b. 1864), aged 9, English settler from Yorkshire travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Surat" going to Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand in 1873, the ship sunk at the Catlins River all the passengers were transported to Dunedin via various rescure vessels [4]
  • Mr. Thomas Broadley, (b. 1851), aged 22, English labourer from Yorkshire travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Surat" going to Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand in 1873, the ship sunk at the Catlins River all the passengers were transported to Dunedin via various rescure vessels [4]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Broadley (post 1700) +

  • Vaughan John Pascal Broadley (b. 1972), former English cricketer
  • Henry Broadley (1793-1851), English Conservative politician, Member of Parliament for East Riding of Yorkshire (1837- 1851)
  • Alexander Meyrick Broadley (1847-1916), also known as Broadley Pasha, an English lawyer, journalist and historian, best known for being the defence lawyer for Ahmed 'Urabi after the failure of the Urabi Revolt
  • Eric Broadley MBE (1928-2017), British entrepreneur, engineer, and founder of Lola Cars
  • Donald George Broadley (b. 1932), British herpetologist, eponym of Broadley's dwarf gecko, Broadley's Flat Lizard and Broadley's Ridged Frog
  • Ian Rank- Broadley FRBS (b. 1952), British sculptor, perhaps best known for his designs for British coinage
  • William Henry Harrison- Broadley (1820-1896), British Conservative politician, Member of Parliament for East Riding of Yorkshire (1868-1885), High Sheriff of Yorkshire in 1867, uncle of Henry Broadley Harrison-Broadley
  • Henry Broadley Harrison- Broadley (1853-1914), British Conservative Party politician, Member of Parliament for Howdenshire (1906-1914)

HMS Hood
  • Mr. William N Broadley (b. 1901), English Leading Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from Old Malton, Yorkshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking [5]


The Broadley 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: Honor post funere vivit
Motto Translation: Honour lives after death.


  1. 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)
  2. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 7th January 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/henry-tanner
  3. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elphinstone
  4. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  5. H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm


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