Broadnax History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Broadnax

What does the name Broadnax mean?

The name Broadnax is part of the ancient legacy of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. Broadnax was a name used for a stout person. The surname Broadnax is derived from the Old English word brode, which means broad. This in turn is derived from the Old English word brad, which has the same meaning.

Early Origins of the Broadnax family

The surname Broadnax was first found in Cornwall in the parish of Helland. "The barton of Brodes or Broads, which appears to have been formerly possessed by a family of that name, was for some time subsequent to the reign of James I. a seat of a younger branch of the family of Glynn." 1

Early History of the Broadnax family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Broadnax research. Another 48 words (3 lines of text) covering the year 1233 is included under the topic Early Broadnax History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Broadnax Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Broadnax include Broad, Brod and others.

Early Notables of the Broadnax family

More information is included under the topic Early Broadnax Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Broadnax Ranking

the United States, the name Broadnax is the 4,701^st most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 2

Migration of the Broadnax family

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Broadnax were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: Mary Broad who settled in Virginia in 1738; Robert Broad settled in New England in 1773; Thomas Broad settled in Virginia in 1637.

Contemporary Notables of the name Broadnax (post 1700) +

Walter Doyce Broadnax (1944-2022), American academic administrator, Distinguished Professor of Public Administration at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University
John Ellis "Johnny" Broadnax (1904-1986), American football player and coach
Horace Randall Broadnax (b. 1964), American head men's basketball coach at Savannah State University
Morris Ervin "Luvel" Broadnax (1931-2009), American songwriter for Motown in the 1960s, best known for his work with Stevie Wonder
S. S. Broadnax, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Georgia, 1912 3
Robert Broadnax Glenn (1854-1920), Democratic governor of North Carolina from 1905 to 1909 4

Sources +

Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 23) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Robert Glenn. (Retrieved 2010, September 27) Robert Glenn. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Broadnax_Glenn