Broadus History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The origins of the Broadus name lie with England's ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It comes from when the family lived in Cheshire where the name is derived from a now unknown place in the east of that county. The place-name Broadhurst is derived from the old English terms brade, which meant broad or wide, and hurst, a word that meant forest or wood. 1

Early Origins of the Broadus family

The surname Broadus was first found in Cheshire where "the Broadhursts have long been inhabitants of Prestbury and Gawsworth." 2 Alternatively, the name could have originated from "a manor in the parish of Horsted Keynes, co. Sussex" 3 or another source notes that the name was also "a location name in Lincolnshire." 4

Early History of the Broadus family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Broadus research. Another 41 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Broadus History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Broadus Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Broadus were recorded, including Broadhurst, Brodhurst and others.

Early Notables of the Broadus family

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

Broadus Ranking

In the United States, the name Broadus is the 8,320^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 5

Broadus migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Broadus family emigrate to North America:

Broadus Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Joseph Broadus, who landed in America, in 1910
Robie Broadus, aged 18, who immigrated to America, in 1910

Broadus migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Broadus Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

Edmond Broadus, aged 48, who immigrated to Edmondton, Canada, in 1924
Eleonora Broadus, aged 51, who settled in Edmondton, Canada, in 1924

Contemporary Notables of the name Broadus (post 1700) +

John Albert Broadus (1827-1895), American Baptist pastor and professor at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Kevin Broadus (b. 1964), American college basketball coach
J. Welby Broadus, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Kentucky, 1928 (alternate), 1932 6
Charles Broadus, American politician, Candidate for Mayor of Las Vegas, Nevada, 1991 6
John Broadus Watson (1878-1958), American psychologist
Broadus Mitchel, American politician, Candidate for Governor of Maryland, 1934 7

The Broadus 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: Sapere et tacere
Motto Translation: To be wise and silent.

Citations +

Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. 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
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 4) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html